Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will publish the (a) Master Services Agreement and (b) Mails Distribution Agreement between Royal Mail Group and Post Office Limited signed in January 2012.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
It would not be appropriate for the Government to publish the agreed terms. The Master Services Agreement and Mails Distribution Agreement are commercial agreements that were negotiated by Royal Mail (RM) and Post Office Limited (POL), at arm's length, designed to govern the ongoing relationship between the businesses.
The Master Services Agreement was a transitional document dealing with the separation of POL and RM ensuring POL retained access to certain key functions while it developed its own standalone capabilities appropriate to an independent business.
The Mails Distribution Agreement governs the retail mail and parcels services offered by POL on behalf of RM, including commercial terms.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2024 to Question 24406 on Export Credit Guarantees, whether (a) a Minister or (b) an official in her Department has unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee in advance of negotiations with a company.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department of Business and Trade has not unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee to any company.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether funding has been allocated to Harland & Wolff to run a ferry service between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
£48 million has been allocated to the Council of the Isles of Scilly from the Levelling Up Fund.
No funding has been awarded by my Department for Harland & Wolff to run a ferry service between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2024 to Question 13544 on Export Credit Guarantees, whether (a) her Department or (b) UK Export Finance has unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee in advance of negotiations with a company.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK Export Finance has not unilaterally proposed a 100% guarantee in considering requests by applicants for its support.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how export development guarantees are scrutinised.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK Export Finance (UKEF) undertakes appropriate financial and other due diligence on all applications for its support. Further information on the eligibility criteria for the Export Development Guarantee is provided online at Export Development Guarantee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Information on UKEF’s governance and due diligence can also be found in its Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his criteria are for publicly disclosing payments made to contractors working on defence programmes.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Where applicable, the Department publishes a Contract Notice for MOD-issued tenders for new procurements over £12,000 (inc VAT) on Contracts Finder which is in the public domain.
Additionally, the Department provides the Cabinet Office upon request with periodic statistical reports on contracts and tenders over the £12,000 (inc VAT) threshold that have been published or are exempt from publication.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid to (a) Harland and Wolff and (b) Navantia UK under the Fleet Solid Support programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) on 23 April 2024 to Question 22462.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many blocks will comprise one vessel in the Fleet Solid Support programme; and how many of those will be fabricated in (a) the UK and (b) Spain.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Alex Chalk) to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne on 20 January 2023 to Question 128600.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2024 to Question 13545, whether legal advice has been sought on providing a 100% guarantee on lending to a company under the Export Development Guarantee.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Government does not comment on ongoing commercial discussions.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department paid General Dynamics UK in 2023-24 for the Ajax programme.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 the Ministry of Defence paid General Dynamics UK £437 million for the AJAX programme. All payments have been made in accordance with performance against the payment schedule and milestone plan within the extant fixed price contract. I am unable to publish the details of the milestones and payment schedule as this may prejudice the Department’s commercial interests.