Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation applies to rural areas.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is committed to a sustainable universal postal service for users throughout the UK, including maintaining the one-price-goes anywhere principle including for those in remote and rural areas.
It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the potential impact of the visit by the trade envoy to Israel to Haifa in May 2025 on the UK's foreign policy in relation to Israel.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s Trade Envoys play a crucial role in supporting HMG’s growth priorities, through helping deliver the industrial and trade strategies and attracting foreign direct investment to the UK. Lord Austin, in his capacity as Trade Envoy, visited Israel to continue to support these key UK businesses.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to inform the public of their rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations when buying from an online trader.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17th September 2024 to question 4955.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many (a) military items and (b) munitions have been exported to Israel since the suspension of 30 arms export licences in September 2024.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
DBT publishes data on export licences issued for military and dual-use equipment. Enquiries related to data on the final exports of specific products should be referred to HMRC.
The most recent publication on export licences covers the quarter up to December 2024: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has also on an exceptional basis published further information on the current status of export licences to Israel: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024.
This data shows that licences for the export of all military equipment that might be used in current military operations in Gaza have been suspended, subject to the special measures put in place for exports to the global F-35 programme.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with the Federation of Small Businesses on the impact of increased employer National Insurance Contributions.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This government regularly engages with stakeholders including the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss the potential impacts of relevant policies.
In taking difficult decisions to address issues with public finances, the Government increased employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) while lowering the per-employee threshold. Government has protected small businesses by raising the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. Consequently, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs this year, and over half will gain or see no change. While addressing fiscal challenges, the measure will help to alleviate the burden on the smaller businesses.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what financial steps his Department is taking to support seasonal businesses in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Seasonal businesses in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire can benefit from a range of British Business Bank programmes for example, through the Start Up Loans programme, in addition, the Investment Fund for Scotland also provides debt and equity funding to businesses across Scotland to help them grow and invest.
The BBB's website hosts a 3-step Finance Finder that can help businesses understand the options available to them, while Help to Grow: Management provides practical training to enhance small business productivity and growth.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-Colombia Investment treaty on the safety of human rights defenders in Colombia.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK continues to support the protection of human rights in Colombia, including by improving access to justice, protecting human rights defenders and promoting media freedom.
The UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) includes binding investment protection provisions which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation. These commitments do not remove a government’s right to regulate in the public interest, nor its obligations to comply with other commitments, including with respect to human rights.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will hold discussions with manufacturers on the potential merits of developing antifreeze products without ethylene glycol.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Products containing ethylene glycol can only be placed on the market if they are safe. This includes meeting any legal requirements on the concentration within that product so that it is at a level that is safe for both humans and the environment. I have not held, and do not plan to hold, specific discussions with manufacturers at this time.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to inform the public of their rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations when buying from an online trader.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government funds the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in England and Wales, providing impartial advice on a range of consumer issues, including buying online. In Scotland, where consumer advice and advocacy are devolved, a similar service is provided by Advice Direct Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government.