Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on commissioning a new Defence Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned.
The development of the Defence Industrial Strategy will explore how to establish a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector, enabling the UK to innovate, deter its adversaries and seize opportunities presented by the technologies of the future.
The Defence Industrial Strategy will be developed at pace in parallel with, but separate from, the Strategic Defence Review and will be published in 2025.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department plans to take to meet the NATO defence industrial capacity expansion pledge; and how this will be incorporated into developing the new Defence Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. Our NATO-first approach will be a vital part of our new Defence Industrial Strategy, with NATO’s industrial and operational requirements and integration with our allies and partners at the heart of our defence plans. The Department is taking steps to meet the NATO defence industrial capacity expansion pledge, including through our NATO Multinational Procurement Initiatives through which we are encouraging more joint procurement amongst NATO allies.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on how many occasions the Export Controls Joint Unit has initiated a Change in Circumstances Review assessment since January 2020; and what the destination country was in each case.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has in place an established process for responding at pace to changing conditions in a country where the UK has previously granted export licences, and where those licences remain extant.
The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK’s export control responsibilities. The MOD advises DBT on the risks of diversion of exported goods and national security risks arising from hostile state activity. The Department of Business and Trade, with DBT Secretary of State as the decision-making authority, decides whether to amend, suspend or revoke any relevant licences.
Given its diplomatic sensitivity, the Government is unable to disclose the specific number and destination countries of Change in Circumstances Reviews.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government’s sanctions policy priorities are; and whether his Department plans to publish an updated strategy.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK uses sanctions to deter and disrupt malign behaviour and demonstrate our defence of fundamental principles, including democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
I recently convened Ministers from across government to deepen our cooperation on sanctions, and review enforcement measures. I also discussed sanctions enforcement with leaders of the Overseas Territories during the Joint Ministerial Council. We regularly coordinate with allies including in the United States, Canada, EU and others to maximise our impact.
This month we announced our largest sanctions package against Russia since May 2023, and working with our allies we will continue to use sanctions to further restrict the revenues and military goods Russia relies on. We have also recently used sanctions to respond to Iran's malign activity, as part of UK efforts to support a more stable West Bank, and targeted members of a Russian cybercrime gang.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department’s International Humanitarian Law Compliance Assessment Process Cell made its most recent assessment of Israel’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to keep Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Gaza under review through a regular assessments process. Our judgment on Israel's IHL compliance remains as set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to Parliament on 2 September.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to publish the UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2023.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2023 is due to be published by the end of this year. It will be laid before Parliament and made available on Gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/united-kingdom-strategic-export-controls-annual-report.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost is of legal fees related to Post Office IT Horizon redress paid to external law firms by (a) scheme and (b) firm.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade delivers the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme and the recently-launched Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).
Since the launch of the GLO scheme in March 2023, a total of c.£2.9 million has been spent on legal advice to the Department on settling the redress claims of postmasters in the GLO scheme. A further c.£12.5 million has been spent on support for victims’ legal fees.
Since the launch of the HCRS scheme in July 2024, a total of c.£100k has been spent on legal services to the Department in the setting up of the HCRS scheme. Approximately c.£360k has been spent on victims’ legal fees.
A detailed breakdown of legal fees paid by law firm and scheme is provided below:
Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS)
Victims’ legal costs £000 | |
Hudgell Solicitors | £360 |
Sub-total: Victims’ legal costs | £360 |
The Department’s legal costs £000 | |
Addleshaw Goddard LLP | £45 |
Dentons UK & Middle East LLP | £55 |
Sub-total: The Department’s legal costs | £100 |
Total legal fees under HCRS £000 | £460 |
Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO)
Victims’ legal costs £000 | |
Freeths LLP | £10,888 |
Howe and Co Solicitors | £1,545 |
Other: under £30k per supplier | £52 |
Sub-total: Victims’ legal costs | £12,485 |
The Department’s legal costs £000 | |
Addleshaw Goddard LLP | £1,675 |
Dentons UK and Middle East LLP | £1,060 |
Secondees contracted to Government Legal Department | £121 |
Sub-total: The Department’s legal costs | £2,925 |
Total legal fees under GLO £000 | £15,410 |
The figures above exclude recoverable VAT. Figures from April 2023 are subject to audit and may change.
On the Overturned Convictions (OC) & Historical Shortfalls (HSS) schemes, this is a matter for the Post Office. I have asked them to write to my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, and a copy of their correspondence will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.