Stephen Crabb

The Government is considering the case and no decisions have been made. As part of that consideration the National Security Adviser was asked to review this case. We are unable to comment on the details of national security assessments.

In October 2021, the Prime Minister appointed Sir Dave Lewis as his Supply Chains Adviser. Sir Dave Lewis worked with the Cabinet Office Supply Chains Unit, across HM Government and with industry, meeting over 100 businesses from a range of sectors, to help resolve a number of acute and short term issues. Sir Dave Lewis advised the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on immediate improvements and long-termer changes to improve the UK’s supply chain resilience.

There is no standalone report for publication; however, Sir Dave Lewis' final recommendations included:

1. ensuring that government continues to build and embed departmental capability and collaboration on supply chains policy;

2. that government builds stronger capability to horizon scan, spot risks early, and collate and utilise data to determine and solve supply chains data;

3. working with industry to consider how best to optimise existing infrastructure capacity;

4. improving cross-modal connectivity.

HM Government has already put in place many measures to deal with the extraordinary set of circumstances brought on by the pandemic and the global economy rebounding. The resilience of the UK’s supply chains remains a key priority for this Government.

The Government's Target Operating Model for a modernised UK border is set out in the 2025 Border Strategy, which was published in December 2020. As this sets out, we are seeking to digitise as much of the border process as possible. However, there will always be a need for some physical interventions at the border and, therefore, a continued role for Border Control Posts.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation met with us on 27^th October 2021 to discuss skills shortages and they regularly attend PBS Sector Calls to outline their views. These occur broadly monthly, the last was on the 9^th of March, with both ministerial and recruitment sector representatives. We welcome their continued engagement on these important issues.

The Department has regular contact with the UK Petroleum Industry Association and individual refineries on the role of the downstream oil sector in meeting the UK’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. Most recently discussions focused on the UK Petroleum Industry Association’s October report “Transition, Transformation and Innovation: Our Role in the Net-Zero Challenge”, including the potential for the sector to make a contribution in the areas of low carbon liquid fuels, hydrogen, CCUS, and other innovative technologies.

As regards the Government’s announcement to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in the UK by 2030, all sectors had the opportunity to make representations in the consultation led by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The Department has regular contact with the UK Petroleum Industry Association and individual refineries on the role of the downstream oil sector in meeting the UK’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. Most recently discussions focused on the UK Petroleum Industry Association’s October report “Transition, Transformation and Innovation: Our Role in the Net-Zero Challenge”, including the potential for the sector to make a contribution in the areas of low carbon liquid fuels, hydrogen, CCUS, and other innovative technologies.

As regards the Government’s announcement to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in the UK by 2030, all sectors had the opportunity to make representations in the consultation led by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The Department has regular contact with the UK Petroleum Industry Association and individual refineries on the role of the downstream oil sector in meeting the UK’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. Most recently discussions focused on the UK Petroleum Industry Association’s October report “Transition, Transformation and Innovation: Our Role in the Net-Zero Challenge”, including the potential for the sector to make a contribution in the areas of low carbon liquid fuels, hydrogen, CCUS, and other innovative technologies.

As regards the Government’s announcement to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in the UK by 2030, all sectors had the opportunity to make representations in the consultation led by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

We have published comprehensive guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance has been developed with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations, and in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive.

The UK government is deeply concerned about allegations of incitement in Palestinian Authority’s school textbooks.

Following UK calls for action, we secured agreement from European partners to commission the Georg Eckert Institute to conduct an independent review, which is currently underway. We expect an interim report by June, with a full report later in the year.

We have regular discussions with our European Partners on the Review and we continue to encourage the EU to publish the report. The issue was most recently raised on 18 February by the UK Consul General Jerusalem with the EU Representative in Jerusalem.

The Department for International Development is committed to promoting evidence-based approaches to teacher training. This is also part of our Manifesto pledge to ensure that all girls around the world receive 12 years of quality education.

In all cases we conduct risk assessments and spot checks of teacher training content and assess the risk of contentious materials. Further monitoring is determined on a programme basis depending on the country context, the extent of UKAid funding and the training provider. This can include visits to teacher training sessions and independent reviews of training materials conducted by third parties.

