Oral QuestionDepartment for Work and Pensions

What steps he is taking to support people aged over 50 into work.

Tabled: 18 April 2023Answered: 24 April 2023

Asked by

Bob Blackman

ConservativeHarrow East

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Answer from Hansard

Jonathan Reynolds

I understand the prominence of the issue in the right hon. Member’s constituency. We already import a significant amount of ethanol from the US: 860,000 tonnes of bioethanol. We recognise the competitive pressures that the US trade deal will bring—it is obviously not yet in operation—and have met the companies affected and continue to negotiate with them. They are already very distressed and lose significant amounts of money, so what they really need are regulatory changes from the Department for Transport for the market as a whole. I can assure him that we are working on that.