Written Statements

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

Monday 20 March 2023

UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kemi Badenoch)]

Today the UK has signed a digital trade agreement (DTA) with Ukraine to support Ukraine’s economy and post-conflict reconstruction and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in digital trade.

Ukraine’s recovery from Putin’s illegal and barbaric war will be a symbol of the power of freedom and democracy over autocracy. The UK-Ukraine comprehensive digital trade agreement is one way in which this Government are doing everything in our power to support Ukraine’s brave fight. Trading digitally is particularly important in the current conflict, where damage to Ukrainian infrastructure makes it harder to trade physically. Digital tools and technologies can ensure that Ukraine can continue to access vital goods and services.

Ukraine identified greater digitalisation of the economy as one of its main areas of focus for recovery and modernisation. This is why we have worked tirelessly together to deliver a modern digital treaty that is the deepest and most comprehensive ever negotiated. Following signature, it will be laid before Parliament and published online. The agreement should come into force later this year once both the UK and Ukraine have completed our respective domestic procedures.

This agreement will enhance UK-Ukraine co-operation on cyber-security, make it easier to provide digitally delivered goods and services, guarantee the free flow of financial and other trusted data, and enhance collaboration on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The UK’s services exports to Ukraine are increasingly digitised, with UK exports of digitally delivered services amounting to £132 million in 2020—73% of all UK services exports to Ukraine. This DTA will enable UK and Ukrainian businesses to trade in each other’s markets more easily, and help Ukrainian businesses grow and recover from the impact of this cruel war.

The dream of a new Ukraine is not only one of freedom and democracy, but also one of prosperity driven by a modern digital economy, and the UK is proud to play its role in making this dream a reality.

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Emergency Alerts System

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State (Oliver Dowden)]

Today, I can confirm that the Government have launched phase one of the emergency alerts system, a UK-wide capability based on cell broadcasting technology developed by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in conjunction with mobile network operators.

The system launch commenced on Sunday 19 March and will allow emergency responders to send emergency alerts, with a distinctive message appearance and tone, to every compatible mobile device within a selected geographical area at very short notice, providing a highly flexible capability for prompting quick action from the public. In order to test the technology, the pilot will focus only on notifying the public of the most serious severe weather and flooding risks over the first three months, followed by a review process.

This system will transform the United Kingdom’s emergency warning and informing capability, providing a means to provide urgent information to nearly 90% of mobile phones within a defined area. This area can be as limited as an electoral ward, or expanded as far as the whole of the United Kingdom. The technology has been used successfully in a number of other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Japan, where it has been proven to save lives. Ahead of the launch, the Government have worked in partnership with the devolved Administrations and local resilience forums to ensure that relevant emergency responders across the United Kingdom have an understanding of the capability.

There will be a very high threshold for its use based on strict criteria centred on an immediate risk to life. Despite this, members of the public will be able to opt out of the system if they do not wish to receive emergency alerts. The system is secure, with alerts only able to be sent by authorised governmental and emergency services users.

We have worked closely with our devolved partners to ensure the capability is available throughout the UK and this close collaboration will continue throughout the pilot phase. The UK Government will issue alerts for incidents in England, or that relate to reserved matters. Alerts to be released in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will be communicated in advance to resilience officials in the relevant devolved Government. On matters that are devolved, Ministers from the relevant Administrations may approve the alert.

A communications campaign will lead up to a UK-wide national message on 23 April. This will seek to maximise public awareness and familiarise people with the format and style of the message. Our research shows that other countries have found such test messages to be highly effective in improving public understanding. This alert will be simultaneously broadcast to all compatible devices and will be sent in both English and Welsh to recipients in Wales.

This important development will allow us to validate the effectiveness of the system and build familiarity and trust, laying the foundations for the potential wider use of emergency alerts in the future.

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Ajax Payments

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Minister for Defence Procurement (Alex Chalk)]

I wish to provide a further update on the Ajax equipment project being delivered as part of the armoured cavalry programme.

