Written questions by Hussain.

What steps his Department is taking to support the development of high-skilled jobs in sectors reliant on research and innovation in Bradford and West Yorkshire.

Our modern Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and create a highly skilled, economically prosperous country. Its key objectives are to drive up business investment and create high-quality jobs across the UK.We are directing £9 billion in research and innovation funding to Industrial Strategy sectors, with £4.5 billion directed towards innovative businesses. Additionally, the West of Yorkshire Combined Authority will benefit from targeted interventions, including: at least £30 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding, a strategic partnership with the National Wealth Fund and dedicated support from a British Business Bank Cluster Champion. Together, interventions like this are helping create the conditions to attract investment, support innovation and unlock opportunities for high-quality, high-skilled jobs.

What steps his Department is taking to support (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups in (i) Bradford and (ii) West Yorkshire.

Through the Industrial Strategy, Small Business Plan and Budget 2025, the government is backing small businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK.The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has integrated its support for businesses in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service. UK businesses, including those in West Yorkshire, can access our wide range of support via business.gov.uk. We're engaging more closely with founders and scaling firms, understanding the support required to unblock barriers and help scale-ups realise their full potential.The recent Made in West Yorkshire Sold to the World event provided a great opportunity to strengthen DBT’s partnerships across the region.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of access to finance for start-ups in (a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire.

This government is committed to supporting startups to grow and thrive in every part of the country. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking measures to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, including a £4bn finance boost to increase access to finance for SMEs.Startups across West-Yorkshire can access government-backed finance delivered by the British Business Bank, including Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme and free, tailored advice through the West Yorkshire Growth Hub. Over 11,000 loans (£113m funding) were issued across the Yorkshire and Humber between 2012 and 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to export support services for SMEs in Bradford.

Under the umbrella of the Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support including the Business Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.DBT has built strong partnerships in West Yorkshire specifically, including Minister McDougall joining West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin at the recent Made in West Yorkshire Sold to the World event in Bradford.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of existing business support programmes in reaching SMEs in deprived communities.

This government is committed to ensuring that small and medium sized businesses are able to access the support they need to start, grow and thrive in every community. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking a holistic approach to strengthening the business support landscape, including reaching into underserved and deprived areas.Business support available includes the Business Growth Service, which works closely with the West Yorkshire Business Growth Hub. Working in tandem they provide free, tailored advice to all SMEs in the region, including amongst deprived communities.The Maple Review is an independent, government-backed initiative launched in Summer 2025 to identify and dismantle economic barriers to entrepreneurship in the UK. The Review’s final report and recommendations are anticipated for May/June 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning unlicensed traders from selling fireworks to the public during specific festive periods.

No recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of current legislation governing the sale and use of fireworks in England and Wales including the purchase from registered sellers during specific dates. Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their circumstances.

What steps he is taking to encourage the use of (a) quieter (i) fireworks and (ii) drone shows and (b) other low-impact alternatives at public events.

The Government have launched a public campaign on fireworks safety for this year’s fireworks season which encourages the use of low noise fireworks. The campaign also features new guidance for those running community fireworks events which recommends the use of low-noise fireworks to reduce the impact on communities, as well as social media materials that emphasise the risks from the misuse of fireworks. The campaign materials are being shared widely to increase their impact.

What plans he has to increase the powers of (a) local authorities and (b) the police to (i) enforce firework regulations and (ii) respond to public complaints.

No recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of current legislation governing the sale and use of fireworks in England and Wales including the purchase from registered sellers during specific dates. Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their circumstances.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of current legislation governing the (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks in England and Wales.

No recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of current legislation governing the sale and use of fireworks in England and Wales including the purchase from registered sellers during specific dates. Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers, based on their circumstances.

If he will publish a list of items licensed for sale to Israel for (a) military and (b) dual-use which are being used in the West Bank by the Israeli (i) military, (ii) police and (iii) other government body.

We publish annual and quarterly reports on export licences issued, refused, or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the products covered by these licences. They are available to view on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. Summary data on our current export licences to Israel was also published on 11 June 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing Israel from the list of approved recipients for the Open General license.

Following the decision by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on 2 September 2024 to suspend licences related to use by Israel in the current military operations in Gaza, a number of open general export licences were amended. Further detail on the affected licences can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-202420-suspension-of-licences-for-israel. The OGEL for exports in support of the F-35 programme has been amended to exclude exports direct to Israel. Any broader suspension with respect to this OGEL is not possible without undermining the programme overall, which would have a significant negative impact on international peace and security.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section V of the International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, published by the United Nations Palestinian Rights Committee on 18 October 2024 on the issuing of export licenses for F-35 fighter jet components to be sold indirectly to Israel through an intermediary country.

The UK is fully committed to international law and fully respects the independence of the International Court of Justice.  We continue to consider the Court’s Advisory Opinion carefully, with the seriousness and rigour it deserves. The F35 programme has a significant dependence on the UK, which provides unique and critical components. At the present time, any suspension of F-35 components to Israel through the programme is not possible without undermining the programme overall, and the government’s judgement is that this would have a significant negative impact on international peace and security. Therefore, at the present time, exports to the F-35 programme are excluded from the current suspension of export licences. We are keeping this under close review.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to continue issuing licenses for F-35 fighter jet components that are sold indirectly to Israel through an intermediary country on human rights in (a) Gaza and (b) the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The F35 programme has a significant dependence on the UK, which provides unique and critical components. At the present time, any suspension of F-35 components to Israel through the programme is not possible without undermining the programme overall, and the government’s judgement is that this would have a significant negative impact on international peace and security. Therefore, at the present time, exports to the F-35 programme are excluded from the current suspension of export licences. We are keeping this under close review.The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has set out this decision in further detail to the House in his written ministerial statement on 2 September 2024: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-09-02/hcws64

With reference to the press release entitled UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns, published on 2 September 2024, what the value is of each arms export licence that has been suspended.

We have suspended export licences for Israel where these relate to items for use in military operations in Gaza. It includes licences for components for fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, naval systems and targeting equipment. The details of individual suspended licences contain sensitive information relevant to the individual exporter companies, and therefore the government is not providing further comment on them.

With reference to the press release entitled UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns, published on 2 September 2024, which companies have had arms export licences suspended.

We have suspended export licences for Israel where these relate to items for use in military operations in Gaza. It includes licences for components for fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, naval systems and targeting equipment. The details of individual suspended licences contain sensitive information relevant to the individual exporter companies, and therefore the government is not providing further comment on them.