Martin Wrigley

Between 1 September 2023 and 30 September 2024, the latest period covered by official statistics in development, no export licences were issued for goods for a) medicinal and pharmaceutical, b) organic chemicals, c) cars, or d) toilet and cleaning preparations to Russia.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on these types of export licences on a quarterly basis as part of the Strategic export controls: licensing statistics quarterly reports. This includes the number of licence outcomes (issued, refused, revoked) each quarter by licence type. The latest quarterly statistics in development publication covers licence information up to 30 September 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/strategic-export-controls-licensing-statistics-1-july-to-30-september-2024.

Licensing decisions between 1 October and 31 December 2024 are planned to be published in May 2025 as part of the next quarterly statistics publication.

Between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023, the latest period covered by statistic publications covering licensing decisions for Professional and Business Services (PBS) and Individual Financial Services, no licences were issued for insurance services, and 9 licences were issued for PBS. The PBS licences also cover IT consultancy and design services. The Russia Sanctions statutory guidance sets out specific PBS activities which DBT deems likely to be consistent with the aims of the sanctions and may consider licensing. Pensions and Travel Services are not directly caught under the Russia sanctions.

The Russia Sanctions Statutory Guidance outline what goods and services are sanctioned: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on services licences linked to trade sanctions on an annual basis as part of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report which includes PBS and Individual Financial Services licences. The 2023 Report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2023. The 2024 Annual Report is due to be published before Summer Recess.

Between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023, the latest period covered by statistic publications covering licensing decisions for Professional and Business Services (PBS) and Individual Financial Services, no licences were issued for insurance services, and 9 licences were issued for PBS. The PBS licences also cover IT consultancy and design services. The Russia Sanctions statutory guidance sets out specific PBS activities which DBT deems likely to be consistent with the aims of the sanctions and may consider licensing. Pensions and Travel Services are not directly caught under the Russia sanctions.

The Russia Sanctions Statutory Guidance outline what goods and services are sanctioned: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on services licences linked to trade sanctions on an annual basis as part of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report which includes PBS and Individual Financial Services licences. The 2023 Report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2023. The 2024 Annual Report is due to be published before Summer Recess.

Between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023, the latest period covered by statistic publications covering licensing decisions for Professional and Business Services (PBS) and Individual Financial Services, no licences were issued for insurance services, and 9 licences were issued for PBS. The PBS licences also cover IT consultancy and design services. The Russia Sanctions statutory guidance sets out specific PBS activities which DBT deems likely to be consistent with the aims of the sanctions and may consider licensing. Pensions and Travel Services are not directly caught under the Russia sanctions.

The Russia Sanctions Statutory Guidance outline what goods and services are sanctioned: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on services licences linked to trade sanctions on an annual basis as part of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report which includes PBS and Individual Financial Services licences. The 2023 Report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2023. The 2024 Annual Report is due to be published before Summer Recess.

Between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023, the latest period covered by statistic publications covering licensing decisions for Professional and Business Services (PBS) and Individual Financial Services, no licences were issued for insurance services, and 9 licences were issued for PBS. The PBS licences also cover IT consultancy and design services. The Russia Sanctions statutory guidance sets out specific PBS activities which DBT deems likely to be consistent with the aims of the sanctions and may consider licensing. Pensions and Travel Services are not directly caught under the Russia sanctions.

The Russia Sanctions Statutory Guidance outline what goods and services are sanctioned: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on services licences linked to trade sanctions on an annual basis as part of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report which includes PBS and Individual Financial Services licences. The 2023 Report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2023. The 2024 Annual Report is due to be published before Summer Recess.

Between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2023, the latest period covered by statistic publications covering licensing decisions for Professional and Business Services (PBS) and Individual Financial Services, no licences were issued for insurance services, and 9 licences were issued for PBS. The PBS licences also cover IT consultancy and design services. The Russia Sanctions statutory guidance sets out specific PBS activities which DBT deems likely to be consistent with the aims of the sanctions and may consider licensing. Pensions and Travel Services are not directly caught under the Russia sanctions.

The Russia Sanctions Statutory Guidance outline what goods and services are sanctioned: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance.