The UK government is deeply concerned about allegations of incitement in Palestinian Authority’s school textbooks. We funded work to develop the methodology for an independent textbook Review sponsored by our European partners. We expect an interim report by June, with a full report later in the year. We have regular discussions with our European Partners on the Review. The issue was most recently raised on 18 February by the UK Consul General Jerusalem with the EU Representative in Jerusalem.

Our bilateral trade relationship with Israel is already strong at almost £5 billion per year. Total trade between the UK and Israel has grown over the last five years from £3.5 billion in 2015 to £4.8 billion in 2020.

Officials and Ministers are in regular contact with their Israeli counterparts on our existing bilateral free trade agreement and ambitions for our future relationship. The Government will open a Call for Input on an enhanced bilateral free trade agreement with Israel early this year.

Officials and Ministers are in regular contact with their Israeli counterparts on our existing bilateral free trade agreement and ambitions for our future relationship. On Wednesday 24^th November 2021, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade met the Israeli Ambassador and discussed ways in which we can enhance our existing trade relationship over time.

The Government will open a Call for Input on an enhanced bilateral free trade agreement with Israel early this year.

As the Foreign Secretary noted during his recent visit to the region, the United Kingdom’s relationship with Israel is strong. We wish to strengthen it even further. We have identified opportunities to do so in sectors such as financial services, infrastructure and technology. We will work with Israeli counterparts to realise these, including through reinstating plans to host a United Kingdom-Israel Trade and Investment Conference in London.

Provisions for vehicle headlamps are established and agreed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and define maximum and minimum intensity, light pattern and position on the vehicle. The rights and obligations of the UK within the UNECE are unaffected by EU Exit.

The Government is engaging closely with industry, including Eurostar, to consider the operational challenges and impacts as a result of border operations, including the introduction of the EU’s ‘Entry-Exit system’.

I recently met with Eurostar representatives at St Pancras to discuss this issue and understand the operational challenges. My officials have facilitated similar discussions on this issue with industry and other government departments. The Government expects to see workable, pragmatic solutions, which take account of the unique operational considerations of juxtaposed border controls and supports efficient passenger flows.

The Government is engaging closely with industry, including Eurostar, to consider the operational challenges and impacts as a result of border operations, including the introduction of the EU’s ‘Entry-Exit system’.

I recently met with Eurostar representatives at St Pancras to discuss this issue and understand the operational challenges. My officials have facilitated similar discussions on this issue with industry and other government departments. The Government expects to see workable, pragmatic solutions, which take account of the unique operational considerations of juxtaposed border controls and supports efficient passenger flows.

The labour shortages in the sector are longstanding. Industry estimates the shortage of HGV drivers to be between 60,000 - 76,000.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has put in place a number of measures to increase driving tests. These include offering overtime and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays). The DVSA has also started a recruitment campaign to increase the number of examiners. The aim is to increase testing capacity and reduce the backlog as quickly as possible, whilst maintaining a COVID-secure service for customers and examiners.

The information requested for Universal Credit Households with children with deductions is provided in the attached spreadsheet.

The UK Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Under Universal Credit there is a co-ordinated approach to deductions from benefit, which supports claimants to manage their financial obligations. We carefully balance our duty to the taxpayer to recover overpayments with our support for claimants.

The information requested for Universal Credit households with limited capability for work and work-related activity with deductions is provided in the attached spreadsheet.

Deductions are made for a number of reasons including to help claimants pay back rent arrears or debt to energy companies so they are not evicted and can heat their homes, as well as to pay court fines.

Government departments already work closely together, and with employers, on our approach to skills and the labour market.

DWP regularly meets with departments responsible for key sectors to identify and promote opportunities within high demand and growing sectors. By identifying barriers and skills needs, DWP can ensure that provision is available to support people to move into and progress in jobs in local growing sectors.

Government departments also work closely with employers to ensure that the skills offer encompasses the needs of employers by putting them at the heart of the skills system and ensuring that education and training meets their needs. By 2030, almost all technical courses will be on employer-led standards, ensuring that the education and training people receive, is directly linked to the skills needed for jobs.

The mean amount of Universal Credit awarded for households in Great Britain is published and can be found in Table 2 of the Households on Universal Credit dataset at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

This table can be filtered by Westminster Parliamentary Constituency.

