Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what steps his Department is taking to support the creation of defence-related jobs in (a) domestic supply chains, (b) advance manufacturing and (c) other areas; and what proportion of new manufacturing work will be assembly-based compared to that delivered through the wider supply chain.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review sets the path for making defence an engine for growth, boosting prosperity, jobs and security for working people across the UK, in support of this Government’s growth mission.

The UK’s manufacturing industry is vital not only to our national security but to our prosperity and economic growth which is why the Defence Industrial Strategy will include measures to back UK business and make defence an engine for growth as we realise the defence dividend. This Government is committed to strengthening domestic supply chains including in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to suspend arms export licences to Israel for use in the West Bank.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

One of our first acts in government was to review and suspend export licences that could be used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza, as announced to Parliament. We have successfully implemented that suspension and continue to refuse all relevant licence applications. Subject to the specific measures taken to protect the global F-35 programme, we are clear there are no export licences currently being used by the IDF in military operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen the UK’s ability to protect its satellite infrastructure from (a) cyber attacks, (b) jamming and (c) other forms of hostile interference.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Protecting the UK's satellites and related ground infrastructure is a Defence priority. The Strategic Defence Review affirms that satellite communication and data relays are fundamental to the Armed Forces’ ability to understand the battlespace, exchange information, and make and communicate decisions in real time.

Our ongoing work in this area focuses on improving space awareness, asset security, and system resilience, whilst incorporating relevant lessons from the conflict in Ukraine and from our Allies and international partners.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ongoing UK–US trade negotiations (a) in July 2025 and (b) at other times on (i) manufacturers and (ii) exporters in Scotland; and what steps he is taking to ensure that (A) automotive manufacturing and (B) other sectors with a significant presence in Falkirk are included in any future trade agreement.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We are currently implementing the first phase of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal. The deal protects manufacturing through the removal of tariffs for aerospace goods and reducing tariffs for automotive, alongside the implementation of a new quota. The US was the 2nd largest goods export market for Scotland in 2024.

We will continue our extensive engagement with businesses from across the UK, including those in Scotland, throughout these remaining negotiations.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has collected data on the share of e-bike sales comprising models imported from China.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports of e-bikes. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com).

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. HMRC does not hold information on what percentage of sales in the UK are made up of e-bikes that were imported from China.

Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by commodity codes. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. E-bikes are most likely classified within commodity codes 87116010 and 87116090.

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the impact assessment on the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill, published on 30 June 2025, how many of those moved into relative or absolute poverty are due solely to changes of the Universal Credit Health Element.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

No assessment has been made on this basis. The Poverty Impact assessment published ahead of the Bill Committee Stage shows a 50,000 reduction in the number of people below the poverty line.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to improve asylum claim processing times.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to invest in a programme of transformation and business improvement, including innovative methods to speed up asylum decision making and improve the quality and consistency of our work.

The latest quarter saw the second highest three-month period for people receiving initial decisions since comparable records began in 2002, and more than double (+116%) those in the three months before the election (April to June 2024).

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the employment status of joint or sole directors who receive their income from both dividends and a salary.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

An individual’s employment status is determined by the facts and circumstances of the engagement between the worker and engager. This is based on case law.

HMRC takes steps to ensure individuals are correctly treated as employees, or as self-employed, where they should be. HMRC provides extensive guidance to support organisations and individuals understand and determine employment status for tax.

The Government acknowledges that differences in tax treatment between employees, the self-employed and those working through a company structure can lead to individuals paying different amounts of tax while doing very similar work.

Rates of dividend tax are lower than the main rates of income tax, partly to recognise the fact that corporation tax may have been charged on the profits that are then distributed in the form of dividends

The off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35, have been in place for 25 years. They are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees but through their own company, usually a personal service company (PSC), pay broadly the same income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) as those who are directly employed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of changes in the market share of e-bikes imported from China out of all e-bikes sold in the UK since 6 February 2025.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

UK bicycle manufacturers play a key role in supporting our green growth ambitions. The Government’s Industrial and Trade Strategies are designed to support innovation, sustainability, and skills development, to help businesses grow, create new jobs, and compete internationally.

The independent Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) assessed the market share of e-bikes imported from China as part of its recent anti-dumping review. Following the TRA's recommendation, anti-dumping measures on Chinese folding e-bikes were extended on 6 February 2025. The TRA will continue to assess the effectiveness of these measures, including any changes in market share.

Bethany McLay and The King’s Trust Rising Star Award

CVS Falkirk and District Volunteering Awards 2025

Found: In response to a recent parliamentary question from Euan Stainbank MP the Exchequer Secretary confirmed

Found: Rhodes Graham Leadbitter Clive Efford Nadia Whittome Neil Duncan-Jordan Brian Leishman Euan Stainbank

Found: Rhodes Graham Leadbitter Clive Efford Nadia Whittome Neil Duncan-Jordan Brian Leishman Euan Stainbank

Found: Rhodes Graham Leadbitter Clive Efford Nadia Whittome Neil Duncan-Jordan Brian Leishman Euan Stainbank

Found: Dawn Butler Siân Berry Adrian Ramsay Nadia Whittome Neil Duncan-Jordan Brian Leishman Euan Stainbank

Found: Dawn Butler Siân Berry Adrian Ramsay Nadia Whittome Neil Duncan-Jordan Brian Leishman Euan Stainbank