The Export Control Joint Unit publishes information on services licences linked to trade sanctions on an annual basis as part of the United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls Annual Report which includes PBS and Individual Financial Services licences. The 2023 Report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2023. The 2024 Annual Report is due to be published before Summer Recess.

We are committed to building an economy that works for everyone and considers the impacts of all policies that we introduce.

We accepted in full the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission who considered the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, wider economy and the cost of living. A full Impact Assessment on NMW was published and received a Green ‘fit for purpose’ from the Regulatory Policy Committee on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

The Office for Budget Responsibility’s October 2024 forecast includes the impact to changing employer National Insurance contributions and expects the unemployment rate will fall to 4.1% next year and remain low until 2029. Employers of those under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 receive 100% employer National Insurance relief on salaries up to £50,270.

The European Commission is responsible for interpreting EU legislation and has published business guidance and an impact assessment of the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We recommend businesses refer to this guidance for advice on the requirement for an EU based ‘agent’, referred to as a Responsible Economic Operator or responsible person, by the European Commission.

DBT have published guidance on the application of GPSR in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review. We continue to engage businesses directly to assess the regulation’s impact and ensure they are supported to trade across the UK and with the EU.

The Government does not speculate on specific future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. Most recently, plans for new trade sanctions were set out by the Foreign Secretary on 24 February.

Together with our international partners, we have put in place the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Over the past three years, the UK has sanctioned over £20 billion (97%) worth of goods trade with Russia, and £375 million worth of services.

The Department does not hold information concerning the amount of trade insured by UK-based companies with a final destination in Russia. The government has sanctioned the provision of insurance in certain circumstances and it is a criminal offence to breach these sanctions unless a licence has been granted for the activity.

Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, directors have a fiduciary duty to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and the impact of the company’s operations on the environment. Large companies must report annually on how they have fulfilled this duty and the audit and reporting regulator, the Financial Reporting Council, provides best practice guidance on Section 172 reporting.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector, and it sets and monitors the network access requirements that Royal Mail must provide to meet the reasonable needs of customers. The government meets with Ofcom regularly but has no role in Ofcom's regulatory decisions.

The UK has worked closely with international partners to constrain Russian oil revenues while maintaining global energy supply and security, protecting critical supply chains, and maintaining the stability of global markets. The Government does not speculate on future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our sanctions.

The UK has worked closely with international partners to constrain Russian oil revenues while maintaining global energy supply and security, protecting critical supply chains, and maintaining the stability of global markets. The Government does not speculate on future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our sanctions.

The UK did not export oil (HS 2709 and 2710) to Russia in 2023 or 2024.

The department does not hold specific information on financial insurance services. However, the export of - and technical assistance, financial and brokering services related to - a petroleum oil, including crude, as well as oil refining goods and technology are prohibited to Russia under UK sanctions. Failure to comply with our sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.

The export of oil from the UK to Russia is prohibited. Non-compliance with the UK's tough sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution. According to HMRC data, the UK did not export oil (HS 2709 and 2710) to Russia in 2023 or 2024.

Applications for licences to export goods and services to Russia otherwise covered by sanctions are assessed on a case-by-case basis, in line with the objectives of our sanctions regime, our wider international obligations, and the specific context of each application, including humanitarian considerations.

Considerations for granting a licence include, but are not limited to, goods and services being provided for medical and pharmaceutical purposes for the benefit of the civilian population, or activities to support the divestment of assets with Russia, and the production or distribution of food for the benefit of the civilian population. Section 3 of the Statutory Guidance for Russia Sanctions: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance provides further information.

The Department for Business & Trade publishes regular Trade and Investment Factsheets, which are available on gov.uk and contain the latest available data on goods and services traded between the UK and other countries, including Russia.

The Director of Labour Market Enforcement oversees and assesses the work of three enforcement bodies: HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement Team, DBT’s Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS), and Home Office’s Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). The DLME is required to report annually to both the Business Secretary and the Home Secretary on the scale and nature of labour market (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673236dc0d90eee304badb89/uk-labour-market-enforcement-strategy_2024-25-accessible.pdf) to address it.

There are ongoing discussions between Canada and the US on their relationship and interests. It is not for the UK to comment on another country’s trade relationships. The UK deeply values its strong trading ties with both the US and Canada, and we will work to build on these relationships in the future.