The Ajax Platform

Ajax is part of our £41 billion investment in British Army equipment and support over the next decade, delivering critical modernisation to address the threats of today and the future. The Ajax programme will deliver 589 vehicles to the British Army made up of six variants, allowing the Army to operate in all weathers, 24 hours a day.

The range and capabilities of the sensors on the platform and the on-board software will deliver a step-change in the surveillance capability of the Army. Ajax will provide a world leading competitive advantage, from its suite of cutting-edge sensors, modular armour packs and its 40mm stabilised cannon.

Recovering the programme

The Ministry of Defence has openly acknowledged the problems previously faced by the Ajax programme. Alongside General Dynamics, the Ministry of Defence has successfully completed user validation trials to validate the design modifications that have addressed the noise and vibration concerns, allowing the commencement of programmed reliability growth trials on 31 January.

Reliability growth trials are a standard part of the acquisition process for military equipment of this nature. These trials stress test the durability of the vehicle’s platform and components through a series of battlefield missions that represent years of activity on the platform. Since starting, the AJAX, APOLLO, ATLAS and ARES variants have driven over 2,260 kilometres through different terrains, completing a variety of representative battlefield tasks such as operating across a range of speeds and terrains, firing weapon systems, using the vehicles’ systems and communications, and completing specialist tasks such as vehicle recoveries and repairs using the integrated crane. Reliability growth trials are progressing well. No fundamental design issues have arisen to date. These trials are part of a broader trials programme aimed at validating that contracted vehicle requirements are met.

The MOD has developed with General Dynamics a revised schedule for the delivery of vehicles that is, subject to contract amendment, robust, realistic and achievable. Revised key delivery milestones set a meaningful initial operating capability of a trained and deployable squadron. This is scheduled to be achieved between July and December 2025. Full operating capability will be met when the Army has trained and converted forces to the Ajax platform to deliver armoured cavalry capability to the deep reconnaissance strike brigade and its two armoured brigade combat teams. This is scheduled to be achieved between October 2028 and September 2029.

The ability to deliver against this new schedule has been extensively scrutinised and assured within the Department and externally. A recent review by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority concluded that the programme’s successful delivery is feasible, re-grading the Ajax programme from red to amber.

Resuming Contract Payments

The Ministry of Defence remains clear it will only accept vehicles that comply with General Dynamics’ contractual obligations. The Department has withheld payments for work completed and had not made a payment since December 2020. Given the satisfactory progress against the programme, the Department will resume payments this month, starting with a payment of £480 million. This is approximately half of what has been held back since December 2020. Restarting payments to General Dynamics reflects the fact that the programme continues to return to a firm footing and supports the delivery of the schedule to deliver operational capability. The payment will cascade to the UK-wide supply chain of more than 230 companies, reinforcing confidence that the programme is progressing and providing for more than 4,000 jobs, including hundreds in south Wales.

Future payments will be made against the new schedule and its milestones, conditional on the delivery of compliant and deployable Ajax vehicles and the continued progress of remaining trials activity. We have a robust firm price contract for the delivery of 589 vehicles, which will ensure that General Dynamics is incentivised to deliver against agreed outcomes. As such, the whole programme remains within its originally approved budget.

Learning Lessons

The Ajax programme is turning a corner, but this does not remove the need for the Department to identify and learn lessons. We have always been clear that we will not shy away from taking action to change the culture and processes across defence as necessary. We look forward to receiving the finalised report from Clive Sheldon KC on the Ajax Lessons Learned Review and publishing it as soon as practicable.

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Trade and Co-operation Agreement Partnership Council: Second Meeting

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Cleverly)]

The next meeting of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement Partnership Council will take place in London on 24 March 2023, with delegations attending in person and by video conference.

The meeting will be co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and vice-president of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič.

