Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will conduct an audit of technology infrastructure classified as critically important to national interests to identify whether they contain Chinese-made components.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Prime Minister has emphasised that national security is the first duty of our government. Supply chain resilience and security remains a core part of this, and multiple government departments are working closely with international partners to embed resilience into critical UK and global supply chains. The Procurement Act and National Security and Investment Act are particularly important aspects of our toolkit for safeguarding critically important technology infrastructure.
The Government is carrying out a full and comprehensive audit on the breadth of the UK’s relationship with China, which will bring a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests, so we can will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will conduct an audit of health infrastructure classified as critically important to national interests to identify whether they contain Chinese-made components.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The United Kingdom will not compromise on economic security and will continue to prioritise national security and resilience. We will continue to cooperate with China on trade and investment, recognising that there will also be areas where we need to challenge non-market policies and protect sensitive sectors of the economy. We will continue to support UK business to engage with the second largest economy in the world, while being clear-eyed to any risks, and ensuring security and resilience. The national technical authorities, namely the National Protective Security Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre, provide advice to critical national infrastructure, including in the health sector, on best practice for security and resilience. The Department does not comment on specific policy matters related to its critical national infrastructure.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with relevant industry stakeholders on the potential introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft for passenger use.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government recognises the potential decarbonisation and growth benefits that new forms of zero-emission aircraft using hydrogen could provide.
The Department for Business and Trade is co-investing with industry through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme in R&D on aerospace technology, including projects focussed on hydrogen-powered aircraft. The Budget confirmed a five-year extension to the ATI programme with nearly £1bn of funding.
Supported by Department for Transport funding, the Civil Aviation Authority is also expanding its Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge this year.
The Jet Zero Taskforce, convening representatives from government, industry, and academia, has established a dedicated Task and Finish group to review barriers to the commercial operation of zero-carbon hydrogen aircraft.
In addition, as Minister for Aviation I have recently met with the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance regarding the potential for commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to support the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government recognises the potential decarbonisation and growth benefits that new forms of zero-emission aircraft using hydrogen could provide.
The Department for Business and Trade is co-investing with industry through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme in R&D on aerospace technology, including projects focussed on hydrogen-powered aircraft. The Budget confirmed a five-year extension to the ATI programme with nearly £1bn of funding.
Supported by Department for Transport funding, the Civil Aviation Authority is also expanding its Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge this year.
The Jet Zero Taskforce, convening representatives from government, industry, and academia, has established a dedicated Task and Finish group to review barriers to the commercial operation of zero-carbon hydrogen aircraft.
In addition, as Minister for Aviation I have recently met with the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance regarding the potential for commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will conduct an audit of energy Critical National infrastructure to identify whether they contain Chinese-made components.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As an open economy the UK welcomes foreign trade and investment where it supports growth, meets our regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing relations with China. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must. Large market shares can extend across the supply chain; alongside efforts to de-risk our supply chains, we will therefore also continue to work with our international partners to manage the continued implications of overreliance on any one actor.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of Royal Navy shadowing of suspected Russian spy ships (a) in and (b) near UK territorial waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and are ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. Specific detail cannot be confirmed for reasons of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Royal Navy surface ships have shadowed suspected Russian spy ships (a) in and (b) near UK territorial waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and are ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. Specific detail cannot be confirmed for reasons of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy ships have shadowed suspected Russian spy ships (a) in and (b) near UK territorial waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and are ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. Specific detail cannot be confirmed for reasons of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours Royal Navy ships have spent shadowing suspected Russian spy ships (a) in and (b) near UK territorial waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and are ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. Specific detail cannot be confirmed for reasons of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times the Royal Navy has shadowed suspected Russian spy ships (a) in and (b) near UK territorial waters in each of the last five years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and are ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. Specific detail cannot be confirmed for reasons of safeguarding national security.