The government is not responsible for ensuring the mandatory installation of post boxes.

Section 29(6) of the Postal Services Act 2011 requires Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to “secure the provision of sufficient access points to meet the reasonable needs of users of the universal postal service”.

Royal Mail is currently required by Ofcom’s Designated Universal Service Provider (DUSP) condition 1.8.1 to provide a post box within half a mile, by straight line distance, of the premises of at least 98% of users of postal services.

While publicly owned, Post Office Limited is a commercial business that operates at arm’s length from Government. The Post Office's transformation plan aims to put the Post Office on a more stable financial footing for the future, including by reducing costs, and to increase Postmaster remuneration. The details of the transformation plan are being examined by my Department, and the plan is subject to Government funding. The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement and geographical access criteria set by Government thereby ensuring that essential services remain within local reach of all citizens.

Longer term, Government has set out our plan to publish a Green Paper to consult with the public on the long-term future of the Post Office. This Green Paper will help inform what customers, communities and postmasters would like to see from a modern Post Office network.

Post Office is committed to engaging and supporting its customers and their representatives when it makes changes to the Post Office network. When proposing any branch change in the network, Post Office invites comment on access. Feedback is reviewed before Post Office makes a decision on whether to proceed with the original proposal or if mitigations are needed to any address concerns raised.

The Post Office faces a number of complex challenges. As set out on 13 November, Nigel Railton’s transformation plan aims to reduce Post Office’s central costs and deliver a real-terms increase in postmaster pay. As set out on 5 November, it is also important that Government has a clear vision for the future direction of the Post Office. The Department has appointed external consultants to develop options for the future remit, structure and ownership of the Post Office as well as to assess the options and recommendations made by Nigel Railton. Government plans to publish a Green Paper to seek views on a range of different proposals in the first half of 2025.

The impact of the energy crisis is still being felt by people across the country, and the Government and energy suppliers are working together to help vulnerable households this winter. In November, Energy UK, in collaboration with the Government, published a Winter 2024 Commitment which promises £500 million of industry support to billpayers this winter. It also outlines how 15 energy suppliers representing almost the entire market will continue to provide a range of financial support tailored to the needs of their customers.

In the short-term, the Government continues to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides an annual £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. We expect around 3 million households to receive this support this winter.

The Government has also extended the Household Support Fund in England by a further year until 31 March 2026 with an extra £742 million in support, with additional funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula.

National Gas has confirmed on 10 January that “the overall picture across Great Britain’s eight main gas storage sites remains healthy - with average levels at just over 60% across the board." We have diverse sources of gas supply, including from the North Sea, as well as the second largest LNG import capacity in Europe and three gas interconnectors. Only a small proportion of GB gas supply comes from our eight storage facilities, which primarily act as source of system flexibility, with capacity fluctuating throughout the year.

The intellectual property (IP) associated with any grants from Innovate UK is owned by the project participants. The sharing of IP between project participants in a collaborative R&D project is established through a collaboration agreement for that consortium. Innovate UK does not dictate the terms of those collaboration agreements. When a Catapult, which are set up as private businesses, is one of the collaborators they are subject to the same approach. Agreement would be reached across the consortium, and while a Catapult might take an IP stake it would only do so where this supported delivery of its strategic objectives to support innovation and the translation of R&D.

The UK-US special relationship continues to be critical for our security, growth and prosperity, as reiterated by the Prime Minister and President during the recent visit. Under the UK data protection regime, organisations must ensure there are appropriate safeguards in place when sending UK personal data internationally.

The UK has an adequacy decision for certain transfers to the US and robustly monitors any developments that could affect that decision. Where an adequacy decision cannot be relied upon, UK organisations must ensure alternative safeguards are in place, such as contractual clauses, in accordance with Article 46 of the UK GDPR.

All user-to-user services, no matter their size and regardless of whether they are categorised, will be captured by the Online Safety Act. The illegal content duties will require all user-to-user services – including small but risky services - to risk assess for illegal content, reduce the risk that users encounter illegal content, and mitigate against their service being used to facilitate or commit certain offences. The child safety duties will apply to all services likely to be accessed by children. These services must use highly effective age assurance to protect children from the most harmful content.