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224244

registered interest
date	27/02/2015
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Ukraine
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will propose that the European Union removes all customs duties on Ukrainian exports, and provides technical assistance to Ukrainian companies wishing to enter the European market.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL5297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2015 answer text <p>Ukraine already benefits from autonomous trade preferences which enable most Ukrainian goods to enter the EU market free from import tariffs. In April 2014, the EU unilaterally eliminated or reduced its customs duties on goods originating from Ukraine; for instance, EU import tariffs were removed immediately for 94.7% of industrial products from Ukraine. These autonomous trade preferences have now been extended, so that they will apply for 2015, after which the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) is due to be applied. Under the terms of the DCFTA, 98.1% of the value Ukrainian exports to the EU will become tariff-free. The UK has given its full support for these measures.</p><p> </p><p>The EU is providing significant financial and technical assistance to support Ukraine, including help with economic reform and political stabilisation. In addition to our £4.35 million share of these EU and other multilateral efforts. The UK has also committed a further £1.4 million bilaterally this financial year for humanitarian support in Ukraine. On 23 February, the Prime Minister announced that the UK will release £15 million in emergency assistance for Ukraine. Furthermore, UK Trade &amp; Investment (UKTI) and the British Embassy in Kyiv continue to work closely with the Ukrainian government across a broad range of issues to improve our trade and business links.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 06/03/2015 11:58:28 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

174947

registered interest
date	21/01/2015
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Arab States
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage tariff reductions, labour mobility, mutual recognition of university degrees, trade integration and increased exports, throughout the Arab world.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL4326
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>The UK is taking steps both bilaterally and in the European Union to support stronger economic ties with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Gulf Cooperation Council suspended negotiations with the EU in 2008. However, the UK is working closely with European partners to build on existing Association Agreements (AA) in the region through the Union for the Mediterranean which brings together the EU and 15 countries of the MENA and Southern Mediterranean region. This work is an opportunity to reduce tariffs and further open up these markets for British businesses. The UK has also supported the opening of trade talks with Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt. Of these, the most advanced trade talks are with Morocco; very recently an agreement was concluded to protect Geographical Indications (GIs).</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>UK Trade and Investment also has offices throughout the region working with business to increase UK exports, including a Middle East and North Africa marketing hub in Dubai. The Gulf region is also one of the priorities in the Government’s strategy for international education. In this regard the Government has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education and Research with Kuwait (June 2014), and one on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications with the UAE (May 2013).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 02/02/2015 15:35:58 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

63795

registered interest
date	24/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Domestic Service: Conditions of Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to end the abuse and exploitation of domestic workers in the United Kingdom, especially those from overseas; what means they will use to ensure that such workers have contracts of employment and are regularly paid at least the minimum wage; and whether such protection can extend to the employees of foreign diplomats.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The UK already provides comprehensive employment and social protections to domestic workers and as a rule, domestic workers in the UK are entitled to the same employment rights as workers generally – including the National Minimum Wage (unless they are treated as if they are a member of the family), statutory sick pay, paid annual leave, protections from discrimination and unfair dismissals as well as other protections.</p><p> </p><p>We are fully committed to ensuring that domestic workers are able to access their rights. Anyone who believes they are being mistreated by their employer in any way has access to a number of organisations who can help including the police, the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and Employment Tribunals.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also focused on ensuring that overseas domestic workers are informed about their rights and immigration and borders staff are trained to recognise potential victims of abuse. Overseas domestic workers must have been employed for 12 months before a visa will be granted and must have a signed statement of terms and conditions of employment in line with the National Minimum Wage legislation. Every overseas domestic worker is also provided with a letter informing them of their rights in the UK and where to get help if needed. This letter is provided in a range of languages as well as English.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, all foreign diplomats in the UK are required to respect our laws, including employment regulations. The FCO treats any allegation of mistreatment of staff in diplomatic households very seriously. Any allegations that the law has been broken are investigated by the police and the FCO will take appropriate steps to assist the investigation which may include requesting the withdrawal of diplomatic immunity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/07/2014 15:52:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

57532

registered interest
date	04/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enforce the National Minimum Wage, and in particular to protect the employees of agencies and those on zero-hours contracts from exploitation.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL5
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>HMRC enforces the National Minimum Wage for all workers. This includes agency workers and those on zero hour contracts. HMRC investigates every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights helpline. In addition, HMRC conducts risk-based enforcement in sectors or areas where there is a higher risk of workers not getting paid the legal minimum wage.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>The Government is taking a tougher approach on employers that break National Minimum Wage law and has already made it simpler to name and shame employers that break NMW law. The Government has also increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 18/06/2014 13:53:18 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton