Daniel Zeichner

Opportunity East: One Year On makes a strong case for the role of the East of England in driving growth and prosperity. We welcome the efforts of the APPG and Local Government East in raising the profile of the region and highlighting its great potential. Within the last year, the Department for Business and Trade has considered the report's recommendations in the development of the Industrial Strategy, sector plans and infrastructure priorities.

The Department will continue to work with regional partners to address barriers to investment, including housing delivery, infrastructure capacity and skills, to unlock the region's economic opportunities.

The Overseas Business Risk service provides information on various risks in overseas markets. The Government keeps this advice, available on gov.uk, under constant review. We intend these pages to support and guide businesses alongside other sources of information, and the UK government does not advise on or undertake due diligence for individual companies.

Where an item, including technology, is specified in the UK’s Strategic Export Control list, its export or transfer by electronic means is subject to export control. Exporters of such items must seek an export licence from the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), who assess applications against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

These criteria include ‘respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms’, and consideration of where there is a clear risk an export may be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, or a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.

The government consulted on several topics relating to the interaction between copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). We have carefully analysed the responses and continue to engage extensively on this issue, including through technical working groups.

The government published a progress update on 16 December 2025 and will publish a report on the use of copyright works in the development of AI systems, and economic impact assessment, by 18 March 2026.

It is not possible to separate landings of Western mackerel from total mackerel landings in the UK Sea Fisheries statistics published by the Marine Management Organisation.

In 2024, the last full year of landings data available, quota for Western mackerel accounted for 99% of the UK’s total mackerel quota and (a) UK vessels landed 233,586t of mackerel, (b) 127,967t of mackerel was landed into UK ports by UK and foreign vessels and (c) UK vessels landed 111,061t into non-UK ports. The first-hand sale value for mackerel landed by UK vessels was £1,468 per tonne in 2024. Mackerel prices have increased in 2025 – provisional figures suggest in November this year the sale value is £2,076 per tonne.

Drawing on the best scientific advice available, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has determined that management of fishing activities is required to protect our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and to ensure compliance with our domestic and international legal obligations.

As part of the consultation on proposed byelaws for stage 3 MPAs, fisheries assessments were published for each site based on scientific advice from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and using evidence on the impacts of fishing gears on protected seabed habitats. This was supplemented by a call for evidence earlier in the process.

The consultation closed on 29 September and the MMO is now analysing the very large number of responses received, including any additional evidence on benthic habitats.

Drawing on the best scientific advice available, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has determined that management of fishing activities is required to protect our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and to ensure compliance with our domestic and international legal obligations.

As part of the consultation on proposed byelaws for stage 3 MPAs, fisheries assessments were published for each site based on scientific advice from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and using evidence on the impacts of fishing gears on protected seabed habitats. This was supplemented by a call for evidence earlier in the process.

The consultation closed on 29 September and the MMO is now analysing the very large number of responses received, including any additional evidence on benthic habitats.

Defra is undertaking a review of the English Marine Protected Area network to look at whether sites are in the right places with the right protection. The review will explore ways to update protection and management approaches to better address the nature crisis and improve climate change resilience, while supporting wider Government priorities including food security and net zero. The review includes assessing sites that have been designated for seabed habitats.

Landings for Western Mackerel allocated through the Quota Application Mechanism so far this year amount to 0.8t of the 3619.2 t allocated.

All 0.8t was landed into Castletown Bearhaven in the Republic of Ireland.

The Government welcomes the Opportunity East One Year On report. To support the region, the Chancellor unveiled the OxCam Growth Corridor last year which has the potential to boost the economy by up to £78bn by 2035. This initiative is supported by East-West Rail, which will provide faster journeys between Oxford and Cambridge and unlock up to 100,000 new homes.

During the Spending Review period, the Department will provide Cambridgeshire & Peterborough with £31.8 million to promote buses and £24.9 million to promote active travel schemes. This funding will support local residents to access jobs, education and services.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated can take longer as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including doctors, other healthcare professionals or the applicant themselves, before a licensing decision can be made.

In the current financial year to September, the average time taken to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition needed to be investigated before a licence could be issued was 47 working days. Information is not held by specific medical conditions (for example, head injuries).

The DVLA understands the impact that not having a driving licence can have on a person’s everyday life. However, when the DVLA is made aware of a condition that could affect an individual’s ability to drive safely, they must ensure that the required medical standards for driving are met before a licence is issued.

I refer the Hon Member to the previous answer cited in his question.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided for question 83315 on 29 October 2025.

We set high standards in all our services and the current English Language Testing Service is no exception, with Commercial expertise and OFQUAL regulation as well as day to day oversight and monitoring by a dedicated contract management team. Where issues are identified, we do not hesitate to act and we work with suppliers on a daily basis to monitor, manage and improve the service.

As part of the Home Office English Language Testing Procurement, we have engaged the market to understand what capability is available to maintain and enhance the highest standards of security and integrity and be innovative in our delivery, harnessing technology and industry best practice. These standards will be assessed as part of the procurement process and assured during implementation by rigorous technical testing and subject matter experts.

The proposals contained within the Immigration White Paper 2025 will be delivered over the course of this Parliament, including new English Language Requirements.

The Home Office is committed to maintaining the highest standards of security and integrity in our immigration system whilst modernising services for legitimate applicants. The new service will enhance existing arrangements via robust and consistent identity management, increased monitoring of test takers and activity that is underpinned by stringent security and cyber security requirements. Detecting and combatting existing and emerging threats is at the centre of this service.

Opportunity East: One Year On makes a strong case for the East of England and the role it can play in driving growth and prosperity, and we welcome the efforts of the APPG and Local Government East in raising the profile of the region and highlighting its great potential. We will consider the report with interest as we take forward our mission to kickstart growth across the country.