Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591), why it is not possible for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to facilitate the delivery of the 150 nuclear test veteran documents to a secure ministerial office within the Ministry of Defence for review by the Minister for Defence People and Families.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591, HL2592), whether they will list the defence Ministers restricted from accessing the 150 relevant documents held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by The Earl of Minto on 4 March (HL2591, HL2592), whether they will list the security classification of the 150 documents.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (Dr Andrew Murrison) will visit the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain. Given the volume of documents to be reviewed it was considered more practical for the Minister to visit AWE.
There are no restrictions on Ministers accessing these records with the Minister for Defence People and Families the most appropriate given his responsibility for veteran’s affairs. The documents had a variety of security classifications and are now declassified.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Trade Remedies Authority’s reviews into Hot Rolled Flat and Coil steel (Category 1 products), and the potential impact of Tata Steel UK's decarbonisation plans on the UK's steel import demand, what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK's trade remedies framework remains responsive and effective in addressing both current and emerging challenges in the steel sector.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As part of reforming the trade remedies framework, legislation was laid in September 2023, which created additional flexibility for Ministers with respect to decisions regarding the steel safeguard. On 9 February 2024 the Trade Remedies Authority initiated a ‘TRQ review’ and a ‘suspension assessment’ of product category 1 of the steel safeguard measure. As their investigations remain ongoing, I cannot comment further nor prejudice their final recommendation.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to engage with UK producers and importers of steel products, in response to the Trade Remedies Authority's Statement of Intended Final Determination, published 21 February.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Officials within the Department for Business and Trade take a proactive approach when engaging with industry and encourage them to share their views directly with the Trade Remedies Authority. Stakeholders who are formally registered as interested parties to the extension review can submit additional information and evidence to the Trade Remedies Authority.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on the UK steel industry and the broader economy if the UK's steel safeguard measures were not extended beyond 30 June.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Trade Remedies Authority published their preliminary findings on the steel safeguard extension review on the 21 February, which set out that evidence pointed towards a likelihood of recurrence of injury to UK steel producers, should the steel safeguard not be extended.
Their review remains ongoing, and I cannot comment further nor prejudice their final recommendation. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade will make a decision after she is sent a final recommendation.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their priorities for the (1) development, and (2) application, of artificial intelligence; and how do those priorities align with national strategies for technology and the economy.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The commitments made in the National AI Strategy and in the Science and Technology Framework remain central to DSIT’s approach to AI.
We’re committed to delivering a pro-innovation and pro-safety approach to AI. As per the AI Regulation White Paper and the consultation response, we’ve set out how the Government is strengthening its global AI leadership and supporting regulators to deliver the framework.
We’re also committed to increasing the UK’s capabilities in AI. We’re doing this by investing in skills and talent initiatives, delivering further investment in compute for AI, and prioritising AI adoption by establishing the AI Opportunity Forum.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many visas have been issued to members of the Afghan Special Police Commando Force under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey), to Questions 11984 and 14769 tabled in the House of Commons by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne and the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what projects have been undertaken by the 10 Downing Street Data Science Team since its establishment, and in each case what were the objectives and outcomes, and what is the current status, of these projects.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The No10 Data Science Team has a remit to improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis, and evidence using cutting-edge data science techniques. This enables the Government to use the best available evidence, throughout the policy and decision-making process, to drive long-term systems change and enable staff to collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges. They also use data to track delivery of government priority programs, working closely with Delivery Unit. The Government would not normally comment on the details of policy development and formation nor the process by which collective decisions are made across government.
The team also runs a transformation program including: (1) project rAPId, a free, open source, lightweight data sharing system; (2) the No10 Innovation Fellowships, bringing industry expertise in AI into central government on year-long secondments to improve public services; (3) Evidence House, a program to upskill civil servants in data science, AI and software engineering; and crowdsource technical solutions to complex problems; and (4) creating and managing the new Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, a 30-strong team of AI experts who are working on rapid delivery of AI projects in line with the Prime Minister’s priorities.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what specific actions they are considering to address the findings of the First-tier Tribunal on the appeal of Jane O’Connor against the Ministry of Defence [2024] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), particularly in relation to the welfare and recognition of nuclear test veterans.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The First-tier Tribunal decision is currently being reviewed. The Tribunal has allowed each respondent 28 calendar days, which is the 25 March 2024, to consider the outcome and decide upon any next steps in terms of an appeal; or whether to accept the decision. It therefore would not be appropriate to comment further on this, or any future handling procedures relating to access to medical records of deceased personnel, until such a decision has been made.