Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many export licenses for arms and defensive equipment between the UK and Israel are currently active.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government published specific information relating to export licensing to Israel on 20 April 2026, covering extant export licences on 28 February 2026. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel).
At that date, there were 203 extant military licences to Israel. These include 89 for components for items to be re-exported from Israel to third countries, 37 licences for the export of items to commercial companies (such as for testing or demonstration purposes), and 9 covering military grade equipment for academic or civilian purposes (including protective equipment for non-combatants).
68 remained extant where the Government of Israel is the end-user or a potential end-user. These include parts for trainer aircraft, missile defence systems, or components for submarines – which were not assessed to have combat utility in current military operations in Gaza.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that illegal settlements in the West Bank are covered by UK sanctions.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international law. The UK has sanctioned individuals, illegal settler outposts and organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as well as Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, in their personal capacity for inciting violence towards Palestinians. Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to Written Statement UIN HCWS1171 on Upgraded Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Korea: negotiation update, what impact the deal will have on the a) salmon and b) whisky industry.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The upgraded FTA secures several provisions to reduce administrative burden and costs for UK businesses.
It streamlines clearance processes for the release of perishable goods like Salmon and ensures Scottish salmon raised from imported seedstock qualify for tariff-free access to the Republic of Korea, commitments welcomed by the Scottish salmon industry.
The FTA also locks in our Geographical Indication protection for Scotch Whisky, preventing the sale of fake Whisky in Republic of Korea. New rules of origin provisions will make it easier to export via distribution hubs without being charged tariffs, a key facilitation welcomed by the industry.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of fraudulent companies registered with Companies House.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In October 2023, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 was enacted with the primary purpose of bearing down on the fraudulent use of corporate structures in the UK. The process of implementing that legislation is underway but strengthened powers have already enabled the registrar of companies to intervene against 100,400 companies – equivalent to 2% of the register. This is further helped by expanded data sharing powers to collaborate with Law Enforcement partners to tackle strategic threats. Furthermore, this year Companies House is implementing mandatory Identity Verification to prevent false or hijacked identities being used.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
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 impact of lifting tariffs on non-folding Chinese e-bikes on British manufacturers.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
On 6 February the government extended the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Chinese e-bikes but only for folding e-bikes. The independent Trade Remedies Authority assessed the annual impact of removing the measures on non-folding Chinese e-bikes, as can be found in their Final Recommendation to the Secretary of State. The Trade Remedy Authority’s assessment was considered by the Secretary of State as part of his decision.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
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 impact of tariffs applied by the US Government on (a) jobs and (b) exports in (i) Edinburgh North and Leith constituency and (ii) Scotland.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
We know that this will be a concerning time for businesses in Scotland; in 2024, 12.3% of goods exported from Scotland were to the US. That is why the government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US and we remain committed to these discussions.
The government is resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and ministers and officials will continue to engage with businesses to understand the impact of these tariffs.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of employees who will benefit from the increase in national minimum wage rates in Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Approximately 200,000 employees in Scotland are expected to benefit from a direct pay rise due to the increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage in April 2025, according to the Government’s Impact Assessment. Constituency-level estimates are not available due to greater data reliability issues arising from low survey response rates.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 20 of the King’s Speech Background Briefing Notes, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 17 July 2024, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of people who will be affected by the proposals to ban exploitative zero-hour contracts (a) nationally and (b) in Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (for January to March 2024) suggest that around 1,030,000 people (representing 3.1% of total employment) were employed on a zero-hours contract in the UK.
Over the same period there were approximately 71,000 people (equating to 2.7% of total employment) employed on a zero-hours contract in Scotland.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 20 of the King’s Speech Background Briefing Notes, published by the Prime Minister's Office on 17 July 2024, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of people who will be affected by the proposals to deliver a genuine living wage (a) nationally and (b) in Edinburgh North and Leith constituency.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The minimum wage has been one of the most effective and successful policy interventions of the last 25 years. The Government is committed to delivering a genuine living wage for working people, and removing the discriminatory age bands, so that all adults can benefit.
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) will complete its April 2025 rate recommendations by the end of October 2024. The government will then announce the rates this Autumn and publish an impact assessment when the regulations are laid which will include estimates of the number of people who will benefit from the uprating. This approach will put more money in working people’s pockets to spend, boosting economic growth, resilience and conditions for innovation.