VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Department for Business and Trade: Performance Appraisal

Asked by Neil O'BrienConservativeDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 10 November 2025UIN 87055

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many of those cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff that represented.

Answered by Kate Dearden

On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July 2023.

DBT does not hold performance management data for its agencies.

Performance reviews are held for every member of staff as per our Line Management Guidance. We capture this for all SCS, but results of delegated reviews (AA to Grade 6) are only partially available.

The data below shows performance reviews recorded in our system. Exact numbers of leavers due to poor performance and the percentages of such are withheld as disclosure could identify individuals and breach GDPR principles.

Performance year Runs from 1st April to 31st March

Number of staff with known ratings

Number Marked as ‘Not Met’ against performance

Leavers due to Poor Performance

2023-2024

3505

49

<5

2024-2025

3078

54

<5

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim