Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2026 to Question 3663 on Liquefied Natural Gas: Russia, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the general trade licences for refined oil and liquid natural gas on the level of (a) (i) targeted and (ii) temporary flexibility to safeguard UK energy supply and (b) global market stability.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On 20 May 2026, the UK introduced new sanctions to further target Russian revenues and degrade its ability to wage its illegal war in Ukraine. Alongside these measures, general trade licences for refined oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) were issued to ensure a managed and phased implementation of complex restrictions. We will continue to assess the energy market and maintain communication with industry.
I committed to fortnightly review of these licences, which will expire on 1 January 2027. This review will consider the impact of the licences on UK energy supply and global markets.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2026 to Question 3663 on Liquefied Natural Gas: Russia, by what date he plans to (a) amend, (b) suspend and (c) revoke the licences.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As he will see from the statutory instrument, the general trade licence for the maritime transportation of liquefied natural gas, under contracts with a duration of one year or less, will expire on 1 January 2027, although it can be varied, revoked or suspended at any time at the discretion of the Secretary of State. We are keeping it under fortnightly review.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2026 to question 3663 on Liquefied Natural Gas: Russia, what specific Russian LNG has been permitted for maritime transportation on the spot market.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The LNG maritime services ban licence temporarily authorises UK service provision in relation to spot market trade (under contracts of less than a year) from Russian LNG projects Sakhalin-2 and Yamal until 1 January 2027. The licence does not authorise any activities not described in the licence that would otherwise be prohibited under the Russia Regulations. Any person who does not comply with the conditions of the licence may be committing an offence.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Irish counterpart on reports that Aughinish Alumina has been linked to supply chains supporting Russia's defence industry.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Irish governments regularly discuss our staunch support for countering Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including international efforts to maximise pressure on the Russian war economy. We conduct similar conversations with the EU on a regular basis. We keep all options to put pressure on the Russian war economy under regular review.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in Ireland on the (a) restricting and (b) ceasing of sales of aluminium to Russia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Irish governments regularly discuss our staunch support for countering Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including international efforts to maximise pressure on the Russian war economy. We conduct similar conversations with the EU on a regular basis. We keep all options to put pressure on the Russian war economy under regular review.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2026 to Question 2959 on Shipping: Russia, which specific articles of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea have been used by the Royal Navy to justify conducting maritime interdiction operations since 2000.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Royal Navy (RN) supports enforcement bodies in their maritime interdiction operations in accordance with the United Kingdom’s obligations and rights under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It does not rely on a single provision, but on the relevant article depending on the circumstances of each operation.
The articles most commonly used in interdiction operations by the RN are UNCLOS Article 110(1)(a) and UNCLOS Article 110(1)(d).
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2026 to Question 3663 on Liquefied Natural Gas: Russia, by when date does he expect to introduce the next phase of the implementation of the restrictions.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The ban on the maritime transportation of LNG under long-term contracts exceeding one year and signed before June 2025, is due to come into effect on 1 January 2027 in line with the timing of the EU’s ban on the same contracts.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Russian-sanctioned vessels transiting UK waters have changed flag mid-voyage prior to entering UK waters since 24 March 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Ministry of Defence continually monitors all activity within UK waters. We will not provide details on the numbers of vessels or our decision-making process as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against sanctioned ships, only benefitting our adversaries.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy the level of resources of UK armed forces to play a full and active role in intercepting Russia’s Shadow Fleet and prevent them from being used to evade sanctions.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I refer the hon. Member to the response to Question 126159 provided on 20 April 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-04-10/126159