The agenda will include:

1. Opening remarks by the co-chairs and adoption of the agenda

2. Energy

1. Electricity trading (Article 312 TCA)

2. Security of supply co-operation and working arrangements for TSOs (Articles 315 and 317 TCA)

3. EU green deal industrial plan

3. Regulation

1. MoU on financial services

2. Working groups (Article 9 TCA)

3. Intellectual property

4. UK Retained EU Law Bill

5. Bill of Rights Bill

4. Security

1. Co-operation on cybersecurity (Article 703 TCA)

2. Co-operation on counterterrorism (Article 768 TCA)

3. Passenger name records (Article 552(4) TCA)

5. Union programmes

6. AOB

7. Concluding remarks by the co-chairs

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Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee: Tenth Meeting

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Cleverly)]

The next meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee will take place in London on 24 March 2023, with delegations attending in person and by video conference.

The meeting will be co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and vice-president of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič.

The agenda will include:

1. Welcome and opening remarks from the co-chairs

1.1. Formal adoption of the agenda

1.2. Stocktake of specialised committee activity 21 February 2022-24 March 2023.

2. Update on withdrawal agreement implementation in accordance with Article 164 of the withdrawal agreement

2.1. Citizens’ rights

2.2. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland / the Windsor framework

3. Decisions and recommendations for Joint Committee adoption

3.1. Decision No X/2023 laying down arrangements relating to the Windsor framework

3.2. Recommendation No X/2023 on market surveillance and enforcement

3.3. Recommendation No X/2023 on Article 13(3a) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Joint Declaration to be made by the Union and the United Kingdom

3.4. Joint declaration No XX/2023

3.5. Joint declaration on the application of Article 10(1) of the Windsor framework

3.6. Joint declaration on Article 13(3a) of the Windsor framework

3.7. Joint declaration number X

3.8. Joint declaration on the VAT regime for goods not being at risk for the Union’s internal market and on the VAT arrangements for cross-border refunds

United Kingdom unilateral declarations and Union unilateral declarations taking note

3.9. Unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom involvement of the institutions of the 1998 agreement (Annex 1 to the Decision No X/2023 laying down arrangements relating to the Windsor framework)

3.10. Unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on market surveillance and enforcement 3.10.1 Unilateral declaration by the Union taking note of the unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on market surveillance and enforcement

3.11. Unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on export procedures for goods moving from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom

3.11.1. Unilateral declaration by the Union taking note of the unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on export procedures for goods moving from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom

3.12. Unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on the democratic consent mechanism in Article 18 of the Windsor framework

3.12.1. Unilateral declaration by the Union taking note of the unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on the democratic consent mechanism in Article 18 of the Windsor framework

3.13. Unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on strengthening enforcement action for goods moved in parcels from another part of the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland

3.13.1. Unilateral declaration by the Union taking note of the unilateral declaration by the United Kingdom on strengthening enforcement action for goods moved in parcels from another part of the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland

4. AOB

5. Concluding remarks

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Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group: Fifth Annual Report

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp)]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Sharpe of Epsom) has today made the following written ministerial statement:

Today I am pleased to announce the publication of the fifth annual report of the Biometrics and Forensic Ethics Group. The group provides Ministers with independent advice on matters relating to ethical issues in forensic science and biometrics and considers issues in data ethics.

I would like to thank the group for their valuable advice concerning the use and retention of human biometric identifiers, and regarding the use and implementation of projects involving both large and complex datasets.

The Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group have continued to show commitment to advising the Home Office biometrics programme on matters regarding changes to biometric regulations and biometric enrolment.

I am grateful to the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group for maintaining strong relationships with internal Home Office teams in order to establish a strong presence and to identify a range of projects, within their remit, which can benefit from expert ethical guidance.

The Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group annual report can be viewed on the website of the Group at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/biometrics-and-forensics-ethics-group and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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English Freeports

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Dehenna Davison)]

Today I have the pleasure of announcing that the Thames freeport has received final Government approval, in a massive boost to south Essex and the wider region. This is a pivotal landmark for the programme and it comes less than four months after I announced the first group to receive approval. The speed of progress sends a clear message: the Government are backing these areas to grow and thrive.

