VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Franchises

Asked by Justin MaddersLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 23 February 2026UIN 113387

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help support the franchise industry.

Answered by Blair McDougall

Our Small Business Plan, launched in July 2025, outlines how we will support small and medium sized businesses, including franchisees, to grow and thrive across the UK.

The plan includes the most significant package of legislation in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support start-ups and scale ups; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising the High Street as a place to do business; and boosting support for Digital and AI Adoption. The new Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support for any stage of their growth journey.

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