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 steps his Department has taken to ensure that the weapons stored in Vessel Based Armouries operated by MNG Maritime were returned to the UK following his Department’s revocation in July 2023 of six export licences.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Private Maritime Security Companies impacted by the revocation of MNG Maritime’s Licences were given a month to begin the process of relocating their controlled goods, including submitting licence applications to store those controlled goods on another approved vessel based or land-based armoury.
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, if he will make it his policy that vessel based armouries export licence applications should include an undertaking to return the licensed (a) goods and (b) items to the UK if an approved licence is (i) suspended and (ii) revoked.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Licences issued to Private Maritime Security Companies for the movement of arms (including for storage on vessel based armouries) already include provision in the terms and conditions for the controlled goods to either be returned to the UK via a Standard Individual Trade Control Licence (SITCL) or for the destruction of the controlled goods (with evidence) should the licence expire, be suspended or revoked.
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, with reference to section 1.3 2. of the UK-US Atlantic Declaration, what progress his Department has made on engaging with (a) business and (b) financial stakeholders to develop an evidence base to (i) assess and (ii) inform the Government’s response to the risks associated with outbound investment.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is engaging with businesses and financial stakeholders to better understand the potential national security risk posed by outward direct investment in sensitive sectors. In May, the Cabinet Office issued public guidance on how the existing National Security and Investment Act powers allow the Government to intervene in certain outward direct investment transactions. In addition, the National Protective Security Agency and National Cyber Security Centre are updating their Secure Business campaign to include advice on risks relating to ODI.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the written statement of 18 April 2024 on Economic Security, HCWS415, when he plans to consult on updates to (a) the mandatory areas and (b) how these are defined under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The previous government published a Call for Evidence in November 2023 and a response in April 2024. The Call for Evidence sought feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on the scope of the regime, the notification process and government guidance and communications. The Government is currently considering its next steps, drawing on responses received.
The Government will also review and produce a report on the Notifiable Acquisition Regulations 2021, which set out the areas of the economy in scope of the National Security and Investment Act’s mandatory notification requirements, as required by section 4 of the Notifiable Acquisitions Regulations.
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 assessment his Department has made of the impact of US Executive Order 14105, entitled Executive Order on Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern, implemented on 9 August 2023, on UK businesses.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade continues to engage closely with the US Government on potential national security risks posed by Outward Direct Investment. It will have an extra territorial impact, which may impact some UK businesses. The Department for Business and Trade is engaging with UK businesses and financial stakeholders to ensure they are considering the extra territorial impact of such regulations before the Executive Order 14105 comes into effect on 2 January 2025.
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, with reference to section 1.3 2. of the UK-US Atlantic Declaration, what discussions his Department has had with US counterparts on the coordination of UK and US outbound investment controls.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The United Kingdom and United States have a shared objective in preventing our companies’ capital and expertise from fuelling technological advances that will enhance the military and intelligence capabilities of countries of concern. The Department for Business and Trade continues to engage with the US Government on potential national security risks posed by Outward Direct Investment.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the EU Economic Security Strategy on UK businesses.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government continues to follow the EU’s Economic Security Strategy closely and engages regularly with the EU on these matters, including through the relevant committees under Trade and Cooperation Agreement.