Matthew Patrick

My Department leads cross-Government efforts to identify and resolve market access barriers in order to unlock opportunities for UK business and drive UK growth. In sectors and markets across the region we have trade promotion teams and programmes to support UK businesses that wish to export or expand into Africa.

In addition, the UK has one of the most generous preferential trade policy offers to sub-Saharan African countries. We provide preferential trade access to over 45 sub-Saharan African countries via our world-leading Developing Countries Trading Scheme and development-focused Economic Partnership Agreements. These focus on strengthening exports to the UK, promoting two-way trade and economic growth.

The Department is working with the European Union and Members States to break down trade barriers. As part of this agenda, we need effective ongoing dialogue with both British businesses and the European Union. As part of this, later today, Minister Thomas and I are hosting a roundtable to gather views from businesses on how the UK-EU trading relationship can be improved. My officials are also engaging with businesses to understand the barriers they face and how this Government can support then to grow and export to the European Union.

Split payments are considered in exceptional circumstances to provide support to vulnerable families and children from facing financial issues that could arise from a range of circumstances, particularly where one partner in the relationship may have substance abuse issues which increase risks to other members of the family unit. Whilst this can include domestic abuse, we do not believe they are particularly well-suited to such circumstances as a matter of course, but they may be used with the consent of customers.

Where split payments are being considered, risks are mitigated to the fullest extent possible to allow the Alternative Payment Arrangement to be implemented.

The Home Office has interpreted the question to mean the periods 6 April – 5 April for the years quoted. The Met Office changed its assessment criteria for likelihood of crossings in May 2023. The following figures set out the numbers of days per financial year that would have been assessed as likely for crossings (so called ‘red days’) had the post-May 2023 definition been applied at that time.

(a) 2021-22 – 164

(b) 2022-23 – 159

(c) 2023-24 – 108

The information requested is not currently available.

Information relating to the number of illegal working visits is available in the Statistics relating to Illegal Migration - GOV.UK.

Information relating to the volume of arrests for these periods is not currently available.

Information relating to illegal working enforcement activity in 2024/25 will be published on Gov.uk in due course.

Information on illegal working civil penalty statistics has been published since 2016 as part of the Home Office Immigration Transparency Data. This can be found at Immigration Enforcement data: Q4 2024 - GOV.UK on tab CPO2.

The most recent published transparency data covers the period up to 31 December 2024.

Please note the figures are for penalties levied at the initial decision stage which may be reduced, cancelled or increased at the objection or appeal stage.

The Home Office has interpreted the question to mean the periods 6 April – 5 April for the years quoted. The following reflect the numbers of days in each financial year where crossing attempts were considered likely given forecast weather and sea conditions.

(a) 2021-22 – 109

(b) 2022-23 – 104

(c) 2023-24 – 102

(d) 2024-27/03/2025 – 182

The Home Office has interpreted the question to mean boats carrying a) 51 – 60 people; b) 61 – 70 people, and so on. The Home Office does not record this information in terms of boats ‘entering UK waters’ but as numbers of people who arrived in the UK for each individual boat.

This Government’s Contracts for Difference Scheme is supporting seven tidal, solar and onshore wind projects.

Great British Energy’s partnership with The Crown Estate will support floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.

And last week, in collaboration with the Welsh Government, we announced that Pembrokeshire will receive around £1 million under the Regional Skills Pilot to identify the skills needed to deliver Clean Power by 2030. Another example of the benefits of two Labour governments delivering for people in Wales.