Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Investment Security Unit has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to safeguard against national security risks from investment by (i) inappropriate or (ii) hostile overseas sources.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Investment Security Unit in the Cabinet Office is responsible for administering the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021, which provides robust investment screening powers for the Government to scrutinise and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions which could present a risk to the UK’s national security. If required, the Government has the ability to impose conditions, block or unwind acquisitions.
The Government welcomes investment as part of our mission to boost growth, but only where it meets our regulatory requirements and does not compromise our national security. We will not hesitate to use our powers to protect national security where we identify concerns.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has investigated (a) Photovolt Development Partners and (b) Cranssetta Investments Ltd regarding sanctions against the (i) Russian Federation and (ii) named Russian individuals.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
OFSI does not generally comment on specific cases or confirm if particular companies are or have been subject to investigation beyond the publishing of public enforcement actions such as a monetary penalty.
OFSI is committed to ensuring that sanctions are robustly enforced and potential breaches are investigated and appropriate action taken.
If somebody has evidence or information of activity that contravenes UK financial sanctions, this should be reported to OFSI immediately using the reporting form available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if he will specify the importing organisation and the goods involved in the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.
The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.
HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
Statistics notes and sources:
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, if his Department will seek legal advice on whether the import of £36 million worth of Russian planes in 2025 breaches the UK's sanctions regime.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.
The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.
HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
Statistics notes and sources:
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet published on 31 October 2025, what plans his Department has to halt the further import of Russian planes to the UK.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government’s sanctions regime has seen UK goods imports from Russia fall by 99.6% since the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Imports of Russian aircraft are banned. The Russian imports referenced in the UK Trade and Investment Factsheet are of aircraft parts, which are not sanctioned. The sanctions regime constrains Russian war revenues, whilst protecting critical supply chains and the stability of global markets. We are investigating manufacturers’ reliance on Russian aircraft parts.
The Government does not speculate on future import controls as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.
HMG is prevented from disclosing information regarding importers under section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005.
Statistics notes and sources:
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the proposed expansion of the Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre (Phase 2), whether a formal decision has been taken to rely on the Crown Development route under sections 293D to 293E of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office has taken the decision to use the Crown Development route to planning for Phase 2 of the Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre development.
Crown development applications require extensive consultation of the local planning authority, and planning consent will be obtained before we proceed with phase 2 of the development.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) financial structure and (b) governance arrangements of (i) Blenheim Estates and (ii) the Blenheim Charitable Foundation.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I have not made an assessment of the financial structure of government arrangements of Blenheim Estates or the Blenheim Foundation. Charities are independent organisations and it is the responsibility of the trustees to make decisions in the best interests of the charity. Concerns about the governance of a charity should be raised with the charity itself, or where there are concerns about misconduct or mismanagement the Charity Commission for England and Wales as the independent regulator.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the financial viability of SolarFive Ltd and Photovolt Development Partners to undertake the development of Botley West Solar Farm.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process.
Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific matters related to the individual projects, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Planning Inspectorate and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes in evaluating the financial viability of funding commitments made by developers of major energy projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An applicant seeking development consent for an energy-related nationally significant infrastructure project must submit a Funding Statement as part of the application process. This is assessed by both the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State prior to a decision on whether to consent the project being made.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to safeguard against national security risks from investment by (i) inappropriate or (ii) hostile overseas sources.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
National security risk assessments are matters for the Investment Security Unit within the Cabinet Office.