Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to differentiate between goods and services from (a) illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and (b) Israel.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods originating in these settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the existing agreement between the UK and Israel or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
UK operators are advised on gov.uk that all movement certificates and invoice declarations made out in Israel must include the postcode where production has taken place. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, HMRC undertakes checks to verify the origin of those goods to ensure compliance. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be labelled.
UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of getting involved in economic and financial activities in settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) revising the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement to explicitly prohibit the importing of goods (i) produced and (ii) sourced (A) in whole and (B) in part in the illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and (b) ensuring that the supply of goods imported into the UK are free from human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the existing agreement between the UK and Israel or in our agreement with the PA.
There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered barring (a) financial institutions, (b) banks and (c) other corporations headquartered in the UK from investing in settlement-based companies.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.
The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides further information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to prevent the importation of goods from the illegal territories in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) are illegal under international law. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the existing agreement between the UK and Israel or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority. We do not encourage or offer support to such activity and advise that those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consideration has the UK given to the suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement contingent upon Israel’s compliance with the human rights provision in the agreement and with the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our trading relationship with Israel underpins key areas of UK life and UK exports to Israel support thousands of jobs in the UK. Action to suspend trade preferences risks unpredictable consequences and significant economic disruption for British businesses.
The UK Government is committed to international law and fully respects the independence of the ICJ. We continue to consider the Court’s Advisory Opinion carefully, with the rigour it deserves.
The UK Government has recently announced a number of measures in relation to the actions of the Netanyahu Government. We have been clear that if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 2 September 2024, HCWS64, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in other countries in the F-35 global supply chain on the potential merits of suspending indirect exports of F35s to Israel.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The F-35 programme is the largest international collaborative defence programme in the world. The UK cannot make changes to the F-35 programme unilaterally – any change requires agreement across all Partner Nations. Regular discussions with programme partners on the operation of the programme are ongoing.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 30 July 2024 on Low Pay Commission Remit, HCWS43, by what date will 18 to 20 year olds be in receipt of the single adult National Minimum Wage.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government is committed to delivering a genuine living wage for working people, and removing the discriminatory age bands, so that all adults can benefit.
The new Low Pay Commission (LPC) remit asks the LPC to make progress on extending the National Living Wage to all adults. This will be achieved in the coming years, with the Government basing this decision on robust evidence, as well as the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.
The new remit is clear that this ambition should be pursued while also taking into account the effects on employment of younger workers, incentives for them to remain in training or education and the wider economy.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 30 July 2024 on Low Pay Commission Remit, HCWS43, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the floor of the National Living Wage rate to one higher than two-thirds of UK median earnings for workers aged 21 and over.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government has issued a new remit to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a National Living Wage (NLW) which takes into account the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, the wider economy and for the first time this year, the cost of living, including the expected annual trends in inflation.
When recommending rates, the LPC carries out extensive research and consultation, drawing on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research, and stakeholder evidence to inform its recommendations.
When setting new rates, the Government publishes an Impact Assessment (IA) for that year’s increases this sets out the evidence base that informs the Government’s decision on the rate.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Statement of 30 July 2024 on Low Pay Commission Remit, HCWS43, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the National Living Wage in line with the forecast rate of CPI inflation.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Government has issued a new remit to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a National Living Wage (NLW) which takes into account the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, the wider economy and for the first time this year, the cost of living, including the expected annual trends in inflation.
When recommending rates, the LPC carries out extensive research and consultation, drawing on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research, and stakeholder evidence to inform its recommendations.
When setting new rates, the Government publishes an Impact Assessment (IA) for that year’s increases this sets out the evidence base that informs the Government’s decision on the rate.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to review the application of employment law to renewable energy installations within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone for seafarers working out of UK ports.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake
The Government is currently reviewing the application of employment law to renewable energy installations. We will continue to review the needs of the renewable energy sector and its workforce - and take action when needed - as we progress towards reaching Net Zero by 2050.
The Seafarers Wages Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, will mean (when law) that those seafarers who call regularly (at least 120 times a year) at UK ports will be entitled to an equivalent of the National Minimum Wage. This would include those seafarers working on ships to and from offshore renewable platforms.