It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I congratulate the hon. Member for Gordon and Buchan (Harriet Cross) on securing this incredibly important debate, and on the constructive manner in which she contributed this afternoon.

I am grateful to all Members who have contributed to the debate...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I congratulate the hon. Member for Gordon and Buchan (Harriet Cross) on securing this incredibly important debate, and on the constructive manner in which she contributed this afternoon.

I am grateful to all Members who have contributed to the debate...

I congratulate the Minister on the meeting he will have tomorrow and his offer to engage. I gently press him on reaching out. He has made it clear that he does not think that the current situation matches that of 2021. I accept that, but could he reach out and...

I congratulate the Minister on the meeting he will have tomorrow and his offer to engage. I gently press him on reaching out. He has made it clear that he does not think that the current situation matches that of 2021. I accept that, but could he reach out and...

I am very alive to the issues. That is why engagement with the sector is very important. I have powers available to me, if necessary, but we are keen to monitor the situation. That is why today’s debate has been so important.

We are aware that the sector experienced a temporary...

I am very alive to the issues. That is why engagement with the sector is very important. I have powers available to me, if necessary, but we are keen to monitor the situation. That is why today’s debate has been so important.

We are aware that the sector experienced a temporary...

Given that there is a Division in the House, I will keep this very short. I thank everyone for participating in the debate. I hope the Minister’s meetings will be constructive. I ask him to go in with an open mind and listen to what the NPA is saying. It...

Given that there is a Division in the House, I will keep this very short. I thank everyone for participating in the debate. I hope the Minister’s meetings will be constructive. I ask him to go in with an open mind and listen to what the NPA is saying. It...

Business and Trade Questions

The following extracts are from Business and Trade Questions on 2 July 2026.

The EU is a key trading partner for Scotland, accounting for almost 40% of Scotland’s international exports. Can the Minister reassure my constituents in Glenrothes and Mid Fife that while we wait for a new...

Business and Trade Questions

The following extracts are from Business and Trade Questions on 2 July 2026.

The EU is a key trading partner for Scotland, accounting for almost 40% of Scotland’s international exports. Can the Minister reassure my constituents in Glenrothes and Mid Fife that while we wait for a new...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the value of critical mineral imports into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the value of critical mineral imports into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on the operation of steel tariff quotas since 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs on the operation of steel tariff quotas since 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has received representations from businesses on delays at UK ports following the introduction of the steel trade measure on 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has received representations from businesses on delays at UK ports following the introduction of the steel trade measure on 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what modelling he undertook of the likelihood of tariff-rate quotas being exhausted before the end of the applicable quota periods prior to implementation of the steel trade measure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what modelling he undertook of the likelihood of tariff-rate quotas being exhausted before the end of the applicable quota periods prior to implementation of the steel trade measure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of importing steel products on operational continuity, since the implementation of the steel trade measure on 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of importing steel products on operational continuity, since the implementation of the steel trade measure on 1 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Department for Business and Trade's press release entitled UK to secure critical minerals boosting economic resilience and cutting reliance on imports, published on 22 June 2026, what estimate he has made of the reduction in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Department for Business and Trade's press release entitled UK to secure critical minerals boosting economic resilience and cutting reliance on imports, published on 22 June 2026, what estimate he has made of the reduction in the...

My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The government is today publishing draft legislation ahead of inclusion in the next Finance Bill. This allows for technical consultation on the application of tax policy in legislation. The government is also...

My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Dan Tomlinson) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The government is today publishing draft legislation ahead of inclusion in the next Finance Bill. This allows for technical consultation on the application of tax policy in legislation. The government is also...

The government is today publishing draft legislation ahead of inclusion in the next Finance Bill. This allows for technical consultation on the application of tax policy in legislation. The government is also publishing some new consultations and a number of responses to consultations on tax policy which have concluded.

The...

The government is today publishing draft legislation ahead of inclusion in the next Finance Bill. This allows for technical consultation on the application of tax policy in legislation. The government is also publishing some new consultations and a number of responses to consultations on tax policy which have concluded.

The...

An overview of the rules that regulate the import, storage and sale of fireworks in the UK.

