Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he last reviewed defence export licenses in place for Turkey.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
This Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. This is an important lever for promoting both UK prosperity and national and global security.
We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC). We review all new licence applications on this basis taking into account all current information available at the time including the situation in the end destination. We also keep all our extant licences (which typically last for two years) under continual review. The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what defence export licences are in place for UK companies to Turkey.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
We publish information on export licence outcomes as part of official statistics published on gov.uk by the Department for Business and Trade on behalf of the Export Control Joint Unit. The latest general statistics, which were classified as Official Statistics in Development, were published on 27 February 2025 and cover licence decisions to 30 September 2024. They are available to view on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.
We do not routinely publish information about in progress licence applications. Hundreds of licensing decisions are taken each week so the precise number of applications in progress changes on a daily basis. Once an application has received an outcome, it will be published as official statistics in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls.
Information relating to export licensing decisions covering the period 1 October 2024 – 31 December 2024 will be published on 15 May 2025.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 of recent political unrest in Turkey on the consideration of (a) existing and (b) new defence export licenses.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
This Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. This is an important lever for promoting both UK prosperity and national and global security.
We rigorously assess every application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC). We review all new licence applications on this basis taking into account all current information available at the time including the situation in the end destination. We also keep all our extant licences (which typically last for two years) under continual review. The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has for when the next round of formal trade negotiations with Taiwan will take place.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK-Taiwan Trade Talks have taken place since 1991 and I look forward to co-chairing these this year. Under the UK and Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership we have committed to developing 'pillars' on Investment, Digital Trade and Renewable Energy and Net Zero. We are working with the Taiwanese authorities to develop and deliver these.
UK-Taiwan Trade Talks and the Enhanced Trade Partnership will support our strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan, based on deep and growing ties in a range of areas, including trade and investment.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department provided evidence to the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
On 30 July 2024, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) was invited, alongside other Government Departments, to provide written evidence to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
DBT responded to that call for evidence on 23 September 2024. The findings of the SDR are due to be published in 2025.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has plans to bring forward proposals to make it easier to cancel online subscriptions.
Answered by Justin Madders
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for traders to provide straightforward ways for consumers to end contracts. The Government will be consulting later this year on proposals to inform the secondary legislation required to implement the regime.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 impact of the decision by the US Federal Trade Commission to require online subscription services to allow users to cancel more easily on UK consumers.
Answered by Justin Madders
Similar measures have already been introduced in the UK through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for traders to provide straightforward ways for consumers to end contracts. These rules apply to all traders who target UK consumers, whether they are located in the UK or not. Nevertheless, the US initiative sets a standard the Government welcomes.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 impact of the decision by the US Federal Trade Commission to require online subscription services to be cancelled more easily on the UK.
Answered by Justin Madders
Similar measures have already been introduced in the UK through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. This introduces new rules to protect consumers from being trapped in unwanted subscription contracts, including a requirement for traders to provide straightforward ways for consumers to end contracts. These rules apply to all traders who target UK consumers, whether they are located in the UK or not. Nevertheless, the US initiative sets a standard the Government welcomes.