Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what strategic steps his Department is taking to protect (a) SMEs and (b) other UK exporters from the compounded impact of (i) new tariffs, (ii) customs charges and (iii) administrative burdens in the context of the removal of the US de minimis tariff exemption for small packages; and how this aligns with the Government’s broader (A) trade and (B) industrial policy objectives.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My department is engaging with businesses to monitor impacts on small and medium-sized Businesses (SMEs) from the removal of the US de minimis exemption. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with US counterparts to seek further clarity.
We remain fully committed to empowering SMEs to thrive in international markets, through our wide-ranging export support under the Business Growth Service. This aligns with our Trade Strategy objectives to help businesses navigate requirements such as customs and tariffs. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US, whilst other counterparts initially suspended services.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Palestinian students in Gaza who have been offered places at UK universities to (a) complete visa biometric enrolment requirements, (b) travel safely to a visa application centre in a third country and (c) take up those university places in the 2025-26 academic year.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas, with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for all Chevening Scholars from Gaza.
We are in the process of doing the same for a group of students who have been awarded fully funded scholarships covering course fees and living costs at UK universities so they can start their studies in Autumn 2025.
The Government is doing everything it can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK. The situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2025 to Question 49938 on Nuclear Submarines: Safety, whether he plans to publish further information on those incidents.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Nuclear safety is of paramount importance and is a critical aspect of our commitments. As such, HMNB Clyde complies with international best practice as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Nuclear safety at these sites is independently overseen by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), who have robust powers to address concerns and recommend changes where necessary. These structures ensure that nuclear safety is treated with the seriousness that it requires. This becomes even more important as this Government affirms its cast iron commitment to the strategic deterrent as the bedrock of our defence.
With this in mind, the Secretary of State has authorised the annual release of the statistics on Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) for HMNB Clyde. NSERs are a means of classifying the significance of safety incidents with actual or potential impact and are recommended by the IAEA to ensure a robust safety culture that learns from experience. This information has previously been provided on request, but in recognition of the importance of the subject, this data will now be provided as a standing commitment to strengthen oversight and scrutiny.
I hope that the hon. Member will understand that releasing specific information for each NSER, when coupled with other information that may already be in the public domain through other means, would not only enable adversaries to make deductions about the operability, capability and effectiveness of the facilities and functions at HMNB Clyde, but would also provide invaluable information about submarine availability. Such information would prove extremely useful to hostile powers and groups in enabling them to target, disrupt and degrade the effectiveness of RN activities.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Breaching of Limits on Ticket Sales Regulations 2018 to prevent the use of automated systems to secure and resell practical driving test appointments.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will continue to review and improve the driving test booking system to make sure that learner drivers can book their test easily and efficiently.
Between 28 May and 23 July 2025, DVSA ran a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views were sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers from being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price.
In line with the consultation principles, DVSA will aim to publish a summary of responses, including the next steps, which might include new legislation.
While the selling of tests for profit is not illegal, DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly, but these applications are constantly evolving and changing. DVSA continues looking for ways to ensure the safest and fairest way to book a driving test is for a legitimate candidate to use its services. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers and is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s online booking platform's bot detection and mitigation systems on access to practical driving tests for learner drivers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will continue to review and improve the driving test booking system to make sure that learner drivers can book their test easily and efficiently.
Between 28 May and 23 July 2025, DVSA ran a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views were sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers from being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price.
In line with the consultation principles, DVSA will aim to publish a summary of responses, including the next steps, which might include new legislation.
While the selling of tests for profit is not illegal, DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly, but these applications are constantly evolving and changing. DVSA continues looking for ways to ensure the safest and fairest way to book a driving test is for a legitimate candidate to use its services. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers and is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any of the UK Government’s pledged aid to Syria in 2025 will be directed specifically to support (a) humanitarian or (b) reconstruction efforts in the Homs region.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza following the partial resumption of border crossings on 19 May 2025; and what steps the Government is taking to increase (a) access and (b) scale of aid.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine is now unfolding, as confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on 29 July. This is unacceptable. We urge Israel to lift restrictions on aid access, as we stated to the UN Security Council on 16 July. While the Israeli Defence Force's "tactical pauses" are a necessary step, they are long overdue. Alongside 30 partners, we reiterated this call in a UK-led joint statement on 21 July. The Foreign Secretary emphasized to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 22 July the urgent need for safe, large-scale aid delivery and condemned civilian deaths at aid sites.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent decisions with his Israeli counterpart on the extension of the internment of Dr Abu Safiya.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I remain deeply disturbed by the ongoing detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and other medical staff from Gaza. We continue to call on Israel to clarify the reasons for the detention of Dr Abu Safiya and other medical personnel, and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities.
I have specifically raised Dr Hussam Abu Safiya's case with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's ambassador to the UK. We are urging Israel to clarify the reasons for his detention, to allow medical workers to carry out their work safely and without hindrance, and to provide detainees with access to legal representation.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian needs in Homs, Syria; and whether any UK-funded aid programmes are currently operating in that region.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.
Asked by: Susan Murray (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) international humanitarian agencies on the entry of medical infant formula into Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza; nearly all Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed according to the World Health Organization. Humanitarian workers must be protected and medical and aid workers must be able to do their jobs safely. On 19 May, the UK released a joint donors statement with 26 other signatories on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for a full resumption of aid into Gaza and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 22 June to press Israel to restore humanitarian access. UK support has enabled the delivery of 1.3 million items of life-saving medicines, over 70,000 wound care packs and more than 500,000 patient consultations delivered through UK-Med. We have and will continue to press Israel to allow the entry of all necessary medical and nutritional supplies.