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Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the cyber security programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Shoplifting: Wales
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) police forces and (c) businesses in Wales on the incidence of shop theft in Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government continues to work closely with retail businesses, security representatives, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) to ensure the response to crimes, such as shoplifting, is as robust as it can be.

Police Recorded Crime figures show shoplifting offences increased by 32% in the 12 months leading to September 2023 in Wales and England. However, the number of people charged with shoplifting offences in the same period rose by 34%, suggesting that we are now seeing a more robust response.

We have also taken other significant steps to improve the police response to retail crime.

October 2023 saw the publication of the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Retail Crime Action Plan. The plan includes a commitment to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel, showing the Government commitment to tackling this issue. Additionally, where CCTV or other digital images are secured, police will run this through the Police National Database as standard using facial recognition technology to further aid efforts to identify prolific offenders or potentially dangerous individuals.

In addition, October 2023 also saw the launch of Pegasus, a unique private-public partnership that will radically improve the way retailers are able to share intelligence with policing to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders. This will include development of a new information-sharing platform and training for retailers.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Influence and Command programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Maritime Systems programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Land Systems programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Hypersonics programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Future Kinetic Effects and Weapons programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Deterrent and Submarine Systems programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Dstl: Staff
Monday 15th April 2024

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of people employed to the Human Performance and Protection programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory was in each year since 2019.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Dstl works with industry, academia and Government to make sure the UK has the right defence science and technology capabilities, and to deliver work for our customers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across Government. Dstl provides summary information on its Science and Technology Programmes on its website to inform the public of the nature of the work it is undertaking.

Dstl’s structure, and the wide range of expertise within the organisation, allows expertise to be brought in, as required, to support the dedicated programme technical teams deliver its S&T Programmes.

Whilst information relating to Dstl’s workforce is published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts, detailed FTE staffing details in respect of named Programmes cannot be provided in the interests of National Security.


Written Question
Electric Vehicles: China
Wednesday 10th April 2024

Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact upon national security of Chinese-made electric vehicles; and whether they plan to further investigate any risks that may arise.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

DfT co-chairs the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) group that developed two new international regulations related to connected vehicles – one on cyber security and one on software updates. The cyber security regulation sets out requirements to mitigate potential threats in vehicle construction, to monitor emerging threats and to respond to cyber attacks.

The Government takes national security extremely seriously. The Department for Transport (DfT) works closely with the transport sector and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and other Government departments, including the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities associated with all connected vehicles, including electric vehicles.