Sarah Pochin MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
27 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Small Businesses: FinanceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answer: The British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets Report 2026 found that around half of SMEs used external finance in 2025. SME lending increased between 2024 and 2025 – reaching £68 billion in nominal terms – but remains below pre-pandemic level...
Answered 10 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordInsolvencyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many businesses entered insolvency in each region of England in each of the last five years.
Answer: This information is available in Table 1a of the Insolvency Service’s Business Insolvency Demography official statistics, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/business-insolvency-demography-2015-to-2025.
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordConstruction: MaterialsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of whether public procurement policy adequately supports domestically produced construction materials.
Answer: The Procurement Act 2023 sets out the legal framework for public procurement. The National Procurement Policy Statement sets out the Government’s strategic priorities, which include the need to drive economic growth and strengthen supply chains. The Socia...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of cement used in publicly funded infrastructure projects is imported.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold information about the proportion of imported cement that is used in publicly funded infrastructure projects.
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordIndustry: Regulation and TaxationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of current (a) tax, (b) carbon and (c) regulatory requirements on retention of heavy industry in the UK.
Answer: While no specific assessment on the impact of existing tax, regulatory or carbon-related costs on retention of UK heavy industry has been conducted, the Government regularly engages with relevant heavy industry trade associations and businesses to conside...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of cumulative regulatory and reporting requirements on investment in UK cement manufacturing.
Answer: No specific assessment has been made on the impact of cumulative regulatory and reporting requirements on investment in the UK cement industry, however, the Government routinely considers impacts on business when developing new regulations and reporting r...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy Intensive Industries: Capital InvestmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of existing (a) tax, (b) regulatory and (c) carbon-related costs on long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing.
Answer: No specific assessment on the impact of existing tax, regulatory or carbon-related costs on long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing has been conducted. However, the Government routinely considers the impact of existing and new polic...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13021More
Question: 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.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) routinely considers import volumes of cement and their impact on domestic production capacity and employment. DBT regularly engages with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of rising cement imports on UK domestic production capacity and employment.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) routinely considers import volumes of cement and their impact on domestic production capacity and employment. DBT regularly engages with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in cement imports over the last ten years.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual businesses to consider issues facing the sector.T...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, why the cement manufacturing sector is not eligible for the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme and whether cement could be included.
Answer: I recognise the importance of the cement sector to the UK economy; which will play an essential role in delivering this Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliamentary term. At the last eligibility review for the En...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the cumulative impact of network charges, policy levies and regulatory costs on industrial electricity bills.
Answer: The British Industry Supercharger provides relief on renewable energy levies and network charging costs for eligible energy intensive industrial businesses. On 1 April 2026, the Network Charging Compensation Scheme discount, a component of the British Ind...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Urban AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses regarding the potential impact of online retail competition on town centre economies.
Answer: DBT maintains regular engagement with small business through a range of forums. The Small Business Growth Forum brings together SMEs and representative organisations to develop the department’s strategic approach to supporting small businesses.The departm...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Care Services: Urban AreasDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7869More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of small independent barbershops in town centres and high streets.
Answer: The Government has not made a specific assessment of trends in the number of small independent barbershops in town centres and high streets.Small independent businesses such as barbershops play a vital role in high streets, supporting local economies, cre...
Answered 16 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1622More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to simplify regulatory requirements for manufacturing sectors critical to national infrastructure.
Answer: The Government is simplifying regulation for manufacturing sectors critical to national infrastructure through the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan and wider Industrial Strategy. We are reducing barriers to investment by improving coordination and speed...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy Intensive Industries: Capital InvestmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1621More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of tax, regulatory and carbon-related costs on the long-term capital investment in energy-intensive manufacturing.
Answer: Carbon-related costs deliver long-term investment signals to deliver energy security for UK businesses and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuels. However, we understand that some energy-intensive industries (EII) are facing high industrial electricit...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConstruction: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential regulatory impact of cement and construction product manufacturers on those manufactures profitability.
Answer: The Government considers impacts on business when developing new regulations in line with Better Regulation principles. This applies to businesses within the cement and construction product manufacturing industries. While no specific assessment has been m...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what timetable the Government has set for introducing measures to prevent carbon leakage and unfair competition from overseas cement producers.
Answer: To mitigate the risk of carbon leakage, the cement sector will be included in the upcoming UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism when introduced in 2027 to ensure importers face a comparable price to that paid by UK manufacturers. Some cement firms are su...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to address the growth in cement imports and increase domestic production.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement and other foundational industries products. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual cement...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of rising cement imports on UK domestic production capacity and employment.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement and other foundational industries products. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual cement...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCement: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of cement imports over the last ten years.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade routinely considers import volumes of cement and other foundational industries products. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the sector’s main trade association, and individual cement...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy Intensive Industries: CompensationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will include the cement manufacturing sector in the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.
Answer: I recognise the importance of the cement sector to the UK economy; which will play an essential role in delivering this Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliamentary term. The Government intends to review the Ener...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: IndustryDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help reduce the impact of network charges, policy levies and regulatory costs on industrial electricity bills.
Answer: From 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs for over 10,000 eligible businesses, reducing costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour. Eligible businesses will be exempt from paying the indirect costs of the Renewables O...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy Intensive Industries: Trade CompetitivenessDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1607More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of industrial electricity prices on the international competitiveness of UK-based energy-intensive manufacturing sectors.
Answer: The Government recognises that industrial electricity prices are an important factor in the international competitiveness of UK-based energy intensive manufacturing sectors. We engage regularly with industry and monitor evidence on the impact of energy co...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCompanies: RecruitmentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of British industrial capacity on young people’s future employment and skills opportunities.
Answer: Our modern Industrial Strategy focuses on eight sectors with the greatest potential to raise national levels of investment and productivity, spread prosperity to all parts of the country, make us all more secure, and seize the opportunities of net zero. T...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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