Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department's target in the 2021 North Sea Transition Deal to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs has been met.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Deal agreed in 2021 did not include a target to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs. This figure was an estimate of the total number of jobs which could be supported, if several commitments in the Deal are met.
Government and industry continue to make progress, working together to deliver on the commitments in this long-term Deal. Government is determined to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) direct and (b) indirect supply chain jobs have been created under the North Sea Transition Deal.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The North Sea Transition Deal remains an important partnership between Government and industry, but job creation is based on many factors. Attributing direct or indirect job creation to the Deal alone is not possible and the Department does not track these figures.
The Government and industry continue to work together to deliver on the commitments in the North Sea Transition Deal. This includes actions to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
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 implications for UK-Israel trade of Israel’s policies on (a) democratic principles and (b) human rights.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world; we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. The UK Government urges all countries, including Israel, to adhere to democratic principles and uphold human rights in line with international law. We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) direct and (b) indirect jobs have been created through (i) platform electrification, (ii) CCUS and (iii) hydrogen between 2021-2024.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not currently have information on jobs created in platform electrification, CCUS and hydrogen between 2021-2024.
In 2024, the Government confirmed funding for 11 HAR1 projects, which are estimated to support around 760 direct jobs during construction and operation.
The £21.7 billion of funding for Track 1 announced last year is intended estimated to support up to 4,000 direct jobs and the industry as a whole will support up to 50,000 jobs as the sector develops into the 2030s
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues. The UK Government continues to work with our allies and partners, including across the region, to find a path towards permanent peace.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37200 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, whether HMRC has made an assessment of the potential impact of productivity related pay on (a) hourly wage calculations and (b) payslips for seasonal agricultural workers.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
When HMRC undertake compliance activity, evidence is gathered to determine the hourly rates of pay. We do not hold specific data on seasonal workers from our compliance activity.
HMRC continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37194 on Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: Inspections, how many complaints were received by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
'Complaints' is taken to mean referrals received by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) about labour abuses, mistreatment of workers, labour providers operating without a licence or a business using an unlicensed gangmaster.
The GLAA reports the number of referrals received in each of the GLAA's regions, over the last 5 years, as:
2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | TOTAL | |
North East | 326 | 414 | 269 | 213 | 182 | 1,404 |
North West | 214 | 198 | 117 | 77 | 127 | 733 |
South East | 515 | 499 | 375 | 228 | 337 | 1,954 |
South West | 270 | 263 | 224 | 132 | 186 | 1,075 |
Multi-Region | 29 | 22 | 27 | 10 | 12 | 100 |
Region not listed | 152 | 129 | 75 | 22 | 13 | 391 |
TOTAL | 1,506 | 1,525 | 1,087 | 682 | 857 | 5,657 |
'Regions' denote the regions of England. However, 'North West' includes reporting related to Scotland and Northern Ireland; 'North West' includes reporting related to North Wales; and 'South West' includes reporting related to South Wales and Dyfed.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK Visas and Immigration Compliance Unit inspections were carried out in 2024 in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37197 on Visas: Seasonal Workers, what steps she is taking to facilitate Scheme Operators in enforcing welfare on farms.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
UKVI Seasonal Agricultural Worker Officers visit farms, interviewing both workers and farm managers to ensure that worker welfare, accommodation standards, as well as pay and conditions meet the requirements of the route.
Regular bi-monthly meetings are held with the licensed sponsors to ensure any complaints raised or issues identified are addressed as soon as possible.
Should systemic issues relating to worker welfare be identified that are not acted upon, UKVI will consider taking punitive action against the associated provider, up to and including the revocation of their licence.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37199 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, how many complaints were received by HMRC for seasonal agricultural workers in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.
HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.
HMRC continues to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many complaints we receive relating to seasonal agricultural workers.