Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to ensure that the release of Jimmy Lai is a prerequisite to any trade agreement with China.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This Government has no plans to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with China. This Government will stand firm on issues relating to human rights. My Right Honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised the case of Jimmy Lai during his recent visit to China from 18-20 October.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether it is possible to introduce restrictions under the Open General export licensing regime to prevent export of arms to countries deemed at risk of using them for purposes that would violate international humanitarian law without disrupting export to approved recipients.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Open General Licences (OGLs) are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to specified destinations, following an online registration. These licences do not have any approved named recipients, however what they permit and to which destinations must be consistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). If this assessment changes for either, then the OGL is amended, typically by removing the destination of concern. Removal of a destination from an OGL does not prevent an exporter from applying for a Standard Individual Export Licence – which would be assessed on its own merits against the SELC.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what capacity his Department has for monitoring the end-user destination of arms exported under the Open General license regime; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of those licenses with the end-use monitoring obligations of the Export Control Joint Unit.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The scope and terms of Open General Licences (OGLs) are chosen so they are consistent with the SELC. OGLs are typically offered for low risk destinations and low risk items. If our assessment of the risks relating to an OGL changes, then the OGL is amended or revoked. We would expect exporters to apply for a Standard Individual Export Licence where OGLs are not available and we would then be able to make a detailed assessment taking into account the specifics of the application before deciding whether or not to issue a licence.
The UK’s approach is designed to enable a rigorous risk assessment to be carried out before a licence is issued to consider whether goods might be used in a way which is inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). The UK does not carry out end-use verification checks overseas after a licence is issued.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including measures to enable targets of bullying at work to take cases to an employment tribunal in the proposed Employment Rights Bill.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This Government is committed to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay in full and updating Britain's employment protections, so they are fit for our modern economy and the future of work. This includes commitments to support the wellbeing of workers, including their long term physical and mental health, and to ensure employers create and maintain workplaces and working conditions free from harassment. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the Plan, including an Employment Rights Bill that will be introduced to Parliament within 100 days of taking office.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to place a moratorium on arms exports to Israel, in the context of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 assess impact of international humanitarian law on arms exports.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Foreign Secretary met with President Netanyahu in Israel on 14 July and pushed for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. When it comes to arms exports, this Government will uphold our international legal obligations, ensuring that international law is fully factored into decisions on arms exports in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Government will now review the advice available and come to a considered decision. The Government will update Parliament as appropriate once this decision has been made.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of incorporating elements of shared parental leave models used in (a) Sweden and (b) other countries into her policies on shared parental leave.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme gives working families more choice and flexibility about who cares for their child in the first year, and when.
In 2019, the Government consulted on high-level options for reforming parental leave and pay and considered international evidence which suggested a range of factors that encourage parents to share work and childcare more equally.
We sought views on the benefits, costs and trade-offs that would flow from any such reform. The consultation and Government response are published below -
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/good-work-plan-proposals-to-support-families
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help increase business investment (a) outside London and (b) in (i) York and (ii) north Yorkshire.
Answered by Alan Mak - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government-owned British Business Bank is supporting business investment across the UK including through its Nations and Regions Investment Funds. This includes the £660m Northern Powerhouse Fund II programme, supporting growing businesses across the North of England.
Our Growth Hub network is also supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors across England. The Department for Business and Trade is working across the UK, including in York and North Yorkshire to showcase strong, commercial investment opportunities to potential investors and support business to grow. The Government has also agreed a £540 million mayoral devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire to support growth and business investment.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 (a) maximum value for money and (b) equal regional distribution when awarding grant funding to businesses.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Development and delivery of grant schemes within the Department is in line with the principles of Managing Public Money and also addresses the Government Grant Functional Standards’ requirements.
The Department delivers various grant schemes tailored to address specific regional and sectoral needs, emergency response and the government’s wider policy agenda.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take steps to help support the good business charter accreditation scheme.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
I recognise the work that organisations like Good Business Charter do. It is important that the drive to get businesses paying on time, paying its staff the living wage, and making businesses more sustainable doesn’t just come from the Government.
I am keen that organisations like the Office of the Small Business Commissioner work with the Good Business Charter to help tackle late payments and help our Small Businesses grow.