Guidance on how to extract information from Stat-Xplore can be found at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html

The statistics for Northern Ireland are published by the Department for Communities and can be found at:

https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/universal-credit-statistics

The Department is continuing to work with a number of other Government Departments, Devolved Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as sector and trade bodies to fill vacancies in sectors experiencing labour shortages, offering training for those who need it, and securing jobs directly for those ready to move into roles.

We regularly meet with stakeholders such as the Recruitment Employers Confederation (REC) and the Federation of Small Business (FSB) to discuss recruitment.

The Department’s National Employer and Partnership Team work collaboratively with a number of recruitment agencies across the UK, notably Manpower, Capita, Reed, Adecco and Staffline. Each of these accounts have a dedicated Senior National Account Manager to support them.

The National Employer and Partnership Team also work closely with the Recruitment Employers Confederation (REC) who are the Trade Body for the sector.

All of the recruitment agencies are employing people direct, and all are reporting high levels of vacancies, including permanent jobs. The National Employer and Partnership Team work closely with the agencies to promote their opportunities to the department’s growing network of Jobcentre Plus. Recent examples are Adecco recruiting for Amazon across the UK, who are placing opportunities with local jobcentres in a variety of locations. Capita are also recruiting for Go – Centric who have 1500 contact centre opportunities across the UK.

The UK was saddened to see the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai on the Philippines on 16 and 17 December. We offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected.

The UK has committed £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency appeal, launched on 18 December 2021. This will go towards supporting the immediate and early recovery needs of affected people in areas including water, sanitation and hygiene; shelter; and protection of the most vulnerable. The UK is also one of the top contributors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is contributing £9 million to the UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Typhoon Odette.

I discussed the situation with the Philippines Ambassador to the UK on 20 December 2021.

The UK was saddened to see the devastation wrought by Typhoon Rai on the Philippines on 16 and 17 December. We offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected.

The UK has committed £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency appeal, launched on 18 December 2021. This will go towards supporting the immediate and early recovery needs of affected people in areas including water, sanitation and hygiene; shelter; and protection of the most vulnerable. The UK is also one of the top contributors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is contributing £9 million to the UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Typhoon Odette.

I discussed the situation with the Philippines Ambassador to the UK on 20 December 2021.

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon. Our immediate priority is working with Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) participants to return the US to the deal, bring Iran back into compliance with its commitments and restore the benefits of the deal for all. The Government has also long been clear about its concerns over Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continued destabilising activity.

We regularly discuss regional issues with the Governments of Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain including their policy towards Iran, and continue to support the security of our allies. The Foreign Secretary was in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories over 25-26 May for talks with Ministers following the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, including on regional security. I [Mr Cleverly] discussed regional security with HE Khalifa Shaheen al Marar, Minister of State with responsibility for Arab Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 March.

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon. Our immediate priority is working with Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) participants to return the US to the deal, bring Iran back into compliance with its commitments and restore the benefits of the deal for all. The Government has also long been clear about its concerns over Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continued destabilising activity.

We regularly discuss regional issues with the Governments of Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain including their policy towards Iran, and continue to support the security of our allies. The Foreign Secretary was in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories over 25-26 May for talks with Ministers following the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, including on regional security. I [Mr Cleverly] discussed regional security with HE Khalifa Shaheen al Marar, Minister of State with responsibility for Arab Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 March.

The United Kingdom is committed to combatting all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, both at home and abroad. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate respect among different religious and racial groups is to encourage all states to uphold their human rights obligations. Some of the anti-Semitic actions and speeches in and around the Durban conference and its various follow-up events gave rise to serious concerns. We will consider UK attendance in the light of developments between now and the commemoration event, including the likelihood of any recurrence.

The Foreign Secretary recently reaffirmed the UK's condemnation to anti-Semitism during a debate in the House of Commons on 20 April 2021, and I raised my opposition to anti-Semitism during a Westminster Hall Debate on 26 November 2020. We also delivered a statement at the United Nations General Assembly in November expressing concern about the rise of anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination in the wake of Covid-19.

The success of our Plan for Jobs is playing a key role in spreading opportunity across the country.

The Government protected 11.7 million jobs through the pandemic, as well as moving millions of job seekers into work and supporting young people through programmes like kickstart and our apprenticeships offer.

