Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which (a) Department and (b) Minister have lead responsibility for the implementation of the UK–US Technology Prosperity Deal; and what (i) structures and (ii) processes are in place to coordinate implementation across Government.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The departments responsible for the implementation of the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal are the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Their Secretaries of State have lead responsibility for the implementation of this deal.
Both departments work closely together, across government and with delivery partners to implement the deal. They also work closely with US colleagues to drive progress under the deal, including towards convening a Ministerial-Level working group as set out in the MoU.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which (a) Department and (b) Minister had responsibility for the negotiation of the UK–US Technology Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The responsible departments were the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Their Secretaries of State were responsible for negotiating the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal.
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, with reference to page 7 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the remit is of the new defence exports office; and when that office will be operational.
Answered by Maria Eagle
With the creation of the National Armaments Group on 31 March 2025 and the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for defence exports to the Ministry of Defence on 31 July, Whitehall teams specialising in defence exports are being brought together for the first time. The new team will have responsibility for supporting defence exports, including supporting a new framework for an enhanced Government-to-Government mechanism to support defence exports.
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, with reference to (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what (i) mechanisms and (ii) training he will put in place so that the new Defence Exports Office (A) has access to appropriate legal advice and (B) is fully aware of its legal obligations.
Answered by Maria Eagle
This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s (SDR) vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. Any changes required to staff training and processes will be considered as part of the implementation work
All exports promoted by the Ministry of Defence or His Majesty's Government (HMG) will continue to be done in accordance with HMG's legal obligations, where there are already robust checks and balances in place across HMG decision making processes.
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 the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports, HCWS679, if his Department will retain responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
There are currently no plans to change DBT’s responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
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 recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include the UK’s (a) participation in, (b) its interpretation of and (c) approach to (i) international treaties and (ii) any other international law and agreements relevant to arms control.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
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 recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether the review of export licensing policy will examine export controls relating to (a) sensitive technologies, (b) intangible transfers, (c) technological advancements and (d) the targeting end-uses and end-users of concern.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
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 recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether (a) export licensing decisions will remain the responsibility of his Department and (b) the Export Control Joint Unit will continue to be based in his Department.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
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 recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include an examination of the effectiveness of the Export Control Joint Unit.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
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 recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will conduct the review of the export licensing policy; what the (a) planned timetable and (b) terms of reference of that review will be; and (i) which groups and organisations his Department plans to consult and (ii) whether there will be a public consultation.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.