An overview of the rules that regulate the import, storage and sale of fireworks in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce emissions associated with goods and services imported into the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to reduce emissions associated with goods and services imported into the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of whether reductions in UK territorial emissions have been offset by increased emissions embodied in imported goods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of whether reductions in UK territorial emissions have been offset by increased emissions embodied in imported goods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help prevent the importation of low-welfare animal products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help prevent the importation of low-welfare animal products.

Steel Trade Measure

The following extract is from the statement on the Steel Trade Measure on 25 June 2026.

Tata Steel’s Steelpark in Wednesfield and manufacturers across Wolverhampton North East and the Black Country rely on resilient supply chains for steel. Will the Minister set out how today’s statement on increased quotas...

Steel Trade Measure

The following extract is from the statement on the Steel Trade Measure on 25 June 2026.

Tata Steel’s Steelpark in Wednesfield and manufacturers across Wolverhampton North East and the Black Country rely on resilient supply chains for steel. Will the Minister set out how today’s statement on increased quotas...

Letter dated 09/07/2026 from Chris Bryant MP to Sureena Brackenridge MP regarding a correction to a statement made about quotas during the debate following the Oral Statement on Steel Trade Measure. 2p.

Letter dated 09/07/2026 from Chris Bryant MP to Sureena Brackenridge MP regarding a correction to a statement made about quotas during the debate following the Oral Statement on Steel Trade Measure. 2p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that products imported by businesses and retailers are free of asbestos.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that products imported by businesses and retailers are free of asbestos.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary regime on the cost and availability of imported timber products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary regime on the cost and availability of imported timber products.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate importers and retailers of electric bicycles which do not comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/1168).

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate importers and retailers of electric bicycles which do not comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 (SI 1983/1168).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the contribution of imported goods and services to the UK’s overall carbon footprint.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the contribution of imported goods and services to the UK’s overall carbon footprint.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in emissions embedded in imported goods consumed in the UK since 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in emissions embedded in imported goods consumed in the UK since 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new steel import quota arrangements on manufacturers and downstream steel users across the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the new steel import quota arrangements on manufacturers and downstream steel users across the UK.

The Government have stressed the importance of energy independence, sovereignty and security. How concerned are they that it is difficult to pin down, as we have tried to do, exactly how many, and what percentage, of the wind turbines in this country are produced in China, considering that a thousand of them were recently discovered to have been manufactured using asbestos?

The Government have stressed the importance of energy independence, sovereignty and security. How concerned are they that it is difficult to pin down, as we have tried to do, exactly how many, and what percentage, of the wind turbines in this country are produced in China, considering that a thousand of them were recently discovered to have been manufactured using asbestos?

We take those issues seriously across the energy resilience and security piece. It is for individual developers to look at their individual sites and ensure that they comply with the regulations that are in place. We are also looking at what more needs to be done, because the security and resilience of all our energy infrastructure has never been more important.

We take those issues seriously across the energy resilience and security piece. It is for individual developers to look at their individual sites and ensure that they comply with the regulations that are in place. We are also looking at what more needs to be done, because the security and resilience of all our energy infrastructure has never been more important.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, these regulations were laid before this House on 24 March. They will amend UK REACH, which is a central part of the framework governing the safe use of chemicals in Great Britain. EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. UK REACH retains the...

My Lords, these regulations were laid before this House on 24 March. They will amend UK REACH, which is a central part of the framework governing the safe use of chemicals in Great Britain. EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. UK REACH retains the...

I am most grateful to the Minister for presenting these regulations before the Committee. I probably ought to say that I was a Member of the European Parliament when the original REACH agreement and regulations came forward.

I am also grateful to the Minister for commenting on the concerns raised by...

I am most grateful to the Minister for presenting these regulations before the Committee. I probably ought to say that I was a Member of the European Parliament when the original REACH agreement and regulations came forward.

I am also grateful to the Minister for commenting on the concerns raised by...

My Lords, I hope I will not detain the Committee for long, but this is a very important and intricate area. The noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, has great experience of this from her time at the European Parliament. I remember visiting the European Parliament—it must have been almost 20 years...