It’s clear our plan is working. 2 million fewer people are out of work than originally feared, and the unemployment rate remains close to a near 50 year low.

We will continue to build on this success with our Way to Work campaign, which aims to support 500,000 jobseekers into work by the end of June.

There has been no estimate made of the number of people on furlough continuously from 1 March 2020.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was announced on 20 March 2020 and the number of jobs on furlough increased substantially after that date.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) aims to support jobs, reduce the risk of permanent business closures (supporting those that had temporarily ceased or reduced trading) and reduce the risk of large losses in incomes, through wage support to furloughed employees.

The number of employees on the CJRS has continued to fall as restrictions have eased. According to provisional data from HMRC, 3.4m employments remained on the CJRS at the end of April from 675,000 employers, down from 4.3m employments at the end of March from almost 765,000 employers. This fall was accounted for by a fall in the number of employments on the CJRS on a full time basis; from 2.9m at the end of March to 2.0m at the end of April.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, vacancies rose by 49,000 on the quarter to stand at 657,000 in the three months to April, marking the eighth consecutive month of quarterly growth. Timelier online job advert data from Adzuna suggest that postings were 27 per cent above February 2020 levels at the end of May. According to early estimates from HMRC’s Real-Time Information (RTI), the number of paid employees increased by 97,000 in April, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth.

HM Revenue and Customs regularly publish statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The latest statistics were published on 3 June 2021 and can be found on GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-3-june-2021.

The statistics include figures for the number of employments on furlough. This differs from the number of employees on furlough, as an individual employed by more than one employer is counted once for each employment from which they have been put on furlough.

The latest statistics report that on 30 April 2021 there were (a) 3.44 million employments on furlough in the UK, (b) 131,900 employments on furlough where the employee was resident in Wales, and (c) 3,400 employments on furlough where the employee was resident in Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency.

These figures are based on the residential address information that HM Revenue and Customs hold for employees.

It is not possible to provide an answer to the question in the time available.

HMRC have published statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the latest release being published on 25 November 2020. These statistics include information on the number of employments supported since the scheme started in March 2020. The statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-coronavirus-covid-19-statistics

The Digital Services at the Border (DSAB) programme continues to make good progress working diligently on replacing legacy IT systems whilst identifying and addressing technical complexities, at the same time as reacting to the changing priorities faced at the UK border, such as the automation of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF).

The UK has left the EU, ended free movement and is aligning the entry of EU and non-EU citizens. Citizens from outside the EU (and other EEA countries and Switzerland) cannot use national identity cards for travel to the UK and EEA national identity cards are, as a rule, less secure documents than national passports, hence they dominate the figures for document abuse detected at the border. Their continued use presents a risk to border security which we are no longer obliged to accept.

All visitors from outside the EU are expected to hold a passport (and visa where necessary) and those visiting from EU countries will be expected to do the same.

We have provided almost a year’s notice for this change to allow people to plan ahead and obtain a passport, if they need to, before they travel. Our assessment is therefore a short transition period from 1 October 2021 is not appropriate and, consequently, there have been no discussions on this point with EU Member States.

The UK has left the EU, ended free movement and is aligning the entry of EU and non-EU citizens. Citizens from outside the EU (and other EEA countries and Switzerland) cannot use national identity cards for travel to the UK and EEA national identity cards are, as a rule, less secure documents than national passports, hence they dominate the figures for document abuse detected at the border. Their continued use presents a risk to border security which we are no longer obliged to accept.

All visitors from outside the EU are expected to hold a passport (and visa where necessary) and those visiting from EU countries will be expected to do the same.

We have provided almost a year’s notice for this change to allow people to plan ahead and obtain a passport, if they need to, before they travel. Our assessment is therefore a short transition period from 1 October 2021 is not appropriate and, consequently, there have been no discussions on this point with EU Member States.

The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters, including whether an organisation is or is not under consideration for proscription.

The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review

The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters.

The Department for Transport is the lead Government Department working on a railcard for veterans. While the Defence Secretary has discussed the new railcard with the Transport Secretary and is supportive, Defence Ministers have had no discussions with colleagues around the introduction of a railcard for veterans in Wales. However, we are aware that the Transport Secretary has written to his counterparts in Wales and Scotland, inviting them to work with him to ensure that a railcard for veterans is accepted on the services for which they are responsible.

