Oral QuestionDepartment for Business and Trade

What steps he is taking to support businesses with their operating costs.

Tabled: 22 January 2026Answered: 29 January 2026

Asked by

Jess Brown-Fuller

Liberal DemocratChichester

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)

The Government are working hard to reduce operating costs for all UK businesses, including those in Chichester. We are working to reduce the annual administrative burden of regulation by £5.6 billion by 2029, enabling businesses to unlock growth and boost innovation across key sectors. We are introducing the most significant legislation to tackle late payments in over 25 years, providing a support package worth more than £4 billion over the next three years to help business rate payers and fully funding apprenticeship training costs for all eligible 16 to 24-year-olds.