Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will commission a review of the risks and opportunities that resource insecurity poses to the UK economy.
Answered by Oliver Letwin
The Government’s Horizon Scanning Programme examines emerging trends and developments, such as those related to resource insecurity, that have the potential to lead to risks and opportunities for the UK. As part of this programme, Defra led a piece of work to assess risks to the UK economy from countries or companies restricting the supply of key resources. A summary of this work was published in Civil Service Quarterly in July 2014.
Last year, the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee set up the Strategic Resources and Risks group to coordinate work on resource insecurity across Government. As part of its remit, this group considers risks and opportunities that resource insecurity poses to the UK economy. This work is being reflected in the current refresh of the Government’s National Security Risk Assessment. Domestic risks related to resource insecurity are also included in the UK’s National Risk Register.
Asked by: Joan Walley (Labour - Stoke-on-Trent North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the recent strike by members of the FBU was discussed by COBRA; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
It has been the practice of successive Governments not to give specific information on the content of Cabinet Committee and other Ministerial meetings.