Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has issued guidance to businesses relating to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, published in July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is clear that Israel's illegal settlements and decisions designed to further them are a flagrant violation of international law. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, states there are clear risks to UK operators related to economic and financial activities in the settlements. We discourage such activity and advise that those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
We are fully committed to international law and respect the independence of the International Court of Justice, and we are carefully considering the Court’s advisory opinion.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of fuel taxation policy on low income households.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor considers a wide range of impacts when taking decisions on tax policy. At Budget 2025, the Government announced that the 5p cut in fuel duty would be extended until the end of August 2026, with rates then gradually returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026/27 will also not take place, with RPI uprating resuming from 2027/28 onwards.
Since Autumn Budget 2024, the Government's decisions to freeze fuel duty will save the average motorist over £90 – or 11 pence per litre - compared to the plans inherited from the previous government.
The Government published distributional analysis on decisions taken at Budget 2025, including fuel duty, at GOV.UK: :
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69269c6222424e25e6bc31bb/Impact_on_households.pdf
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 94116 on FirstPort: Standards, what discussions he has had with FirstPort since 17 November 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Neither the Secretary of State nor I have regular discussions with individual property management companies regarding effective communications with leaseholders.
I have had no further direct discussions with FirstPort subsequent to my meeting with Martin King on 17 November 2025 and the exchange of letters that followed it as referenced in my answer to Question UIN 94116 on 1 December 2025.
My Department continues to actively monitor standards and quality of service among property management companies, including FirstPort.
I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he is having discussions with property management companies on effective communications with leaseholders.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Neither the Secretary of State nor I have regular discussions with individual property management companies regarding effective communications with leaseholders.
I have had no further direct discussions with FirstPort subsequent to my meeting with Martin King on 17 November 2025 and the exchange of letters that followed it as referenced in my answer to Question UIN 94116 on 1 December 2025.
My Department continues to actively monitor standards and quality of service among property management companies, including FirstPort.
I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the need to introduce transparency requirements for the funding of nutrition research.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including nutrition.
The Department is committed to funding research that has robust ethical oversight and independent governance. The NIHR ensures this by requiring studies, where appropriate, to gain approval from the Health Research Authority, which is responsible for overseeing ethical, governance, and legal aspects of research in England. Studies must also comply with the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research, which outlines the principles of good practice in the management and conduct of health and social care research in the United Kingdom.