Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to review whistleblower protection frameworks since 2015.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
In April 2026, important amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996 came into force. These clarified that workers who ‘blow the whistle’ on sexual harassment can benefit from whistleblowing protections against detriment and unfair dismissal.
Additionally, the government commenced changes this June to update The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014, adding six new prescribed whistleblowing bodies and changing the remits of seven existing bodies. Keeping the framework up to date, gives workers greater confidence about where to raise concerns, and supports earlier detection of wrongdoing.
The government also plans to launch a consultation on whistleblowing.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to strengthen protections for individuals who cooperate with investigations into corporate misconduct.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Individuals who cooperate with investigations are protected from retaliation by their employer where their reporting qualifies as a “protected disclosure” (or whistleblowing) under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA).
The government intends to consult on the whistleblowing framework in the ERA.
Separately, employees are protected from unfair dismissal under the ERA. A dismissal may be unfair if the employer lacks a fair reason, follows an unfair procedure, or both. An employee who is dismissed for cooperating with an investigation into wrongdoing may be able to bring an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, depending on the circumstances.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
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 the potential merits of adding deceptive pricing to the list of commercial practices that are considered unfair in all circumstances under Schedule 20 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential merits of adding deceptive pricing to the list of commercial practices that are considered unfair in all circumstances under Schedule 20 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA).
The DMCCA requires traders to display prices inclusive of all taxes and unavoidable charges before payment is made. Prices must be accurate and not misleading. Failure to do this may be taken as an unfair trading practice and constitute an offence.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK-manufactured military components exported to third countries are not transferred onward in ways that may breach (a) UK export control requirements and (b) the laws of transit countries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK assesses every export licence application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC). This includes an assessment on the risk of diversion of products to or through destinations subject to UK sanctions or arms embargoes.
Where an export transits or tranships other countries or territories enroute to its final destination, compliance with each country’s legislation and regulations is a matter for the exporter and their freight forwarder. The scope and application of transit and transhipment controls is a matter for each country’s own authorities.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of whether UK arms export controls comply with the domestic laws of partner countries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK assesses every export licence application on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC). This includes an assessment on the risk of diversion of products to or through destinations subject to UK sanctions or arms embargoes.
Where an export transits or tranships other countries or territories enroute to its final destination, compliance with each country’s legislation and regulations is a matter for the exporter and their freight forwarder. The scope and application of transit and transhipment controls is a matter for each country’s own authorities.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure controlled UK miliary items are not exported without proper authorisation.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Any exporter seeking to export controlled items is subject to the UK’s Export Control regime as established under the Export Control Act 2002. All applications for export licences are assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Overall responsibility for enforcement of export controls rests with HMRC. HMRC works closely with Border Force to conduct customs checks to ensure exports are appropriately licences and, where necessary, seize goods at the port.
The export of goods in contravention of our licensing controls is a serious offence and can result in a substantial prison sentence.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
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 implications for his Department’s policies of Colombia's announcement that it will withdraw from the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government values the role played by the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in the investment relationship between our countries. It includes binding investment protection provisions under the ISDS which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation.
My Department has not received a formal approach from its Colombian counterparts to discuss the UK-Colombia BIT or its ISDS provisions.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken a review of the continued inclusion of Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions in UK trade and investment agreements.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.
The Government is aware of the interest in this important policy area and, in line with HMG’s Trade Strategy, the UK will continue to work with trading partners multilaterally, such as the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department holds information on the number of Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims that have been initiated by UK-based investors against foreign governments in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government does not keep a record of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims where it is not a disputing party. The United Nations Commission on Trade and Development maintains a database of known ISDS claims, including those initiated by UK-based investors. This can be found at: https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-dispute-settlement .
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost to the public purse has been of responding to Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims brought against the UK since 2000, including legal fees and arbitration costs.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK has 77 BITs with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. The Government is defending two active arbitrations, neither of which have been settled or concluded. The Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.