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 information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (SCGS) was officially launched on 26 July 2023, and we are continuing to work closely with the National Shipbuilding Office on all aspects of scheme implementation.

The SCGS is a £500 million scheme to help ship buyers and operators to access finance to purchase UK-built vessels and upgrade existing ones. It guarantees a percentage of the value of loans used to purchase, refit, retrofit or repair vessels, sharing the risk with lenders. The scheme forms part of the Government’s £4 billion plan to revitalise UK shipbuilding and coastal communities through the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, announced in 2022.

There have been 32 expressions of interest in the scheme so far and we are now working at pace to finalise the first transactions supported by the scheme.

The Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (SCGS) is a £500m loan guarantee scheme, supporting eligible ship buyers and operators to access finance to buy UK-built vessels and upgrade existing ones. The scheme forms part of the Government’s £4bn plan to revitalise UK shipbuilding and coastal communities through the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, announced in 2022.

The value generated by the scheme will depend on the details of individual transactions, but each SCGS deal agreed will directly benefit UK shipyards, supply chains and coastal communities right across the UK.

The Government take all allegations of breaches of export controls or sanctions seriously, and officials in my department have been leading a review of the allegations made in the recent press articles. They are working at pace with others in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) to establish the facts and assess if any export controls (Military, Dual-Use, UK National) or relevant sanctions regulations may have been contravened.

The outcome of this review will determine what further action may be needed. If there has been a potential breach of the sanctions or export controls, HMRC and/or OFSI will consider appropriate enforcement action.

We take all allegations of breaches of sanctions or export controls seriously, and my officials are leading a review of the allegations made in recent press articles that UK universities are collaborating with Iran to develop drones and other technologies which may be linked to Iran’s military programmes.

They are working at pace with others in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) to establish the facts and assess if any export controls (Military, Dual-Use, UK National) or relevant sanctions regulations may have been contravened.

In parallel, the Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) - which advises research institutions on national security risks linked to international collaboration - is establishing what due diligence was carried out by the institutions identified to date.

The outcome of this review will determine what further action may be needed. If there has been a potential breach of the sanctions or export controls, HMRC and/or Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) will consider appropriate enforcement action.

The Government takes all credible allegations of breaches of sanctions and export controls seriously, and the enforcement agencies will take further action if appropriate. The UK has a number of sanctions in place against Iran including against Iranian UAV manufacturers and related military individuals and executives.

Officials in my department have been leading a review of the allegations made in the recent press articles. They are working at pace with others in the Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) to establish the facts and assess if any export controls (Military, Dual-Use, UK National) or relevant sanctions regulations may have been contravened.

The outcome of this review will determine what further action may be needed. If there has been a potential breach of the sanctions or export controls, HMRC and/or OFSI will consider appropriate enforcement action.

National Grid (ESO) is currently assessing applications to Allocation Round 6 of the Contracts for Difference scheme. Once all applications have been reviewed and any appeals processes completed, my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State will have the opportunity to consider revising the budget.

The Department engages regularly with renewable electricity developers across a range of technologies, including floating offshore wind and tidal. The parameters for Allocation Round 6 include a budget of £105 million for Pot 2. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State will have the opportunity to review the budget once eligibility checks and appeals are complete.

The Government wants households and small businesses to benefit from smart metering as soon as possible. The vast majority of consumers can now have a smart meter. The rollout is making good progress, with 54% of gas and electricity meters across Great Britain now smart. The Government has introduced minimum annual installation targets for energy suppliers.

The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. In addition, the DCC is also required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage where it is practicable and cost proportionate.

The Government wants as many households and small businesses as possible to benefit from smart metering, and millions of consumers across Great Britain, in different types of geographies, are already realising these benefits.

The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. The Government holds this data at a Great Britain level and is not able to disaggregate at constituency or individual nation level.

In addition, the DCC is also required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage where it is practicable and cost proportionate.

The Government wants as many households and small businesses as possible to benefit from smart metering, and millions of consumers across Great Britain, in different types of geographies, are already realising these benefits.

The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. The Government holds this data at a Great Britain level and is not able to disaggregate at constituency or individual nation level.

In addition, the DCC is also required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage where it is practicable and cost proportionate.

