Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department have taken to ensure businesses adhere to creditors' responsibilities when debtors are under a Debt respite breathing space period.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
A breathing space gives individuals the right to legal protections from creditor action to recover debts included in the agreement. If a creditor does not comply, the regulations set out that the debt adviser responsible for the application can contact the creditor to remind them of their obligations or ultimately notify the Insolvency Service, as the scheme’s administrator, to require their compliance. Notifications to the Insolvency Service are very rare. If non-compliance persists, action taken by a creditor is invalid and they may be liable for the debtor’s costs. Repeated breaches can be considered by the creditor’s regulator, where appropriate.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is able to take to respond to economic coercion from other countries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is well prepared to respond to economic coercion and has a strong and flexible toolkit to defend its interests. We can act through diplomatic engagement, international dispute mechanisms, and cooperation with allies, including the G7. We also retain the ability to use trade and non‑trade measures, consistent with international rules, to address unfair trading practices and protect UK businesses. Alongside this, we are strengthening economic resilience by supporting businesses to diversify markets and supply chains, and by continuing to reform and enhance our trade defence and remedies framework, including through seeking views on new powers to respond to economic pressure.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in Iraq on the rights of religious minorities in that country.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 October 2025 in response to Question 75586.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when security and defence arrangements were last assessed for each of the overseas territories.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK maintains credible contingency plans for the Overseas Territories, and has strategically located bases in Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island, the Sovereign Base Areas on the island of Cyprus, and the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia. These plans are kept under review to ensure they are commensurate to the threat.