Written questions by Rhodes.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK's investment and trade policy does not undermine its international leadership on climate action.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the compatibility of ISDS mechanisms with the UK’s stated commitment to supporting a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Consultation outcome for the Green Paper: Future of Post Office, updated on 25 February 2026, what progress has been made with holding joint discussions between the Post Office and banks to expand the range of banking services available at post offices.

As set out in the Government response, there was a constructive joint discussion between government, the Post Office and the banking sector in January 2026. Several areas of mutual interest were discussed including banking services, financial inclusion, the need for modernisation and the importance of continuing to improve financial crime safeguards. Attendees agreed to further explore opportunities for continued collaboration on a voluntary basis and to provide an update in six months.

When his Department plans to publish the UK-Kazakhstan critical minerals agreement.

The UK-Kazakhstan Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals Cooperation has not been published and there are no plans to do so. However, it is referenced in UK's Critical Minerals Strategy published in November 2025.

What proposals UK negotiators have made on the transparency of investor-state dispute settlement arbitration at the (a) OECD and (b) UN.

In line with the Trade Strategy, the UK continues to work with trading partners multilaterally, at the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice, such as promoting transparency in ISDS proceedings. The proposals being discussed at the UN Commission for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the OECD can be found on their respective websites.

What the UK's negotiating objectives are with regard to discussions on investor-state dispute settlement reform led by the (a) OECD and (b) UN.

In line with the Trade Strategy, the UK continues to work with trading partners multilaterally, at the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice, such as promoting transparency in ISDS proceedings. The proposals being discussed at the UN Commission for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the OECD can be found on their respective websites.

When he expects to publish the findings of the responsible business conduct review.

Soon.

What discussions his Department has had with their Colombian counterparts on the Colombia-UK Bilateral Investment Treaty in the last four years.

My Department regularly engages with Colombia to discuss trade and investment matters, primarily through the UK-Andean countries trade agreement committees which have been meeting annually since 2022 and the UK-Colombia Trade Dialogue. My Department has not received a formal approach by its Colombian counterparts to discuss the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89908 on Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution, what assessment has the Government made of the likely costs of defending the arbitration being brought against it by Mikhail Fridman.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.The UK has a longstanding track record of supporting foreign investment, including through fulfilling its obligations in the international investment agreements to which it is a party and has never faced a successful ISDS claim.The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

What assessment has the Government made of its overall exposure to further potential Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases over sanctions policy on Russia.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory, or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation.The UK has a longstanding track record of supporting foreign investment, including through fulfilling its obligations in the international investment agreements to which it is a party and has never faced a successful ISDS claim.The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

What review processes does the Government have in place to assess the adequacy of its trade and investment treaty commitments for the UK-Russia Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The UK’s International Investment Agreements (IIAs) aim to enhance opportunities for UK businesses to expand overseas, with commitments that seek to limit the barriers they face, make it easier to navigate local rules, and ensure investments are treated lawfully, and protected against unfair or arbitrary action. There is no specific review process within this Agreement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89908 on Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution, under what arbitral rules were proceedings brought in those two active case.

The arbitral proceedings for HMG’s two active ISDS cases were brought under UNCITRAL (Mr Mikhail Maratovich Fridman) and ICSID (Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited) arbitral rules.

Who the parties are in the two active Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases against the UK.

The Government is a respondent in two active arbitrations, (1) Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited and; (2) Mr Mikhail Maratovich Fridman.The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

With reference to the United Nations' framework entitled Protect, respect and remedy and the United Nations document entitled Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, published in June 2011, what steps his Department is taking to fulfil the UK’s duty to (a) protect against business-related human rights abuses in supply chains and (b) provide access to remedy for victims of such abuses.

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) across the economy. The Government expects all UK companies to respect human rights, workers’ rights and the environment throughout their operations and supply chains in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for RBC.In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to RBC, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains. The FCDO will also be carrying out a National Baseline Assessment (NBA) on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to inform this review.We have also established the Office for RBC, to replace the UK's National Contact Point. This enhanced office will support industry to integrate responsible business practices and help victims of corporate malpractice through continuing to operate a non-judicial complaints mechanism for alleged violations of the OECD Guidelines.

If he will take steps to help tackle (a) exploitative and (b) environmentally unsustainable purchasing practices in the tea sector.

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote responsible business conduct across the economy. The Government also supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to identify and prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms across their operations, purchasing practices and supply chains, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of these existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools, to ensure we can best promote responsible business practices and take action where appropriate.

With which stakeholders will his Department consult on its proposed trade strategy, and what timeframe that consultation will follow.

The Department recognises that stakeholder engagement is vital in developing the Trade Strategy. We have conducted targeted business engagement across the UK, including an open call for views from industry, civil society organisations, and academia. Stakeholders submitted views via a dedicated Trade Strategy mailbox, which closed on 17 January 2025, generating over 200 submissions. We will maintain engagement to ensure stakeholder views are heard as we develop and deliver a Trade Strategy for the whole of the UK.