Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Law this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 141–160 of 236 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on the refoulement of former Guantanamo Bay detainees from third countries.
We urge all States to ensure those in detention are treated in line with international human rights law. Discussions of non-British nationals in Guantanamo Bay are a matter for the US and the nations of those detained.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK-Israel trade of Israel’s policies on (a) democratic principles and (b) human rights.
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world; we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. The UK Government urges all countries, including Israel, to adhere to democratic principles and uphold human rights in line with international law. We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues.
How many (a) direct and (b) indirect supply chain jobs have been created under the North Sea Transition Deal.
The North Sea Transition Deal remains an important partnership between Government and industry, but job creation is based on many factors. Attributing direct or indirect job creation to the Deal alone is not possible and the Department does not track these figures. The Government and industry continue to work together to deliver on the commitments in the North Sea Transition Deal. This includes actions to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.
Whether his Department's target in the 2021 North Sea Transition Deal to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs has been met.
The Deal agreed in 2021 did not include a target to support 40,000 direct and indirect supply chain jobs. This figure was an estimate of the total number of jobs which could be supported, if several commitments in the Deal are met. Government and industry continue to make progress, working together to deliver on the commitments in this long-term Deal. Government is determined to support workers and the supply chain to build on the opportunities the transition presents, to create high quality, well-paying jobs in existing and future energy industries, with no community left behind.
How many (a) direct and (b) indirect jobs have been created through (i) platform electrification, (ii) CCUS and (iii) hydrogen between 2021-2024.
The Government does not currently have information on jobs created in platform electrification, CCUS and hydrogen between 2021-2024. In 2024, the Government confirmed funding for 11 HAR1 projects, which are estimated to support around 760 direct jobs during construction and operation. The £21.7 billion of funding for Track 1 announced last year is intended estimated to support up to 4,000 direct jobs and the industry as a whole will support up to 50,000 jobs as the sector develops into the 2030s
Whether he has considered suspending the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement.
We believe that having strong diplomatic and economic relationships with partners allows us to have frank discussions on important issues. The UK Government continues to work with our allies and partners, including across the region, to find a path towards permanent peace.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37203 on Seasonal workers: Agriculture, how many Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations reports were received by the Health and Safety Executive for (a) agricultural and (b) seasonal agricultural workers in each of the last five years.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not require dutyholders submitting reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to specify that the report relates to “seasonal agricultural workers”. Therefore, HSE does not hold specific data on the number of RIDDOR reports submitted for “seasonal agricultural workers” in each of the last five years. HSE does collect RIDDOR reports on injuries and diseases to agricultural workers. The two tables below show the total number of RIDDOR reports received for “agricultural workers” from 1 April to 31 March over the last 5 years. Table 1 - Reports of injuries*YearNon-reportableReportableAll reports2020/21408298692021/22227868082022/23267788042023/24277657922024/2533786819*Table 1 - Injury outcomes include fatal, specified injuries, and over-7-day injuries. Table 2 - Reports of occupational diseases, exposures to biological agents, and occupational cancers*YearNon-reportableReportableAll reports2020/21358612021/22120212022/23016162023/24010102024/253811*Table 2 - Reports of specific occupational diseases, includes those caused by an occupational exposure to a biological agent; and cases of occupational cancer. Notes on the two tables:These figures for ‘Agricultural workers’ are defined using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 01 – ‘Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities’, this information is selected by the notifier during the reporting process.Reports marked ‘non-reportable’ in the database, are those determined by HSE operational teams as either not meeting the reporting scope of RIDDOR, or reported as a duplicate. These figures are as-reported, no adjustments are made for under-reporting.Data in Tables 1 and 2 is based on RIDDOR reports as notified to HSE. HSE also publish as official statistics numbers of RIDDOR reported injuries. These official statistics have undergone further data quality checks and differ in scope and coverage to numbers in Tables 1 and 2. For more details of official statistics on RIDDOR reported injuries, see www.hse.gov.uk/statistics
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37199 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, how many complaints were received by HMRC for seasonal agricultural workers in each of the last five years.
The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. All businesses, irrespective of size or business sector, are responsible for paying the correct minimum wage to their staff.HMRC continue to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.HMRC continues to undertake compliance activity within the agriculture sector across the UK. However, we do not hold specific data on how many complaints we receive relating to seasonal agricultural workers.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37194 on Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: Inspections, how many complaints were received by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
'Complaints' is taken to mean referrals received by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) about labour abuses, mistreatment of workers, labour providers operating without a licence or a business using an unlicensed gangmaster.The GLAA reports the number of referrals received in each of the GLAA's regions, over the last 5 years, as: 2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25TOTALNorth East3264142692131821,404North West21419811777127733South East5154993752283371,954South West2702632241321861,075Multi-Region2922271012100Region not listed152129752213391TOTAL1,5061,5251,0876828575,657'Regions' denote the regions of England. However, 'North West' includes reporting related to Scotland and Northern Ireland; 'North West' includes reporting related to North Wales; and 'South West' includes reporting related to South Wales and Dyfed.
How many UK Visas and Immigration Compliance Unit inspections were carried out in 2024 in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37202 on Seasonal workers: Agriculture, how many Health and Safety Executive inspection officials are based in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.
