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 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.
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 policy paper entitled The Atlantic Declaration, updated on 21 June 2023, what progress he has made on (a) a shared workplan on critical and emerging technologies, (b) collaborative Research and Development in (i) advanced semiconductor and (ii) other priority technologies, (c) a Critical Minerals Agreement, (d) establishing a US-UK Strategic Technologies Investor Council, (e) establishing a US-UK Data Bridge, (f) a Joint Clean Energy Supply Chain Action Plan and (g) a Civil Nuclear Partnership.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The UK has worked closely with the U.S. to implement commitments across all five pillars of the Atlantic Declaration, which was announced in June 2023. Key achievements include participation in the inaugural Quantum Development Group, launching the inaugural UK-US Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology, establishing the UK-U.S. Data Bridge, and setting up the Strategic Technology Investor Council, and establishing the US-UK Joint Standing Committee on Nuclear Energy Cooperation.
The UK looks forward to working with President-elect Trump in office, including on his policy priorities and improving UK-US trading relations to support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
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 policy paper entitled The Atlantic Declaration, updated on 21 June 2023, who is the lead (a) minister and (b) official for (i) a shared workplan on critical and emerging technologies, (ii) collaborative Research and Development in (A) advanced semiconductor and (B) other priority technologies, (iii) a Critical Minerals Agreement, (iv) establishing a US-UK Strategic Technologies Investor Council, (v) establishing a US-UK Data Bridge, (vi) a Joint Clean Energy Supply Chain Action Plan and (vii) a Civil Nuclear Partnership.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office’s National Security Secretariat is responsible for the overall implementation of the Atlantic Declaration. It operates under the leadership of the National Security Advisor, and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics. Relevant departments are responsible for specific commitments:
Critical and emerging technologies (Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Secretary of State Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Economic security and technology protection toolkits and supply chains (Secretary of State Department for Business and Trade and Secretary of State Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Digital transformation (Secretary of State Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Clean Energy (Secretary of State Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Defence, Health Security, and Space (Secretary of State Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Cabinet Office and Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence)
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 entitled Cabinet Committees, published on 10 October 2024, HCWS118, for what reason the Secretary of State for Business and Trade is no longer a permanent member of the National Security Council.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The National Security Council is a Cabinet Committee, membership of Cabinet Committees is decided by the Prime Minister. Cabinet committees have a standing membership, however other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.
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 entitled Cabinet Committees, published on 10 October 2024, HCWS118, for what reason the National Security Council Economic Security sub-committee has been abolished; and what steps are being taken to co-ordinate economic security policy.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The body referred to in the Rt Hon. Members' question was one of a number of sub-Committees of the National Security Council (NSC). Since July 2024 the National Security Council itself considers economic security, as part of its broader strategic approach to national security including foreign policy, resilience, international relations, economic security, trade, development, defence and global issues.
Economic security is a priority for this Government, and we have taken a number of steps to coordinate economic security policy through the NSC and by embedding economic security into the Government’s Industrial Strategy to support long-term stability. Economic Security is a core concern of the Growth Mission Board and our work with international partners.
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 (a) policy reviews, (b) new and revised strategies, (c) green papers and (d) white papers relating to the policy areas covered in the (i) The Integrated Review 2021, published on 16 March 2021, and (ii) Integrated Review Refresh 2023, published on 13 March 2023, each Department is working on.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The government has launched a number of reviews and strategies relating to policy areas covered in the Integrated Review (2021) and Integrated Review Refresh (2023). These include but are not limited to:
Strategic Defence Review - Ministry of Defence
AUKUS Review - Ministry of Defence
China Audit - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Global Impact Review - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Economic Diplomacy Review - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
International Development Review - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Resilience Review - Cabinet Office
Trade Strategy - Department for Business and Trade
Industrial Strategy - Department for Business and Trade
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 G7 Japan 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Communiqué, published on 18 April 2023, whether the Government plans to take steps to align the UK's investment screening regime with that of the US as set out in the Presidential Executive Order of 15 September 2022 on Ensuring Robust Consideration of Evolving National Security Risks by the Committee on Foreign Investment.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s National Security and Investment (NSI) regime stays up to date with the evolving global security context. We have recently launched a Call for Evidence, seeking views on how the NSI system can be even more business friendly while maintaining and refining essential national security protections.
The UK works closely with a range of international partners in this area, including members of the G7. However, decisions made under the NSI Act are based on UK national security considerations, and the scope of the Act itself is carefully tailored to the needs of the UK.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will (a) list the spending programmes his Department devolves for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies and (b) specify the value for each programme for every year for which budgets are agreed.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Cabinet Office did not devolve any spending programmes for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies in financial year 2021/22.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, which Minister leads on the Government's anti-corruption strategy.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the written statement issued today by my Rt Hon Friend, The Minister of State for Security and Borders.