The Government wants as many households and small businesses as possible to benefit from smart metering, and millions of consumers across Great Britain, in different types of geographies, are already realising these benefits.

The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obligated under its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain. The Government holds this data at a Great Britain level and is not able to disaggregate at constituency or individual nation level.

In addition, the DCC is also required to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage where it is practicable and cost proportionate.

The Government understands the importance of ports for the development of floating offshore wind to support the opportunities that this new industry offers the UK. The Government is engaging with stakeholders and analysing feedback following the launch of the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme Request for Information earlier this year, and the next steps on the Scheme will be set out soon.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of gambling stakeholders, including industry and charity representatives, to hear their views on the sector and discuss areas of concern. These meetings will continue in the lead up to publication of the white paper, and afterwards.

All ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK and can be accessed on the website.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of gambling stakeholders, including industry and charity representatives, to hear their views on the sector and discuss areas of concern. These meetings will continue in the lead up to publication of the white paper, and afterwards.

All ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK and can be accessed on the website.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of gambling stakeholders, including industry and charity representatives, to hear their views on the sector and discuss areas of concern. These meetings will continue in the lead up to publication of the white paper, and afterwards.

All ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK and can be accessed on the website.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ministers and officials meet regularly with a range of gambling stakeholders, including industry and charity representatives, to hear their views on the sector and discuss areas of concern. These meetings will continue in the lead up to publication of the white paper, and afterwards.

All ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK and can be accessed on the website.

As set out in Public Health England’s evidence review on gambling-related harms, the estimated overall adult population problem gambling rate for England was 0.5% in 2018. The 2016 Great Britain wide combined Health Survey found a problem gambling rate of 0.7%. The overall rate has been stable below 1% for over two decades, but there are variations below this headline level depending on region, age, sex and other factors.

To supplement the Health Surveys and for more up to date information, the Gambling Commission carries out a quarterly survey by telephone on a smaller sample using a shortened problem gambling screen. For the year to December 2022 this estimated an adult population problem gambling rate of 0.2%.

The Government’s Review of the Gambling Act aims to ensure the right protections and requirements on operators are in place to prevent harm. We will publish a white paper setting out our assessment, conclusions and next steps in the coming weeks.

The government places great value upon international exchange and collaboration in education and training. This will continue to be the case after we leave the EU and establish new relationships with academic institutions across Europe and the rest of the world.

We want to leave the EU with a deal but are preparing for a range of outcomes. Our officials are preparing for all eventualities. We are considering a wide range of options with regards to the future of international exchanges, which include potential domestic alternatives to the Erasmus+ programme for the 2020/21 academic year, should we need them.

I refer My hon. Friend, the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire to the answer I gave on 8 May 2019 to Question 252019.

The government is considering the value for money of the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme. Ultimately, any decisions about our participation in the Erasmus+ programme will also be a matter for wider negotiations about our future relationship with the EU.

I refer My hon. Friend, the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire to the answer I gave on 8 May 2019 to Question 252019.

The government is considering the value for money of the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme. Ultimately, any decisions about our participation in the Erasmus+ programme will also be a matter for wider negotiations about our future relationship with the EU.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, UK-based organisations and individuals will be able to bid for funding, as well as participating in and leading consortia, for the duration of the current programmes. I have regular discussions with ministers from other government departments on preparations for leaving the EU, including on this issue.

While securing a negotiated deal remains the government’s top priority, we are committed to ensuring that organisations, students and participating staff are prepared in the event of a no deal EU exit, and have accelerated no deal preparations to ensure we are ready for every eventuality. To provide more clarity, we published a new technical notice at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020) in the event of no deal. You can read this here: https://bit.ly/2GaP28y.

As is set out in this notice, the government’s underwrite guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK organisations for all successful (those that are approved directly by the European Commission or by the National Agency and ratified by the European Commission) Erasmus+ bids. This includes projects and participants that are only informed of their success, or who sign a grant agreement, after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and commits to underwrite funding for the entire lifetime of the projects.

