Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessments his Department has made regarding the adequacy of the managing toilet needs or incontinence descriptor for Personal Independence Payment claims.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was established in collaboration with a wide range of experts and stakeholders, and following a comprehensive public consultation between 2010-2012, including on the activities and descriptors.
We believe the resulting descriptors relating to the managing toilet needs or incontinence activity is the best way of identifying people whose daily living is most affected by this.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the implications for the Government's policies of the research being undertaken at universities with Iranian scientists on drone technology.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
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.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of compliance with (a) sanctions and (b) restrictions on exports of the research being undertaken at universities with Iranian scientists on drone technology.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
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.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with universities that are undertaking research on drone technology in collaboration with Iranian scientists.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
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.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the merger of the Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) and Defence Equipment and Support on (a) the number of staff employed by DECA in Wales, (b) DECA’s participation in the Sealand Support Services Limited joint venture and (c) DECA's other business operations (i) as of June 2023 and (ii) in the next three years.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Since merging with Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) in April 2023, the Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) has continued to provide vital services across Defence.
The merger secures the long-term future for DECA, and will deliver significant business growth and investment over the next three years, together with increased learning, development, and career opportunities for the workforce as part of a larger organisation. DECA's workload and capacity are expected to increase across all business operations over the next three years, thereby sustaining current employment levels of around 380 personnel at its avionics and electronics centre of excellence at Sealand in North Wales and 70 personnel located elsewhere in the UK.
The merger has had no impact on DECA's participation in the Sealand Support Services Limited joint venture.
As a part of DE&S, DECA will continue to work as a partner to industry in providing best value solutions to Defence for the support of avionics, electronics, and other specialised components. This will be both through assigned work, as a strategically retained in-house capability where this represents value for money, and through open competition.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with industry representatives on the potential for manufacturers based in Wales to help (a) replenish and (b) increase the UK’s munitions stockpiles.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Ministers and officials in the Ministry of Defence have regular and productive discussions with industry regarding both the replenishment of weapons and munitions granted to Ukraine, as well as potential opportunities to increase munition production. These ongoing discussions are with industry representatives from across the UK, including manufacturers with sites based in Wales.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2022, published on 17 November 2022, what recent progress his Department has made on (a) establishing and (b) allocating funding to the Advanced Technology Research Centre in Wales.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
As detailed in the Autumn Statement, the UK Government will provide up to £10 million of support, subject to business case, to work collaboratively with the Welsh government to deliver a defence-focussed Advanced Technology Research Centre at Sealand in North Wales. The full business case for its funding allocation is nearing completion and working level engagement continues between the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Government to implement the joint project.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the (a) £2 billion announced in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 to replenish and increase munitions stockpiles and (b) £560 million at the Autumn Statement 2022 will be allocated to manufacturers based in Wales.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Until all of the £560 million from the Autumn Statement 2022 has been contracted it is not possible to provide a breakdown of where the funding will be allocated.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) size of the gambling black market and (b) annual cost to the Exchequer of Illegal betting.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Opposition Chief Whip (Commons)
The Government recognises the contribution that the betting and gaming industry makes to the economy. Estimates indicate that the sector accounted for £5.7 billion or 0.3% of UK Gross Value added (GVA) in 2019 and pays approximately £2 billion per year to the exchequer in gambling duties, excluding Lottery Duty.
The Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has been looking as part of its broad scope at the size of the black market and how easy illegal websites are to access, as well as whether the Gambling Commission has the powers and resources it needs. We will publish a white paper in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Stephen Crabb (Conservative - Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the contribution of the betting and gaming industry to the economy.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Opposition Chief Whip (Commons)
The Government recognises the contribution that the betting and gaming industry makes to the economy. Estimates indicate that the sector accounted for £5.7 billion or 0.3% of UK Gross Value added (GVA) in 2019 and pays approximately £2 billion per year to the exchequer in gambling duties, excluding Lottery Duty.
The Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has been looking as part of its broad scope at the size of the black market and how easy illegal websites are to access, as well as whether the Gambling Commission has the powers and resources it needs. We will publish a white paper in the coming weeks.