As the table below shows, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) currently employs 897 full time equivalent (FTE) inspector staff in all grades and roles including trainees, managers and specialists with warrants. There are currently 663 FTE Band 3 and 4 inspectors who undertake the delivery of the operational division workplans. This includes inspections and investigations into reported incidents and concerns and where non-compliance with health and safety legislations is identified, the inspectors take regulatory action in accordance with HSE’s published Enforcement Policy Statement. Although HSE staff work across England, Scotland and Wales, these figures are based on the office location where the staff are employed. Job BandEnglandScotlandWalesTotalSCS91-10Band 1284335Band 21522611189Band 33779442513Band 41172112150Total68314668897
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37200 on Agriculture: Seasonal Workers, whether HMRC has made an assessment of the potential impact of productivity related pay on (a) hourly wage calculations and (b) payslips for seasonal agricultural workers.
When HMRC undertake compliance activity, evidence is gathered to determine the hourly rates of pay. We do not hold specific data on seasonal workers from our compliance activity.HMRC continues to crack down on employers who ignore the law, ensuring workers receive the wages to which they are entitled.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37197 on Visas: Seasonal Workers, what steps she is taking to facilitate Scheme Operators in enforcing welfare on farms.
UKVI Seasonal Agricultural Worker Officers visit farms, interviewing both workers and farm managers to ensure that worker welfare, accommodation standards, as well as pay and conditions meet the requirements of the route. Regular bi-monthly meetings are held with the licensed sponsors to ensure any complaints raised or issues identified are addressed as soon as possible. Should systemic issues relating to worker welfare be identified that are not acted upon, UKVI will consider taking punitive action against the associated provider, up to and including the revocation of their licence.
If he will meet with representatives from the Worker Support Centre to discuss reports of alleged non-payment of wages for workers on the Seasonal Worker Visa.
We appreciate the valuable work the Worker Support Centre (WSC) does in supporting workers.The Department acknowledges the challenges for seasonal workers published in the WSC’s Annual report.I have asked officials to ensure that the WSC are given the opportunity to input their expertise as we move forward with the implementation of the Fair Work Agency.
With reference to the Worker Support Centre's Annual Report 2024, published on 14 February 2025, whether the Health and Safety Executive has plans to commission a review into (a) the use of personal protective equipment and (b) repeated injuries on farms employing seasonal workers.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, this includes workplace health and safety risks created in agriculture. HSE can confirm that the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 were amended in 2022 to bring all workers into scope. The above regulations will be subject to a post implementation review (PIR) in 2027. These regulations already require that suitable personal protective equipment is provided, at no cost, to the worker and that workers are trained in its use. Therefore, HSE is of the view that the regulations are currently fit for purpose and have no plans to review them before the planned PIR. Farms have a legal duty to ensure that they provide appropriate PPE to all workers, including seasonal workers, and that those workers also use the PPE provided. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, dutyholders such as farmers have a legal duty to report certain work-related injuries to HSE. Where required, HSE can and does investigate individual reports of work-related incidents across all industries, including farming. In addition, HSE also monitors the accident data that it receives under the above regulations, and tailors its subsequent engagement with the industry in the best, most efficient way to drive improvement in onsite health and safety standards. HSE has no plans to commission a specific review of injuries on farms employing seasonal workers.
How many Health and Safety Executive Inspections of farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa were conducted in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, this includes workplace health and safety risks created in agriculture. The table below shows the total number of farm inspections carried out by HSE over the last 5 years in Scotland, England and Wales. HSE’s farm inspection programme over those years focused on health and safety standards on site for all workers. No farm inspection programmes over the last 5 years were focused exclusively on one group of farm workers such as seasonal workers. If during a farm site visit, matters directly affecting a specific group or number of workers on a particular site were identified by the inspector, they would be dealt with accordingly. Please see the figures for farm inspections conducted in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales:: Number of Farm Inspections*YEAR**ScotlandEngland WalesTotal2019/20143534186952020/213417442122021/2270263593922022/23105627517832023/2422424344802024/25762776 *defined by the Nature of business: Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes** years commencing 1st April
Whether she has plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of the Seasonal Worker visa scheme on recent trends in the level of worker exploitation.
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the Seasonal Worker route under close and ongoing review, including the welfare of participating workers. The Government has noted the contents of the Worker Support Centre Annual Review 2024 and will give due consideration to the issues raised when reviewing the Seasonal Worker route. A key objective of the route is to ensure that overseas workers are protected against modern slavery and other labour abuses. The sponsor licence regime places a broad range of responsibilities on Scheme Operators to ensure that the rights of migrant workers are protected. Ministers will continue to engage with a range of interested parties on these issues, including the Seasonal Worker Interest Group.
How many UK Visas and Immigration Compliance Unit inspections were carried out in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, and (d) Northern Ireland.
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
If she will have discussions with the Seasonal Worker Interest Group on the welfare of workers on seasonal worker visas.
The Home Office keeps all aspects of the Seasonal Worker route under close and ongoing review, including the welfare of participating workers. The Government has noted the contents of the Worker Support Centre Annual Review 2024 and will give due consideration to the issues raised when reviewing the Seasonal Worker route. A key objective of the route is to ensure that overseas workers are protected against modern slavery and other labour abuses. The sponsor licence regime places a broad range of responsibilities on Scheme Operators to ensure that the rights of migrant workers are protected. Ministers will continue to engage with a range of interested parties on these issues, including the Seasonal Worker Interest Group.
If he will meet with representatives from the Worker Support Centre to discuss their 2024 Annual Report, published on 14 February 2025.
We appreciate the valuable work the Worker Support Centre (WSC) does in supporting workers.The Department acknowledges the challenges for seasonal workers published in the WSC’s Annual report.I have asked officials to ensure that the WSC are given the opportunity to input their expertise as we move forward with the implementation of the Fair Work Agency.