Victoria Collins 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.
20 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Department for Business and Trade: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 25 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what artificial intelligence services or tools are used by their department; and whether the department has a contract with each provider of those services.
Answer: The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of t...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5009More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of the UK Steel and Trade Measure coming into force on 1 July 2026 on (a) advanced metals manufacturers and (b) the viability of UK suppliers; and what (i) rel
Answer: The measure has been designed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains for downstream users. The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instan...
Answered 3 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5008More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the financial impact of the UK Steel and Trade Measure on (a) advanced and (b) high-grade metals manufacturers facing significant tariff liabilities.
Answer: The measure has been designed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains for downstream users. The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instan...
Answered 3 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIron and Steel: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with small and medium-sized advanced metals manufacturers regarding the UK Steel and Trade Measure coming into force on 1 July 2026; and what assessment h
Answer: The measure has been designed to strike the right balance between securing the future of domestic steelmaking while maintaining secure supply chains for downstream users. The measure only covers steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instan...
Answered 3 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: Employment and TrainingDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of garden centres on local employment and skills training; and what steps he is taking to support that sector.
Answer: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact of garden centres on local employment and skills training. However, garden centres operate across retail and horticulture and can benefit from the government’s wider support for wor...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: SupermarketsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of supermarkets selling low-cost cut flowers and plants on the viability of independent garden centre businesses.
Answer: The government acknowledges the important contribution of independent garden centres, which frequently differentiate themselves through expert advice, product quality, and a wider range of horticultural services.The government recognises that competition ...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHorticulture: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 124348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support garden centre businesses in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: From April 2026, we are introducing permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, worth nearly £900 million a year and benefiting over 750,000 premises. In recognition of the impact of the revaluation on bill...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign CompaniesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111012More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many UK technology startups and scale-ups were acquired by foreign companies in each of the last three years; and what the total value of those acquisitions was in each of the last three years.
Answer: The statistics requested are not readily available. The Department for Business and Trade is supporting the next generation of start-ups and scale-ups, aiming to create the UK’s first trillion-dollar technology business by 2035. The Industrial Strategy an...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: Economic GrowthDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111011More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many UK technology company acquired by foreign buyers were of (a) pre-revenue startups and (b) companies with revenues (i) under £10 million, (ii) between £10-50 million and (iii) £50 million in th
Answer: The statistics requested are not readily available. The Department for Business and Trade is supporting the next generation of start-ups and scale-ups, aiming to create the UK’s first trillion-dollar technology business by 2035. The Industrial Strategy an...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBritish Business BankDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 17 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the mandate is for the British Business Bank's direct investment programme in scale-up companies.
Answer: The British Business Bank’s mandate for making direct equity investments in scale-up companies is set out in the Statement of Strategic Priorities issued to the Bank by the Secretary of State and the Chancellor. This was published on 21 October 2025. At t...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97577More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to develop standards to help with procurement and encourage AI adoption amongst SMEs.
Answer: In July, the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce published ten recommendations to help the UK’s SMEs become the most digitally capable and AI confident in the G7 by 2035. We are now working to deliver these recommendations.We have already partnered with Google...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordStone: ExportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of overseas (a) subsidies and (b) export support on the competitiveness of UK natural stone producers; and whether he has made an assessm
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting businesses, including natural stone producers, to grow and export. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via business.gov.uk.This support is available to all UK busin...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordStone: ExportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of providing (a) targeted grant funding and (b) export support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the natural stone industry simil
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting businesses, including natural stone producers, to grow and export. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via business.gov.uk.This support is available to all UK busin...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInsolvencyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many company directors have been disqualified following Insolvency Service investigations involving (a) phoenix trading or (b) similar conduct after insolvency in each of the last three years.
Answer: Until April 2025, The Insolvency Service only recorded data for phoenix trading where directors were specifically disqualified for that allegation. This was infrequent, as phoenixism is defined very precisely and requires a high burden of proof. In the 3 ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInsolvencyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 86081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current enforcement powers where directors of insolvent companies resume trading through new companies; and what steps he is taking to strengt
Answer: Both civil and criminal enforcement tools, are used to address corporate abuse, that includes phoenixism. Director disqualification helps to protect the public from individuals who have demonstrated that they are unfit to be involved in the management of ...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies: RegistrationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84856More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps Companies House is taking to support (a) micro companies and (b) residents’ management companies with volunteer directors to complete its identity verification before 18 November 2025.
Answer: Companies House is continuing to develop alternative options that will offer more support to individuals who are unable to verify their identities through the available routes. Further guidance will be issued. In the meantime, Companies House is ensuring ...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCompanies: RegistrationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 84854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of Companies House identity verifications have used (a) assisted and (b) non-digital routes since 1 April 2025; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the access
Answer: The specific data is not available. Companies House has recruited significant resource and expanded and trained our customer service team to assist users in the identity verification journey. They are also establishing a specialist team to support custome...
Answered 31 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitality Industry: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses at risk of closure in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Government recognises the vital role of hospitality businesses in our communities and economy, including those in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and that’s why we’re taking targeted action to support them with the pressures they face. In April, we launche...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: Harpenden and BerkhamstedDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help support businesses to take up digital technologies in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.
Answer: The Hertfordshire Growth Hub provides businesses in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with support and advice on adopting digital technology. More widely, the industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce will soon publish its final recommendations on how Governmen...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: HertfordshireDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to consult with rural community-owned businesses in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire in the development of its planned small b
Answer: This Government is committed to embedding the voice of small business into policy. The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with hundreds of individual SMEs across all sectors and regions as part of co-designing our SME Strategy. This has include...
Answered 23 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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Written questions by answering department
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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