Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2026 to question 2968 on Defence: Space Technology, which EU member states is his department exploring opportunities for engagement with.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK frequently explores opportunities for engagement with EU Members States on space security. This includes engagement with France, Germany and Italy through the Combined Space Operations Initiative and Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender. This approach enables joint capability development and supports a stronger European contribution to space security.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of UK critical mineral imports in each of the last three years originated from a single country of origin for each listed mineral; and what assessment he has made of the risk of critical mineral supply being concentrated in a single country.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Please see table below, derived from HMRC’s Import data by preference bulk dataset, using trade codes as published in the technical annex of the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
The Strategy recognises that supply chains are increasingly concentrated and sets out a clear ambition to diversify supply, including ensuring that no more than 60% of any critical mineral is sourced from a single country. This will be achieved by strengthening domestic production and recycling, building international partnerships to diversify supply, and leveraging finance and innovation to support more resilient global supply chains.
Single largest country of origin for UK imports of critical and growth minerals, by proportion of the total mass imported, 2023-2025.
Mineral | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||
Aluminium | Germany | 18% | Germany | 16% | Germany | 16% |
Antimony | France | 46% | France | 48% | France | 48% |
Beryllium | Russia | 89% | China | 39% | United States | 100% |
Bismuth | China | 88% | China | 64% | China | 43% |
Borates | Turkey | 72% | Turkey | 67% | Turkey | 64% |
Chromium | South Africa | 39% | South Africa | 56% | South Africa | 39% |
Cobalt | Canada | 18% | China | 39% | China | 48% |
Copper | Belgium | 20% | Belgium | 15% | Germany | 17% |
Gallium | China | 70% | United States | 36% | United States | 35% |
Germanium | China | 46% | China | 85% | Belgium | 34% |
Graphite | China | 60% | China | 59% | China | 69% |
Hafnium | China | 35% | China | 42% | United States | 44% |
Helium | Canada | 30% | China | 38% | China | 38% |
Indium | Canada | 32% | Taiwan | 45% | Taiwan | 40% |
Iridium & Ruthenium | South Africa | 35% | South Africa | 35% | South Africa | 34% |
Iron | Brazil | 14% | Sweden | 12% | Sweden | 19% |
Lithium | Chile | 75% | Chile | 87% | Chile | 68% |
Magnesite | China | 31% | China | 33% | China | 31% |
Magnesium | Germany | 33% | Germany | 41% | China | 40% |
Manganese | Norway | 44% | Norway | 35% | Norway | 42% |
Nickel | Indonesia | 41% | Indonesia | 49% | Indonesia | 54% |
Niobium | Brazil | 54% | Brazil | 66% | Brazil | 55% |
Phosphates | Israel | 35% | Israel | 29% | Israel | 28% |
Platinum | Germany | 57% | Germany | 39% | Germany | 40% |
Rare Earth Elements | China | 70% | China | 72% | China | 47% |
Rhenium | Ireland | 41% | Germany | 40% | France | 74% |
Rhodium | South Africa | 62% | South Africa | 48% | South Africa | 58% |
Silicon | Brazil | 27% | China | 19% | China | 27% |
Sodium | China | 41% | China | 32% | China | 37% |
Tantalum | China | 37% | China | 61% | China | 63% |
Tellurium | Italy | 21% | Italy | 30% | Belgium | 49% |
Tin | China | 25% | China | 37% | China | 42% |
Titanium | Australia | 35% | Australia | 31% | South Africa | 32% |
Tungsten | China | 32% | China | 30% | China | 49% |
Uranium | United States | 90% | Belgium | 56% | Netherlands | 98% |
Vanadium | Germany | 50% | Germany | 55% | Germany | 44% |
Zinc | Norway | 31% | United States | 28% | Norway | 37% |
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to sign a new contract to fund Edgewing and the next phase of the Global Combat Air Programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains committed to the Global Combat Air Programme.
Our focus remains on continuing to work closely with Italy and Japan on the next steps towards the full international contract.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what fast jet trainers are used to teach Royal Air Force pilots at the International Flight Training School at Decimomannu air base.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Leonardo M-346 training aircraft is used to teach Royal Air Force pilots at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) at Decimomannu Air Base in Sardinia, Italy.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2026 to question 2963 on Global Combat Air Programme: Finance, by when will he sign the full international contract.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains committed to the Global Combat Air Programme.
Our focus remains on continuing to work closely with Italy and Japan on the next steps towards the full international contract.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in securing funding for the Global Combat Air Programme beyond the existing deal with Edgewing.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains committed to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), working closely with our international partners to deliver a next generation combat air capability.
Our focus is on continuing to work closely with Italy and Japan on the next steps towards the full international contract.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many foreign driving licences were exchanged for GB licences in each of the last five years, broken down by country of origin.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the number of foreign driving licence holders who have exchanged their licence for a GB licence in each of the last five years, broken down by the country or territory in which the original licence was issued.