This is reliant on the UK government reaching an agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+ projects. The delivery of the government guarantee will seek to maintain the same processes as those that are currently in place where funding will be distributed to beneficiaries via the Erasmus+ UK National Agency.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and I meet with representatives of universities regularly to discuss the Department for Education agenda, and that has included the question of participation in the Erasmus+ programme. We have also discussed this in our frequent conversations with member state counterparts in the EU. For example, in recent months these have included discussions with German, Dutch and Polish ministerial counterparts, among others.

With regards to the next Erasmus+ Programme (2021-27), the UK is open to participating in this. We have been considering the draft regulation for the successor scheme carefully and will continue to participate in discussions on them while we remain in the EU. Ultimately, participation in the successor programme is a matter for negotiations to come about our future relationship with the EU.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, UK-based organisations and individuals will be able to bid for funding, as well as participating in and leading consortia, for the duration of the current programmes. I have regular discussions with ministers from other government departments on preparations for leaving the EU, including on this issue.

While securing a negotiated deal remains the government’s top priority, we are committed to ensuring that organisations, students and participating staff are prepared in the event of a no deal EU exit, and have accelerated no deal preparations to ensure we are ready for every eventuality. To provide more clarity, we published a new technical notice at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020) in the event of no deal. You can read this here: https://bit.ly/2GaP28y.

As is set out in this notice, the government’s underwrite guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK organisations for all successful (those that are approved directly by the European Commission or by the National Agency and ratified by the European Commission) Erasmus+ bids. This includes projects and participants that are only informed of their success, or who sign a grant agreement, after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and commits to underwrite funding for the entire lifetime of the projects.

This is reliant on the UK government reaching an agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+ projects. The delivery of the government guarantee will seek to maintain the same processes as those that are currently in place where funding will be distributed to beneficiaries via the Erasmus+ UK National Agency.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and I meet with representatives of universities regularly to discuss the Department for Education agenda, and that has included the question of participation in the Erasmus+ programme. We have also discussed this in our frequent conversations with member state counterparts in the EU. For example, in recent months these have included discussions with German, Dutch and Polish ministerial counterparts, among others.

With regards to the next Erasmus+ Programme (2021-27), the UK is open to participating in this. We have been considering the draft regulation for the successor scheme carefully and will continue to participate in discussions on them while we remain in the EU. Ultimately, participation in the successor programme is a matter for negotiations to come about our future relationship with the EU.

Packaging materials, including polystyrene, are already covered by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations which place a legal obligation on businesses that make or use packaging to ensure that a proportion of the packaging they sell is recovered and recycled. This creates an incentive for companies to use less packaging and to ensure that their packaging can be recycled at end of life as it will reduce their costs in complying with the Regulations.

In general, we prefer to help people and companies make the right choice, rather than banning items outright. We have, however, recently consulted on changes to the packaging producer responsibility scheme, looking at all aspects of the regime including mechanisms to encourage increased recyclability.

The Government is committed to an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible economic partnership with the EU. We want a deal that allows us to be in control of our own laws. The details of this partnership, including the possibility of cooperation with relevant European Chemicals Agency, including on REACH, will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union.

We are preparing for that negotiation and will work with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.

The Government is committed to an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible economic partnership with the EU. We want a deal that allows us to be in control of our own laws. The details of this partnership, including the possibility of cooperation with relevant European Chemicals Agency, including on REACH, will be a matter for negotiation with the EU after we leave the European Union.

We are preparing for that negotiation and will work with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.

Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the UK with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations to ensure we understand the sector’s priorities for our future relationship with the EU, including its priorities relating to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

We have heard these views from businesses in meetings, correspondence and at large scale stakeholder events. Through this engagement we have also heard of industry’s concerns of the potential impacts to business and disruption to supply chains resulting from divergence from the EU REACH regulations.

We recognise the importance of the EU trade to the Chemicals sector and will continue to work, up to and after our exit from the EU with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.

Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the UK with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations to ensure we understand the sector’s priorities for our future relationship with the EU, including its priorities relating to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

We have heard these views from businesses in meetings, correspondence and at large scale stakeholder events. Through this engagement we have also heard of industry’s concerns of the potential impacts to business and disruption to supply chains resulting from divergence from the EU REACH regulations.

We recognise the importance of the EU trade to the Chemicals sector and will continue to work, up to and after our exit from the EU with a wide range of partners to ensure a successful outcome for UK business and citizens.