The draft guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees reflects the current law, both in the 2014 Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 and at common law.

The 2014 Regulations made changes to the fees provisions in the HCEO Regulations 2004. Both the 2004 HCEO Regulations and 2014 Regulations allow for fees to be charged to the debtor. The 2014 Regulations were not intended to change the previously understood position at common law in relation to the recoverability of enforcement costs properly incurred including VAT where the creditor cannot account for it with HMRC, for example because they are not VAT registered.

Some of the authorities in support of the proposition that a debtor may be pursued for a creditor’s enforcement costs and as to the continuing relevance of the common law to this area are Montague v Davies, Benachi & Co [1911] 2 K.B. 595 and Business Finance Ltd v Bellagio Hospitality WB Ltd [2019] EWHC 1920 (QB). Disbursements are dealt with separately under the regulations.

As the draft guidance reflects the current law we do not envision additional costs being passed on to the debtor which are not included in the 2014 Regulations.

The Government proposes to publish the guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees as soon as possible.

The draft guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees reflects the current law, both in the 2014 Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 and at common law.

The 2014 Regulations made changes to the fees provisions in the HCEO Regulations 2004. Both the 2004 HCEO Regulations and 2014 Regulations allow for fees to be charged to the debtor. The 2014 Regulations were not intended to change the previously understood position at common law in relation to the recoverability of enforcement costs properly incurred including VAT where the creditor cannot account for it with HMRC, for example because they are not VAT registered.

Some of the authorities in support of the proposition that a debtor may be pursued for a creditor’s enforcement costs and as to the continuing relevance of the common law to this area are Montague v Davies, Benachi & Co [1911] 2 K.B. 595 and Business Finance Ltd v Bellagio Hospitality WB Ltd [2019] EWHC 1920 (QB). Disbursements are dealt with separately under the regulations.

As the draft guidance reflects the current law we do not envision additional costs being passed on to the debtor which are not included in the 2014 Regulations.

The Government proposes to publish the guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees as soon as possible.

The draft guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees reflects the current law, both in the 2014 Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 and at common law.

The 2014 Regulations made changes to the fees provisions in the HCEO Regulations 2004. Both the 2004 HCEO Regulations and 2014 Regulations allow for fees to be charged to the debtor. The 2014 Regulations were not intended to change the previously understood position at common law in relation to the recoverability of enforcement costs properly incurred including VAT where the creditor cannot account for it with HMRC, for example because they are not VAT registered.

Some of the authorities in support of the proposition that a debtor may be pursued for a creditor’s enforcement costs and as to the continuing relevance of the common law to this area are Montague v Davies, Benachi & Co [1911] 2 K.B. 595 and Business Finance Ltd v Bellagio Hospitality WB Ltd [2019] EWHC 1920 (QB). Disbursements are dealt with separately under the regulations.

As the draft guidance reflects the current law we do not envision additional costs being passed on to the debtor which are not included in the 2014 Regulations.

The Government proposes to publish the guidance on the treatment of VAT on High Court Enforcement fees as soon as possible.

In line with many other economies around the world, the coronavirus is having a negative impact on the Welsh economy. However, the UK Government is committed to creating opportunities for investment and growth to ensure our recovery is as swift as possible. Our City and Growth deals, with around £800 million worth of investment, as well as our Freeports initiative will help ensure we emerge from this pandemic with a strong and vibrant economy.

Procurement undertaken by devolved Welsh authorities is a devolved matter and it is therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government to provide procurement advice in respect of these authorities. In doing so it should ensure compliance with domestic law and should not erect barriers to trade by excluding some of the world’s largest companies from bidding for contracts with devolved bodies in Wales.

I have not discussed the implementation of the Procurement Advice Note on public bodies with Welsh Government.

Procurement undertaken by devolved Welsh authorities is a devolved matter and it is therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government to provide procurement advice in respect of these authorities. In doing so it should ensure compliance with domestic law and should not erect barriers to trade by excluding some of the world’s largest companies from bidding for contracts with devolved bodies in Wales.

I have not discussed the implementation of the Procurement Advice Note on public bodies with Welsh Government.