Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that chemicals that can be used in the manufacture of choking agents are (a) tracked and (b) not sent to Russia.

We have sanctioned the export of all chemicals and biochemicals of concern to Russia.

This is in addition to our existing export controls, which already restrict the export of certain chemicals, pathogens and toxins.

Sanctions and export controls are impacting Russia’s economy and depriving its military of key components, and we are going further by extending our capabilities..

My department has recently announced the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) to strengthen enforcement and support industry compliance.

We are also working closely with Ukraine and international partners to coordinate efforts to thwart Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions to gain access to technology to support its invasion.