Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK has participated in full in NATO's Locked Shields cyber defence exercise since its inception; and if not, why.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2022, the UK has participated in NATO's Locked Shields cyber defence exercise. From 2025, the UK limited its involvement due to the establishment of the new Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF), which created transitional challenges that prevented the coherent commitment of resources. Now that DCEMF has stood up, the exercise is a priority within the UK Defensive Cyber Operating Programme to ensure that UK defensive cyber forces are fully prepared for NATO-led, large-scale warfighting.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the UK will fully participate in NATO's Locked Shields exercise in 2027 to test the UK’s preparedness in cyber defence.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For 2027, the UK intends to fully participate in NATO's Locked Shields exercise with a cross-government team, including the National Cyber Security Centre and UK Head Office, alongside a pan-Defence group of approximately 50 personnel. Planning is well advanced, and the UK contingent is expected to partner with either Norway or Hungary to test and enhance the UK’s preparedness in cyber defence.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty on consumer confidence in electric vehicles.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Government remains firmly committed to the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and has carefully considered the potential impact of electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) on consumer uptake of electric vehicles.
The rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that EVs are cheaper to own and run for the majority of EV drivers. Alongside eVED, the Government also announced at the Budget in 2025 generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the VED Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs.
The Government has set out the expected impacts of eVED and related Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK.
The Government published a consultation which provides further detail on how eVED will work and sought views on its implementation, available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved. The consultation closed on 18 March 2026 and the Government will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure that the administration of the US tariff quota continues to protect high-end British manufacturers and exporters.
Answered by Lord Stockwood
The UK remains the only country to have secured a 10% tariff for automotives within quota - saving hundreds of millions of pounds on UK exports annually.
We will continue to engage with the US Administration, and with the UK autos industry on how we can best deliver for them.
Supporting the sector remains a priority for this Government, and we will keep industry informed to support business planning and future investment decisions.
The UK's landmark economic deal with the US will protect thousands of jobs, support key British industries, and help drive economic growth.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative impact on motorists of recent transport policy decisions, including the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty and the retention of existing smart motorways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government’s decisions are enabling drivers to benefit from safer and smoother roads, while helping them to save money. Over £35 billion is being invested in local and strategic roads; the fuel duty freeze has been extended; and the fuel price finder launched. Alongside this, a £2 billion grant will support motorists who want to go electric and the Road Safety Strategy seeks to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the US judgment on 5 August in the case of United States, et al. v. Google, LLC, (No. 20-cv-3010 (APM) (D.D.C. Aug. 5, 2024), Dkt. No. 1033) and in particular, what estimate they have made of the proportion of the $200 billion unlawful transactions identified in the judgment which pertains to UK trade; and what assessment they have made of the effect eliminating the unlawful practices identified in the judgment would have on (1) the UK’s gross domestic product, and (2) the UK’s tax revenue.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) is independent to Government and is responsible for investigating competition issues in the UK. In July 2020, the CMA published the final report of its market study into online platforms and digital advertising. The report showed evidence of Google having significant market power in the general search and advertising markets. Since this report, the CMA has opened investigations into suspected anti-competitive conduct by Google in the ad-tech market and the use of its ‘privacy sandbox’ tools.
The Government is working with the CMA to implement the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act. Part 1 of the Act will equip the CMA with faster, more effective tools to address the causes and consequences of market power in digital markets. This includes ensuring a small number of the most powerful digital firms comply with tailored rules on how they treat consumers and other businesses. The CMA will also be able to address the causes of competition issues in digital markets, to promote more dynamic markets. These reforms are estimated to deliver £6.2bn in consumer benefits over 10 years. The DMCC Act will protect small businesses, save consumers money, boost innovation and drive growth.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Transport on 28 November 2023 (3453), what plans they have to grow and develop the supply chain for L-Category vehicles this year.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has ongoing engagement with the UK’s L-category industry and rider group representatives, particularly in support of its transition to zero emissions.
The Government welcomed the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership’s joint action plan when published in February 2022 and has been supporting its delivery where appropriate.
In support of actions 2 and 3 the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to develop and grow the zero emission motorcycle component and system supply chain in the UK.
In response to action 6, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals for all battery electric L-Category vehicles. The Department continues to work with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on 28 November 2023 (3453), what assessment they have made of their current role in the L-Category community.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has ongoing engagement with the UK’s L-category industry and rider group representatives, particularly in support of its transition to zero emissions.
The Government welcomed the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership’s joint action plan when published in February 2022 and has been supporting its delivery where appropriate.
In support of actions 2 and 3 the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to develop and grow the zero emission motorcycle component and system supply chain in the UK.
In response to action 6, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals for all battery electric L-Category vehicles. The Department continues to work with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Transport on 28 November 2023 (3453), how much they will invest in growing and developing the L-Category supply chain this year.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has ongoing engagement with the UK’s L-category industry and rider group representatives, particularly in support of its transition to zero emissions.
The Government welcomed the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership’s joint action plan when published in February 2022 and has been supporting its delivery where appropriate.
In support of actions 2 and 3 the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to develop and grow the zero emission motorcycle component and system supply chain in the UK.
In response to action 6, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals for all battery electric L-Category vehicles. The Department continues to work with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9.
Asked by: Lord Fox (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on 28 November 2023 (3453), what support they plan to give the L-Category community this year.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has ongoing engagement with the UK’s L-category industry and rider group representatives, particularly in support of its transition to zero emissions.
The Government welcomed the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Zemo Partnership’s joint action plan when published in February 2022 and has been supporting its delivery where appropriate.
In support of actions 2 and 3 the Government made up to £350,000 of funding available for research and development projects to develop and grow the zero emission motorcycle component and system supply chain in the UK.
In response to action 6, the Department is engaged with the MCIA’s recent licensing review proposals for all battery electric L-Category vehicles. The Department continues to work with the recently established “Powered Light Vehicle Community” to address action 9.