Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to establish a minimum floor of employment rights for workers in the parcel delivery sector regardless of their contractual status; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current protections for those workers.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
It is important that the parcel delivery market works for businesses, customers and workers.
Ofcom has powers to independently regulate parcel delivery companies although this does not extend to their employment models.
Employment rights are determined by employment status, which is based on the reality of the relationship between the individual and the person for whom services are provided. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not.
The Government plans to consult on employment status in due course and we will engage with stakeholders across the postal services industry as part of this work.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to introduce proactive enforcement of employment status rules in the parcel delivery sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
It is important that the parcel delivery market works for businesses, customers and workers.
Ofcom has powers to independently regulate parcel delivery companies although this does not extend to their employment models.
Employment rights are determined by employment status, which is based on the reality of the relationship between the individual and the person for whom services are provided. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not.
The Government plans to consult on employment status in due course and we will engage with stakeholders across the postal services industry as part of this work.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he is taking to tackle the misclassification of workers as self-employed in the parcel delivery sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
It is important that the parcel delivery market works for businesses, customers and workers.
Ofcom has powers to independently regulate parcel delivery companies although this does not extend to their employment models.
Employment rights are determined by employment status, which is based on the reality of the relationship between the individual and the person for whom services are provided. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not.
The Government plans to consult on employment status in due course and we will engage with stakeholders across the postal services industry as part of this work.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on whether the current delivery regulatory framework adequately accounts for the growth of unregulated parcel delivery operators; and what steps he is taking to address any resulting imbalance.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
It is important that the parcel delivery market works for businesses, customers and workers.
Ofcom has powers to independently regulate parcel delivery companies although this does not extend to their employment models.
Employment rights are determined by employment status, which is based on the reality of the relationship between the individual and the person for whom services are provided. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not.
The Government plans to consult on employment status in due course and we will engage with stakeholders across the postal services industry as part of this work.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of foreign government subsidies on the competitiveness of UK natural stone producers; and whether the Government plans to introduce targeted support for UK SMEs in the sector.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the UK’s investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including foreign government subsidies.
I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA if they believe they are being injured by unfair trading practices as it will be for the TRA to decide whether evidentiary thresholds to initiate a trade remedies investigation are met.
The Department remains vigilant to any reports of potential injury to industries from unfair trading practices and regularly engages with the natural stone sector.
We have no specific plans to introduce the specific kind of support he refers to.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with his US counterpart on removing the 10% levy on Scottish whisky during forthcoming discussions on the UK-US trade deal.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We have already secured preferential access for Scotch whisky to the US market compared with other major economies and continue to have discussions on getting the best possible deal for all UK businesses and sectors.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department will suspend (a) trade preferences and (b) procurement contracts with entities (i) operating in or (ii) profiting from settlements in (A) East Jerusalem and (B) the West Bank.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel.
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: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he last conducted an assessment of the Open General Import Licence criteria to ensure that the Import Licences do not permit the importation of illegal settlement goods from the Occupied West Bank.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government keeps the Open General Import Licence under review to ensure it aligns with UK trade and national security priorities, and our international obligations. Goods from illegal Israeli settlements are not eligible for preferential treatment under UK trade agreements. The Government’s overseas business risk guidance outlines the risks of economic activity in settlements and advises businesses to seek legal advice. The Government does not encourage or support such activity, and its guidance enables businesses to make informed decisions.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has conducted an assessment of the potential impact of the Israeli E1 settlement plan on the requirement under the Open General Impost Licence not to import goods from the illegally Occupied West Bank.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK strongly opposes the Israeli government's E1 settlement plans, which would divide a future Palestinian state in two and mark a flagrant breach of international law. The Israeli government must reverse this decision. Goods from illegal Israeli settlements are not eligible for preferential treatment under UK trade agreements. The Government’s overseas business risk guidance outlines the risks of economic activity in settlements and advises businesses to seek legal advice. The Government does not encourage or support such activity, and its guidance enables businesses to make informed decisions.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will confirm that the Open General Import License does not permit the importation of illegal Settlement Goods from the Occupied West Bank.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Open General Import Licence does not prohibit the importation of goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Goods from illegal Israeli settlements are not eligible for preferential treatment under UK trade agreements. The Government’s overseas business risk guidance outlines the risks of economic activity in settlements and advises businesses to seek legal advice. The Government does not encourage or support such activity, and its guidance enables businesses to make informed decisions.