My Lords, I hope I will not detain the Committee for long, but this is a very important and intricate area. The noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, has great experience of this from her time at the European Parliament. I remember visiting the European Parliament—it must have been almost 20 years...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing this draft instrument and explaining its purpose. On the Liberal Democrat Benches, we recognise the case for this measure and will support it. We do so because it is a pragmatic step to avoid a cliff edge—not because we believe the current...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing this draft instrument and explaining its purpose. On the Liberal Democrat Benches, we recognise the case for this measure and will support it. We do so because it is a pragmatic step to avoid a cliff edge—not because we believe the current...

My Lords, we on these Benches also welcome this measure to extend the transition period for businesses to submit information to the

Health and Safety Executive under the UK REACH regulations. I thank the Minister for bringing these regulations to the Committee.

The UK’s registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals...

My Lords, we on these Benches also welcome this measure to extend the transition period for businesses to submit information to the

Health and Safety Executive under the UK REACH regulations. I thank the Minister for bringing these regulations to the Committee.

The UK’s registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals...

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords for their important contributions and for the careful consideration given to the regulations. I will go through some of the questions and issues raised.

Noble Lords asked about the deadline extension. Clearly, this is now the third time. The deadlines were first altered...

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords for their important contributions and for the careful consideration given to the regulations. I will go through some of the questions and issues raised.

Noble Lords asked about the deadline extension. Clearly, this is now the third time. The deadlines were first altered...

I am very grateful, but the problem is that the data already exists. The point is that they are having to register the same data twice, so there is obviously a conflict of views here.

I am very grateful, but the problem is that the data already exists. The point is that they are having to register the same data twice, so there is obviously a conflict of views here.

That was the problem with leaving EU REACH; that was going to have to take place when we set up our own system in this country. The noble Baroness, Lady Grender, talked about the gift of Brexit—it just keeps giving. That is unfortunately one of the outcomes of that decision....

That was the problem with leaving EU REACH; that was going to have to take place when we set up our own system in this country. The noble Baroness, Lady Grender, talked about the gift of Brexit—it just keeps giving. That is unfortunately one of the outcomes of that decision....

Could the noble Baroness also respond to the point about the possible compromise to intellectual property rights? I will send her the briefing, because it is all there.

Could the noble Baroness also respond to the point about the possible compromise to intellectual property rights? I will send her the briefing, because it is all there.

If the noble Baroness sends me the briefing, I would be happy to pick it up. Perhaps we can meet to discuss it further.

If the noble Baroness sends me the briefing, I would be happy to pick it up. Perhaps we can meet to discuss it further.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of new tariffs on steel imports on (1) the construction industry, (2) the automotive industry, and (3) other industries which use large volumes of steel.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of new tariffs on steel imports on (1) the construction industry, (2) the automotive industry, and (3) other industries which use large volumes of steel.

All the military hardware we can buy will not serve its purpose if our nation goes hungry, should our reliance on food imports be turned against us. What reassurances can Ministers give that they are leading conversations across Government to ensure that if push comes to shove, the UK has the necessary food security to stand on its own two feet?

All the military hardware we can buy will not serve its purpose if our nation goes hungry, should our reliance on food imports be turned against us. What reassurances can Ministers give that they are leading conversations across Government to ensure that if push comes to shove, the UK has the necessary food security to stand on its own two feet?

Food security is national security. Although farmers do not wear the uniforms of our men and women in the armed forces, they are equally as vital in making sure that we can protect our national security. One of the reasons that we are investing so much in the hybrid Navy to keep the strait of Hormuz open is because we know that importing, be it food or energy, is vital to our security. That is why we are investing in new capabilities.

Food security is national security. Although farmers do not wear the uniforms of our men and women in the armed forces, they are equally as vital in making sure that we can protect our national security. One of the reasons that we are investing so much in the hybrid Navy to keep the strait of Hormuz open is because we know that importing, be it food or energy, is vital to our security. That is why we are investing in new capabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on imports from Israeli settlements mislabelled as originating from Israel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on imports from Israeli settlements mislabelled as originating from Israel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the level of the UK’s dependency on imports of strategically important critical minerals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the level of the UK’s dependency on imports of strategically important critical minerals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of cement used in publicly funded infrastructure projects is imported.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of cement used in publicly funded infrastructure projects is imported.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to address the rapid growth in cement imports and the corresponding decline in domestic production.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to address the rapid growth in cement imports and the corresponding decline in domestic production.