Freeports form an important part of this Government’s economic strategy and will catalyse investment through a combination of tax reliefs, public funding, and Government support. These measures will drive growth, create jobs and, in turn, transform opportunities for local communities—a real example of levelling up in action.

The Thames freeport will now receive up to £25 million in seed funding and potentially hundreds of millions in locally retained business rates to upgrade local infrastructure and stimulate regeneration. This is alongside generous tax reliefs and a simplified customs procedure, all backed by a package of trade and innovation support for businesses located there.

Armed with these tools, the Thames freeport will drive investment in and around the ports of south Essex and Ford’s world-class Dagenham engine plant. This will bring jobs of the future—in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and hydrogen—to local communities.

And this is only the beginning. Across Government, we are working closely with the English freeports to support them to achieve their objectives and deliver transformational benefits for their local areas.

We also recently announced two successful green freeports in Scotland and we will be announcing the outcome of the Welsh competition shortly. Discussions continue with our stakeholders in Northern Ireland about how we can extend the benefits associated with the freeport programme there.

This is an incredibly exciting time for UK freeports and the wider levelling-up agenda as we start to see local areas bring their plans to life with big private investments, upgrades to local infrastructure, and bold regeneration initiatives in those areas that need a boost, creating real impacts for local people.

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Investigatory Powers Commissioner: 2021 Annual Report

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak)]

I have today laid before the House of Commons a copy of the annual report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Rt Hon Sir Brian Leveson. The report covers the activities of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO), the Office for Communications Data Authorisations (OCDA) and the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) for 2021. I will also be sending a copy of this report to Scottish Ministers as required under section 234(8) of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA).

This report demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a high level of compliance with the regulations governing the use of investigatory powers. Sir Brian Leveson oversees the use of investigatory powers by over 600 public authorities, including the intelligence and security services and law enforcement agencies. He notes that he is continually impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the officials working within those bodies and that regulatory compliance continues to be treated as a high priority.

The annual report contains a reference to an error identified in the Home Office’s arrangements for warrants authorised out of hours. IPCO were notified of this error immediately upon its discovery in November 2021 and the Home Office immediately put in place arrangements, which the Investigatory Powers Commissioner was content with, to rectify the problem.

As required under section 234(6)(b) of the IPA, I wish to notify the House that there is material considered too sensitive for the open report on which I have been briefed separately. I am satisfied that, following consultation with relevant Government Departments and agencies, the contents of this report are not prejudicial to national security or ongoing investigations.

I would like to place on record my thanks to the current and previous Commissioners and their staff for their work. In particular, I am pleased that Sir Brian Leveson agreed to another three-year term from 21 October 2022. I also note the appointment of Dame Muffy Calder as the new Chair of IPCO’s Technology Advisory Panel and welcome the expertise she and her colleagues will provide on emerging technology.

Maintaining public trust and confidence in the exercise of the investigatory powers vital for national security and public safety is a top priority for the Government. This report demonstrates the high quality of the oversight of our intelligence and security agencies’ use of the most intrusive powers. I am satisfied that our oversight arrangements are amongst the strongest and most effective in the world.

I commend this report to the House.

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Help to Claim

Monday 20th March 2023 Written Statements

[The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)]

I am today announcing that the current Help to Claim support arrangements have been extended to 31 March 2024. Help to Claim provides tailored practical support to individuals to make their universal credit claim online.

Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland will continue to deliver independent support following a further £22.2 million investment. The provision will continue to cover England, Scotland and Wales for 12 months, and ensures that free confidential and impartial support is available to help people make a new universal credit claim and manage their claim, up to receiving their first correct payment.

Since April 2019, Help to Claim has supported over 800,000 people, with nine in 10 people rating their overall experience as good or very good and saying they would recommend it to friends and family.

From April 2023, the support will continue to be provided through telephony and digital channels. For those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels, they will continue to be able to go to their local jobcentre, where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs. This is already available to those individuals who choose to seek support from the Department directly in making a claim to universal credit.

The Department is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their claim.

The Department is currently considering the support required from April 2024.

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