Year | |||||
Country of Exchange | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
Andorra | 4 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Austria | 134 | 166 | 132 | 143 | 144 |
Australia | 4799 | 4308 | 4852 | 5053 | 5163 |
Barbados | 63 | 127 | 156 | 139 | 105 |
British Virgin Islands | 30 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 39 |
Bulgaria | 5594 | 4389 | 2918 | 2068 | 1650 |
Canada | 1946 | 2419 | 2525 | 2574 | 2556 |
Cayman Islands | 22 | 146 | 141 | 110 | 142 |
Cyprus | 467 | 468 | 491 | 465 | 404 |
Denmark | 194 | 243 | 256 | 285 | 243 |
Estonia | 156 | 135 | 82 | 98 | 86 |
Falkland Islands | 60 | 76 | 42 | 23 | 31 |
Faroe Islands | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Finland | 173 | 163 | 171 | 179 | 184 |
France | 1603 | 1656 | 1651 | 1616 | 1717 |
Germany | 1403 | 1595 | 1617 | 1781 | 1875 |
Gibraltar | 55 | 74 | 87 | 82 | 68 |
Greece | 3078 | 2107 | 1731 | 1553 | 1341 |
Guernsey | 190 | 275 | 266 | 277 | 313 |
Hong Kong | 12345 | 33873 | 18052 | 10699 | 6023 |
Iceland | 39 | 38 | 32 | 35 | 37 |
Isle of Man | 221 | 339 | 306 | 279 | 295 |
Italy | 9690 | 6508 | 5495 | 5835 | 5649 |
Japan | 1384 | 1454 | 1578 | 1601 | 1785 |
Jersey | 321 | 480 | 502 | 464 | 411 |
Liechtenstein | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Lithuania | 2719 | 2703 | 2201 | 2033 | 1389 |
Luxembourg | 36 | 45 | 64 | 82 | 74 |
Malta | 184 | 336 | 186 | 205 | 124 |
Moldova | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1424 |
Monaco | 14 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 9 |
New Zealand | 1662 | 1389 | 1893 | 2634 | 2794 |
North Macedonia | 808 | 464 | 214 | 151 | 112 |
Norway | 402 | 540 | 434 | 325 | 261 |
Poland | 13330 | 10340 | 9233 | 8158 | 6856 |
Portugal | 3352 | 2660 | 2476 | 2030 | 1816 |
Republic of Ireland | 2028 | 2488 | 2195 | 2049 | 1942 |
Romania | 14242 | 15329 | 11396 | 8812 | 7532 |
Singapore | 421 | 691 | 763 | 663 | 591 |
Slovenia | 1100 | 941 | 976 | 683 | 593 |
Spain | 5915 | 4632 | 3299 | 2652 | 2403 |
South Africa | 8465 | 11481 | 13740 | 11378 | 4571 |
South Korea | 646 | 991 | 1064 | 1207 | 1129 |
Sweden | 1009 | 1406 | 1352 | 1117 | 974 |
Switzerland | 530 | 640 | 505 | 439 | 465 |
Taiwan | 4 | 1014 | 1035 | 820 | 693 |
Ukraine | 2899 | 5436 | 10199 | 7115 | 4930 |
United Arab Emirates | 4346 | 7623 | 9097 | 6371 | 3795 |
Zimbabwe | 1277 | 6390 | 15371 | 17004 | 7064 |
Asked by: Andrew Ranger (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reduced competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure on consumers.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK telecoms Market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities, designated on 27 April 2026, highlights that competition in the fixed telecoms market supports investment, innovation and consumer choice. As a result, the UK benefits from relatively low consumer pricing, and prices have declined in recent years when adjusted for inflation. In addition, Ofcom reported in February 2026 that out of six countries analysed (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US), the UK had the third-lowest standalone fixed broadband prices in 2025. Wider comparative data on international pricing and market dynamics is limited.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator, plays a key role in supporting competition, including by imposing proportionate remedies on Openreach where necessary. The UK’s pro-competition approach has driven fibre roll-out, with over a hundred alternative networks entering the market in recent years. According to Ofcom as of January 2026, 77% of residential premises have access to more than one network.
The Government and Ofcom also ensure that strong consumer protections are in place so that the benefits of competition are delivered fairly. Earlier this year, the Government published the Telecoms Consumer Charter, a set of voluntary commitments agreed with major operators to strengthen transparency, empower consumers and improve support for those struggling to pay, building on Ofcom’s existing requirements to ensure people receive clear, fair and easily understandable information.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, CP1338, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of UK and Italy’s carrier strike groups.
Answered by Al Carns
Italy is a close NATO ally of the United Kingdom, and as carrier nations that both operate F-35B aircraft there is consistent collaboration, both bilaterally and through the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII).
As part of Operation HIGHMAST, UK and Italian Carrier Strike Groups conducted integrated carrier operations in the Mediterranean Sea, which included the embarkation of Italian F-35Bs aboard HMS PRINCE OF WALES, with UK F-35s also operating onboard ITS CAVOUR.
Asked by: Peter Fortune (Conservative - Bromley and Biggin Hill)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits to consumers of competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK telecoms market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities designated on 27 April 2026 sets out the government’s view on the benefits of competition in the fixed telecoms market for investment in high quality networks, innovation and consumer choice. As a result, the UK benefits from relatively low consumer pricing, and prices have declined in recent years when adjusted for inflation.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator, plays a key role in supporting competition in the fixed telecoms market, including by imposing proportionate remedies on Openreach where necessary. The UK’s pro-competition regulatory approach has been a crucial driver of fibre roll-out, with more than a hundred alternative networks entering the market in recent years.
According to Ofcom as of January 2026, 77% of residential premises in the UK have access to more than one network, and 61% have access to more than one gigabit-capable network.
In addition, Ofcom reported in February 2026 that out of six comparable countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US), the UK had the second-lowest standalone mobile prices and the third-lowest overall standalone fixed broadband prices in 2025.
The Government and Ofcom also ensure that strong consumer protections are in place so that the benefits of competition are delivered fairly. Earlier this year, the Government published the Telecoms Consumer Charter, a set of voluntary commitments agreed with major operators to strengthen transparency, empower consumers and improve support for those struggling to pay, building on Ofcom’s existing requirements to ensure people receive clear, fair and easily understandable information.