Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of engaging with Türkiye's as a trade corridor between the UK and Central Asia and Middle East markets; and what estimate his Department has made of the potential economic value this transit function represents to UK exporters.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department for Business and Trade has not made a specific estimate of the economic value to UK exporters attributable solely to Türkiye's role as a transit corridor.
Goods take varied trade routes globally, including between the EU and Central Asia and the Middle East. Overland through Türkiye is one, and a number of major airlines passing through Türkiye also carry cargo. The value to the UK of trade flows will vary due to commercial factors at any one time.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of opportunities for joint UK–Türkiye commercial activity in third-country markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.
UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.
UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.
UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what role UK Export Finance is playing in supporting UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In recent years, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported several major infrastructure projects in Turkey, collaborating closely with Turkish contractors. This has enhanced Turkish contractors' awareness of the UK supply chain and has provided a strong base for implementing third-country collaboration between the two countries. UKEF has a Country Head based in Türkiye who can consider appropriate projects for potential UKEF engagement.
UKEF has a reinsurance agreement with Turk Eximbank to strengthen commercial cooperation by co-financing projects in third countries, combining financial support from both the UK and Türkiye to help British and Turkish exporters secure major global contracts.
UKEF is supporting UK and Turkish contractors to deliver deals around the world, including in Ukraine, Iraq, Serbia and Belgium.
UKEF recently co-hosted a project showcase event in London with 10 Turkish engineering, procurement and construction businesses to present global opportunities for the UK supply chain across a range of sectors such as building airports, bridges and rail projects.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterparts on UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
At the 8th Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in London on 8th January 2026, the Secretary of State highlighted the UK’s continued commitment to partnership on UK–Türkiye cooperation in third-country markets before opening a separate discussion at a business roundtable to explore further opportunities for cooperation with Turkish counterparts. On his behalf, Sir Chris Bryant also focussed his exchanges with Turkish counterparts and relevant businesses on third-country cooperation (at the Turkish Contractors Association Construction Summit in Ankara) during the minister's most recent visit to Turkey on 16th June 2026.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has issued guidance to businesses relating to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, published in July 2024.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK is clear that Israel's illegal settlements and decisions designed to further them are a flagrant violation of international law. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, states there are clear risks to UK operators related to economic and financial activities in the settlements. We discourage such activity and advise that those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.
We are fully committed to international law and respect the independence of the International Court of Justice, and we are carefully considering the Court’s advisory opinion.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail on proposals to equalise pay, terms and conditions between existing and newly recruited postal workers.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State met Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU, and Daniel Křetínský, the owner of EP Group, on 16 February and again on 19 March.
The terms and working conditions of Royal Mail employees are the subject of ongoing negotiations between Royal Mail’s management and the Communication Workers’ Union as part of an agreed dispute resolution process. The government is taking a close interest in these negotiations and receives regular updates.
However, the implementation of operational models and terms and conditions of employment, are for Royal Mail, as an independent business, to manage in collaboration with its workforce and their representatives.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the level of workforce retention at Royal Mail since 2022.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I have been clear that Royal Mail’s recent delivery performance has not been good enough. Workforce retention plays an important role in quality of service, as Royal Mail has said itself in the past in response to Ofcom investigations.
I met Ofcom on 11 March and raised concerns about Royal Mail’s quality of service. Ofcom is explicit that Royal Mail must publish and deliver a credible improvement plan that results in significant and continuous progress. Royal Mail has committed to do so as soon as possible after its discussions with the Communication Workers’ Union conclude.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that salons operating rent-a-chair arrangements comply with employment status law where working practices may indicate worker or employee status.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.
The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.
HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.
However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has met with representatives of the Salon Employers Association or other industry bodies to discuss employment status compliance and fair competition within the hairdressing industry.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.
The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.
HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.
However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the levels of disguised self-employment in the hairdressing sector, particularly in salons operating rent-a-chair models.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
While the Secretary of State has not held specific meetings with representatives of the Salon Employers Association, this Department regularly engages with hair salons on a range of issues such as employment status and compliance, including through Personal Care Roundtables which I chair.
The Government recognises the complexity of the current employment status framework. Bogus self‑employment is unacceptable, and employers should not deny individuals their employment rights by incorrectly classifying them as self‑employed. Responsibility for determining employment status rests on the facts of each case, and compliance activity is led by HMRC. Where operated correctly, rent‑a‑chair models are a legitimate and long‑standing business practice.
HMRC does not consider trends in business numbers and employed/self-employed numbers in the sector to be unexpected. If a business disaggregates, as in the rent-a-chair model, the number of businesses will increase but the number of employees may increase, decrease or not change at all depending on how the business disaggregates.
However, we recognise that under the current framework, many workers may find it difficult to know either what protections they are owed or how to comply with legal obligations; this is why, through collaboration with the hair industry, Government published dedicated guidance for hair and beauty businesses to help the latter better understand their employment status for tax purposes: Check employment status if you work in hair and beauty - GOV.UK.. This Government is also committed to consulting on employment status.