Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports in The Times on 23 January that more than 40 British universities “have links to Uyghur Genocide, weapons development, espionage, defence research and hacking”; what estimate they have made of the total annual revenue such collaboration generates; and what steps they are taking to deter universities from partnerships with bodies linked to authoritarian states.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is aware of the reports in the Times on 23 January concerning British university collaborations with China. British universities are independent of Government and they have no obligation to report their revenues as they arise from overseas collaborations.
The Government provides direct support to universities through the Research Collaboration Advice Team, a collaboration set up to help academia manage risks in international collaboration, embed good practice and to ensure that they understand the legislative and regulatory measures that apply. These measures are kept under review and will be strengthened where necessary.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to end unfair purchasing practices in fashion, including the exploitation of suppliers and their workers by brands selling into the UK market; and what consideration they have given to introducing (1) a fashion watchdog, and (2) a fashion supply code adjudicator, for this industry.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since October 2020, a wide group of stakeholders comprising retailers, manufacturers and non-profit organisations have been working with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) under the Apparel and General Merchandise Public Private Protocol to address poor working, pay, and purchasing practices in the UK supply chain.
In response to the single enforcement body consultation published last year, the government reaffirmed its commitment to continue engaging with the enforcement bodies and industry partners to strengthen our understanding of the garment trade. We will continue to review this issue and consider options to drive up standards across the sector.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current status of the bid by a Chinese owned company to purchase Newport Wafer Fab; how many UK businesses in the semi-conductor supply chain are owned by companies based outside the UK; and what assessment they have made of (1) the value of Newport Wafer Fab’s intellectual property, and (2) the sensitivity of any defence contracts it holds.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 5 July 2021, Nexperia announced on its website that it had completed a transaction to acquire 100% of Newport Wafer Fab.
The Government recognises the importance of semiconductor technology to key UK industries, and the wider digital ecosystem. Supply chains for semiconductors are extremely complex, spanning a large number of countries.
The Government is not able to comment on a company’s commercially sensitive information, nor can the Government comment on the detail businesses’ commercial transactions or on national security assessments.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much oil and gas was imported from Cameroon to the UK in (1) 2020, and (2) 2021.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of national security interests in permitting the sale of Newport Wafer Fab to Nexperia, a Chinese-owned company.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is considering the case and no decisions have been made. The Government is unable to comment on the details of businesses’ commercial transactions or on national security assessments.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre Ciaran Martin that (1) there were "very real concerns" about the buyout of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia, a Chinese-owned company, and (2) that it posed a greater threat than allowing Huawei to build the UK's 5G network.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not comment on the detail of national security assessments.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the UK's Five Eyes allies about strategic and security matters prompted by the sale of Newport Wafer Fab to Nexperia, a Chinese-owned company; and if they have had no such discussions, why not.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is unable to comment on the detail of national security assessments or on strategic or security conversations with allies.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by their advisor to the Board of Trade, Tony Abbott, that the sale of Newport Wafer Fab "would not go ahead were it happening in Australia"; and what discussions they have had with him about those remarks.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not comment on the detail of national security assessments.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the takeover of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia, a Chinese owned company, whether the semiconductor plant is the largest in the UK; and what assessment they have made of the supply need for semiconductors in the UK.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Newport Wafer Fab is one of the largest semiconductor plants in the UK. The Government is aware of the vital role of the semiconductor sector in the global economy and remains committed to ensuring the UK sector continues to play an important role in an international ecosystem.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not used their powers under under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to review the takeover of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia, a Chinese-owned company.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is considering the case. The UK Government has powers to intervene where there is a risk to national security under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which commenced on 4 January 2022.