Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
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 ensure that the UK's investment and trade policy does not undermine its international leadership on climate action.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This Government is committed to being an international leader on environmental issues. This includes tackling climate change, delivering our clean energy superpower mission, achieving our net zero and other environmental goals, while supporting economic growth. As set out in the Trade Strategy, we will maintain our right to regulate in pursuit of our ambitious climate and environment goals in any and all new trade agreements. Additionally, we will seek outcomes in trading frameworks, including at the WTO, that support sustainable trade, and drive initiatives that support trade in environmental goods and services.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
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 compatibility of ISDS mechanisms with the UK’s stated commitment to supporting a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove governments’ right to regulate in the public interest, including with respect to the environment. We jealously and zealously guard this right.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed agri-food tariff reductions on the ability of small-scale farmers in the Global South to benefit from preferential tariff arrangements under the UK’s Developing Country Trading Scheme.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is aware that some developing country exporters may face extra competition as a result of UK agri-food tariff suspensions. However, there are potential opportunities for addressing cost-of-living pressures faced by UK families. Therefore, it is right we review our tariffs to help alleviate some of these pressures.
The Government welcomes views on the impacts of suspending tariffs on any of the specific products listed in the call for input which launched on 27th May and closes on 24th June 2026.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his priorities are for the International Conference on Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels; and whether he plans to support measures to remove legal and financial barriers to climate action at this conference.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the adequacy of levels of UK Government funding for the Glasgow City Region.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)
This UK Government has committed more than £870 million to deliver long term economic growth across the Glasgow City Region, including investing more than £350 million over the next three years.
Furthermore, the region will be up to £15m better off under our new pride in place and local growth investments than if the UK Shared Prosperity Fund had been continued.
Since the election in 2024, the UK Labour Government has also provided the Scottish Government with £12 billion of additional funding to spend on devolved priorities.
I am sure my Honourable Friend will agree with me that there is no excuse for the SNP Scottish Government's cuts to Scottish local authority budgets.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help terminally ill people with increased energy costs.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to supporting people nearing the end of life. The Department for Work and Pensions’ ‘Special Rules for End of Life', help terminally ill people to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment, serve waiting periods, and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit. In addition, everyone with a domestic energy contract will benefit from our action to take money off energy bills to tackle the cost of living. They may also be eligible for support such as the Warm Home Discount and we urge anyone in such a challenging situation to contact their energy supplier or Citizens Advice to see what further support is available. Vulnerable consumers who need extra support are also able to sign up for the Priority Services Register for free.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Consultation outcome for the Green Paper: Future of Post Office, updated on 25 February 2026, what progress has been made with holding joint discussions between the Post Office and banks to expand the range of banking services available at post offices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As set out in the Government response, there was a constructive joint discussion between government, the Post Office and the banking sector in January 2026. Several areas of mutual interest were discussed including banking services, financial inclusion, the need for modernisation and the importance of continuing to improve financial crime safeguards. Attendees agreed to further explore opportunities for continued collaboration on a voluntary basis and to provide an update in six months.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support she plans to offer to UK universities and Gaza students who hold offers to begin their studies in Autumn 2026.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government provided exceptional support to enable the departure of fully funded scholarship students from Gaza, for students whose courses began before 31 December 2025. This support was for students who met the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules.
The Government is reviewing the impact of the policy and any decision on further support will depend on the evolving international situation. We will continue to keep the policy under review.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to publish the UK-Kazakhstan critical minerals agreement.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK-Kazakhstan Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals Cooperation has not been published and there are no plans to do so. However, it is referenced in UK's Critical Minerals Strategy published in November 2025.
Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the UK's negotiating objectives are with regard to discussions on investor-state dispute settlement reform led by the (a) OECD and (b) UN.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In line with the Trade Strategy, the UK continues to work with trading partners multilaterally, at the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice, such as promoting transparency in ISDS proceedings. The proposals being discussed at the UN Commission for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the OECD can be found on their respective websites.