Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports, HCWS679, if his Department will retain responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
There are currently no plans to change DBT’s responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include the UK’s (a) participation in, (b) its interpretation of and (c) approach to (i) international treaties and (ii) any other international law and agreements relevant to arms control.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether the review of export licensing policy will examine export controls relating to (a) sensitive technologies, (b) intangible transfers, (c) technological advancements and (d) the targeting end-uses and end-users of concern.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether (a) export licensing decisions will remain the responsibility of his Department and (b) the Export Control Joint Unit will continue to be based in his Department.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include an examination of the effectiveness of the Export Control Joint Unit.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will conduct the review of the export licensing policy; what the (a) planned timetable and (b) terms of reference of that review will be; and (i) which groups and organisations his Department plans to consult and (ii) whether there will be a public consultation.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland
The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.
This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.
It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.
It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.
DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.