Written Statements

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Written Statements

Wednesday 22 May 2024

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: Estimated Spend 2023-24

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Alex Burghart)]

My noble Friend the Minister of State, Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, has today made the following statement:

I wish to update the House on the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund’s estimated spend for financial year 2023-24.

The CSSF, now replaced by the Integrated Security Fund, was a cross-government fund which used Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funding to enable the integrated delivery of National Security Council priorities. The most recent annual report, for financial year 2022-23, was published in January 2024. A copy of this document can be found at gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-annual-report-2022-to-2023.

The CSSF is estimated to spend approximately £848.9 million in the financial year 2023-24. £505.7 million of this was ODA and £343.2 million was non-ODA funding. Total CSSF spending in the financial year 2022-23 was £830.4 million as set out in the annual report.

The CSSF transitioned to the Integrated Security Fund on 1 April 2024. The ISF is designed to help address global challenges and build on the unique work the CSSF has done to tackle conflict, stability and security challenges overseas which threaten UK national security. Through integrating domestic and overseas national security programming, the ISF aims to have strategic impact, bring value for taxpayers’ money and demonstrate UK innovation. It will take an integrated, agile, catalytic, and high-risk approach to find solutions to the most complex national security challenges outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023.

The ISF retains many features of the CSSF, including international programmes and projects notably in Ukraine and the middle east. It also includes new areas of programming such as maritime security, economic sanctions, emerging and disruptive technology, notably Al, and incorporates existing economic deterrence and cyber programmes into a single fund. This recognises the transnational nature of some of the threats facing the UK and will enable a more coherent and joined up government response.

Large-scale Nuclear Power Station: Wylfa

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Claire Coutinho)]

In January this Government published the civil nuclear road map, which represented the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years. It set out our ambition for 25% of our power to come from nuclear by 2050.

Since then, the Government have been powering on to deliver the road map commitments. We have launched the next phase of the small modular reactor (SMR) technology selection process, with bidders having until June to submit tenders; announced support to a multi-year programme of work to boost nuclear skills in the UK; and announced £196 million of support for a high-tech nuclear fuel facility in the north-west. We intend to take a final investment decision on Sizewell C before the end of this Parliament.

I am proud that this Government are delivering on their commitments and this statement outlines progress on another of our key commitments: to explore a further large-scale nuclear project.



At the spring Budget, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor also announced that Great British Nuclear had reached agreement with Hitachi to acquire the Wylfa (Anglesey/Ynys Môn) and Oldbury-on-Severn (Gloucestershire) nuclear sites.

Today my Department has published a prior information notice (PIN), exploring building a further large-scale nuclear power station, similar in scale to Hinkley in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk. As part of the PIN the Government have indicated that their initial preference is that any such nuclear project should be located at Wylfa. Sitting on the north Wales coast, Wylfa is ideally suited to host a large-scale nuclear project given its proximity to water and nuclear heritage. This announcement has the potential to bring thousands of jobs and investment to the area, boosting the local economy.

This PIN invites interest from all potential large-scale vendors to engage with the Department as it carries out market engagement and builds an understanding of the capacity of the sector to support large-scale project ambitions. The Department will use the information gathered to inform future policy on large-scale nuclear development in the UK. This is an important step in signalling the Government’s intent, and while it is not compulsory for potential vendors to express an interest at this stage, we would encourage all with an interest to do so.

Importantly, I am clear that this announcement does not in any way seek to predetermine outcomes of the ongoing SMR technology selection process, and that indicating the initial preferred use of Wylfa should not preclude access to sufficient site capacity for future SMR requirements.

I am depositing a copy of the PIN in the Libraries of both Houses.

[HCWS494]

Forensic Information Databases Strategy Board: Annual Report 2022-23

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Written Statements

[The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp)]

I am pleased to announce that I am today publishing the annual report of the forensic information databases strategy board for 2022-23. This report covers the national DNA database and the national fingerprints database.

The strategy board chair, DCC Ben Snuggs, has presented the annual report to the Home Secretary under section 63AB(7) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Publication of the report is a statutory requirement under section 63AB(8) of the 1984 Act, as inserted by section 24 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

The report highlights the continued value of fingerprints and DNA in solving crimes and the part these biometrics play in bringing offenders to justice, keeping the public safe and preventing harm to potential future victims. I am grateful to the strategy board for its commitment to fulfilling its statutory functions.

The report has been laid before the House and copies will be available from the Vote Office. It will also be available on gov.uk.

[HCWS496]

Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021: Lord Chancellor’s Review

Wednesday 22nd May 2024 Written Statements

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Chalk)]

I would like to announce today that I have completed my review of the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 following careful consideration of the available data and evidence, including submissions to the “Statutory review of the Whiplash Tariff” call for evidence.



Part 1, section 3 of the Civil Liability Act 2018 provides for the Lord Chancellor to set a tariff of damages for whiplash injuries of up to two years in duration and to make regulations to do so. Section 4 of the Act requires the Lord Chancellor to review regulations made under section 3 within three years of implementation. In laying this statement today, I meet my statutory obligation to review the regulations by 31 May 2024.



As per the requirements of the Act, I will lay a report outlining my review and conclusions in the Libraries of both Houses on the return from Whitsun recess.

[HCWS495]