Some time soon.

The review has been completed and Government is considering its findings. We will publish the review and set out our plans soon.

One of the biggest opportunities from CPTPP being a ‘living agreement’ comes from expanding the membership. CPTPP expansion helps UK companies grow their exports in a wider range of countries through a stable rules-based trading environment. It also supports UK companies’ resilience by enabling them to diversify and secure supply chains. Since entry into force of CPTPP, my department has been committed to ensuring UK businesses are prepared to take full advantage of the deal and that approach will continue as the agreement develops.

The purpose of the trade measure is not to raise tariff revenue, and therefore we have not made any estimates. The Government is acting in response to the serious threat posed by global steel overcapacity. This continues to distort markets, and threaten the viability of UK steelmaking, which underpins our critical national infrastructure and defence. Tariff-free quotas have been designed with the aim of allowing for a stable supply of imports, taking into account UK production.

The new trade measure is being applied in response to significant threat of global steel overcapacity. The steel safeguard expired on 30 June under WTO rules. The UK cannot risk a gap in protection, which would see the loss of steelmaking in the UK and leave us dependent on overseas suppliers for our critical national infrastructure and defence sectors. In finalising the details of the measure, we listened to stakeholders across the supply chain. The Government will continue to engage with industry and actively monitor impacts, including through a review after 12 months. To ease potential short-term impacts, a transitional arrangement is available under which the new measure would not apply to goods agreed under contract before 14 March 2026 and imported between 1 July and 30 September 2026.

The Government is progressing the responsible business conduct review at pace, which includes an assessment of the merits of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence and additional business guidance. We shall update the House when the review is complete in the near future.

The Government expects all UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment throughout their operations and supply chain relationships, including in agriculture, in line with the OECD Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies should align their purchasing and procurement practices with these expectations.

In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on addressing human rights abuses, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review is objective and evidence‑based, examining both existing policies and alternative approaches to support responsible business practices, including guidance for businesses. We hope to publish our conclusions soon.

The Government expects all UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment throughout their operations and supply chain relationships, including in agriculture, in line with the OECD Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies should align their purchasing and procurement practices with these expectations.

In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on addressing human rights abuses, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review is objective and evidence‑based, examining both existing policies and alternative approaches to support responsible business practices, including guidance for businesses. We hope to publish our conclusions soon.

We are closely monitoring the impact of rising energy prices, driven by global events. We have announced measures to help businesses most impacted by those rising energy prices to electrify their heating and provide greater certainty over energy bills as we transition away from fossil fuels.

We also monitor the utilisation rate for UK exporters. Data for 2026 is only available to February, showing the utilisation rate for UK exports to the EU was around 82%. This rate has remained consistent since the 2025 period. We therefore cannot make an accurate assessment of any changes since the outbreak of war.

This Government recognises that SMEs have faced a challenging set of cost pressures over the past year, and we are taking action to reduce those costs and improve cash flow.

We are cutting the administrative burden of regulation by £5.6 billion, supporting businesses through a £4.3 billion business rates package, protecting apprenticeship funding, and improving payment practices so firms are paid more quickly and reliably.

Taken together, these will help businesses manage costs, strengthen resilience, and focus on growth.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote ethical business practices. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review of the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on addressing human rights abuses, labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review is objective and evidence‑based, examining both existing policies and potential alternative approaches. We will update the House when the review is complete.

The UK Government is clear that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, states there are clear risks to UK operators related to economic and financial activities in the settlements. We discourage such activity and advise that those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice. Separately, the review of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) is focused on the global supply chains of businesses operating in the UK. It is an actor agnostic, neutral and objective appraisal of the UK’s current RBC policy approach and alternative options to enhance the UK’s approach as appropriate.

Under the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership, the Department for Business and Trade has provided trade support to hundreds of UK businesses in Ukraine through:

• The Free Trade Agreement and tariff liberalisation to simplify trade;
• Tackling market access barriers which reduce or prevent trade;
• Maintaining up to £3.5bn in UK Export Finance cover through UKEF;
• DBT’s Project Development Programme to embed British involvement in reconstruction projects;
• A procurement dashboard providing easy access to World Bank, EIB, and EBRD opportunities;
• Business promotion and introduction opportunities such as trade missions, round tables, and international conferences including the ReBuild Ukraine Expo.

UK Trade Envoys primarily support UK exports in their respective market, but they also help identify tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede trade.

We are undertaking detailed analysis to assess the potential impact of any closure of the Strait of Hormuz on British businesses. We are monitoring the situation closely and working across government to safeguard UK economic resilience. We have an export support team that businesses can reach out to for support on disrupted trade or supply chains. We continue to analyse the potential impact of increased energy prices however this is not a question of security of supply, and we are confident that we have multiple and sufficient sources of supply.

The Government is committed to rooting out human rights, labour and environmental abuses from global supply chains. To this end, the Government is progressing the Responsible Business Conduct Review at pace, while ensuring that we harness the insights of a range of stakeholders.

The review is considering the effectiveness of the UK's current approach and assessing the merits of alternative policy options to support responsible business practices, including mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. We shall notify Parliament when the Review is complete.

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can support businesses moving forward.

As part of the Responsible Business Conduct Review, the Government has engaged a number of international trading partners, including countries that have implemented human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. We shall update the House when the Review is complete.