Written Statements

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

Thursday 11 June 2020

UK Debt management Office

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Glen)]

The United Kingdom Debt Management Office (DMO) has today published its business plan for the financial year 2020-21. Copies have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and are available on the DMO’s website, www.dmo.gov.uk.

[HCWS289]

British Council

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams)]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has sought an advance of £60 million from the Contingencies Fund in order to provide a loan of up to £60 million to the British Council, which is a key driver of UK soft power overseas. The British Council’s commercial income has been heavily hit by covid-19, leading to significant losses and the risk of insolvency. The British Council has taken measures to reduce its deficit and cut costs, and the FCO has supported the British Council in accessing the coronavirus job retention scheme in line with the scheme’s eligibility criteria for public sector employers, as well as similar schemes in other countries. This has helped it support many of its workforce, and those employed through its partners, funded through the commercial side of its business. The FCO is also working closely with the British Council on its future strategy, operations and long-term sustainable funding models.

However, without additional support from Government the British Council will shortly become insolvent. The FCO is therefore seeking a Contingencies Fund advance to provide an initial loan of up to £60 million to the British Council, drawn down in tranches depending upon need and contingent on the approval of FCO and HM Treasury, to stabilise its financial situation until mid-August 2020. The terms of the loan will be agreed with HM Treasury.

Parliamentary approval for additional capital of £60,000,000 will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £60,000,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

[HCWS285]

Hong Kong

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State (Dominic Raab)]

The latest six-monthly report on the implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on Hong Kong was published today, and is attached. It covers the period from 1 July to 31 December 2019. The report has been placed in the Library of the House. A copy is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.gov. uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office). I commend the report to the House.

The attachment can be viewed online at: http://www. parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-06-11/HCWS284/.

[HCWS284]

NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State (Dominic Raab)]

The following will represent the United Kingdom at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly:

Lord Anderson of Swansea

Stuart Anderson MP

Harriett Baldwin MP

Alun Cairns MP

Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

Douglas Chapman MP

Feryal Clark MP

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP

Nusrat Ghani MP

Lord Hamilton

Kevan Jones MP

Lord Jopling

Baroness Kingsmill

Abena Oppong-Asare MP

Alec Shelbrooke MP (Leader)

John Spellar MP

Bob Stewart MP

Heather Wheeler MP

[HCWS282]

Offensive Weapons

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Crime and Policing (Kit Malthouse)]

As part of the Government’s continuing action to tackle serious violence and keep dangerous weapons off the streets, we have on 9 June laid draft regulations—Surrender of Offensive Weapons (Compensation) Regulations 2020—before Parliament.

These regulations are required as part of our plans to bring in the weapons prohibitions that are provided for by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. These prohibitions will apply to specified rapid-firing rifles and certain other offensive weapons—for example, zombie knives

The Offensive Weapons Act provides for the Government to put in place arrangements for the surrender of those items that will become prohibited under the Act and requires that regulations be made to provide for the payment of compensation to those who surrender items.

The regulations which have been laid set out a scheme for compensation, in particular making provision as to eligibility for compensation and the making and determination of claims. The regulations are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure in both Houses. It is our intention to bring the regulations into force at a time when it is safe and reasonable to expect the owners of these weapons to be able to travel to designated police stations in their areas in order to surrender the items.

We will finalise and publicise full details on the surrender and compensation arrangements before they commence. This will include the details on when the scheme will go live and information on how to surrender and make a claim. This will help to ensure that all those who possess the items in question are well informed and are given sufficient opportunity to surrender their lawfully held items to the police and claim compensation for them.

[HCWS286]

Machinery of Government

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)]

I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention the following machinery of government change.

Policy responsibility for the Official Secrets Acts 1911, 1920, 1939 and 1989 has transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Home Office, to align with wider Home Office work on counter hostile state activity legislation. This change is effective immediately.

[HCWS287]

Change in Machinery of Government

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)]

I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention the following machinery of government change.

Responsibility for the border delivery group, henceforth known as the border and protocol delivery group, has transferred from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to the Cabinet Office. This change is effective immediately and will help to ensure readiness of the border for the end of the transition period and lay the foundations for the best border in the world by 2025. Existing ministerial responsibilities remain unchanged.

[HCWS288]

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

Thursday 11th June 2020 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)]

The United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe is as follows:

(Gareth Johnson MP—Leader)