Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2021 to Question 152466 on OneWeb, how much the Government has allocated for future funding to OneWeb in the next (a) 12 and (b) 36 months; and which additional shareholders are being considered.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government do not propose to invest further in OneWeb. The Government, together with other OneWeb shareholders, is engaged in discussions with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, the Government cannot provide details of potential investors before they are formally announced.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that wedding (a) venues and (b) suppliers are supported during the third covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Paul Scully
We have provided an unprecedented package of financial support since March 2020 to businesses, including those in the weddings sector. We keep this regularly under review, through discussions with HM Treasury.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department spend on (a) external advisers and (b) consultant fees related to the Government's investment in OneWeb.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Details of the Department’s expenditure related to Government’s investment in OneWeb are commercially sensitive. The Government is obliged to treat this information with appropriate care to avoid damaging wider commercial interests and maintaining the trust of OneWeb’s shareholders.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans to encourage OneWeb to move the manufacturing of its satellites from the US to the UK.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Details of satellite production and manufacturing are a commercial matter for the company.
OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-value manufacturing jobs to the UK.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department has allocated for (a) further investment in OneWeb and (b) any other activity relating to OneWeb in the next (i) 12 months and (ii) three years.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The UK Government is working closely with the company and partners to maximise the value of our investment, including discussing with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders.
OneWeb plans to complete UK coverage and commence commercial services by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned for 2022.
It remains the Government’s ambition to supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband and identifying opportunities to protect and promote UK jobs and supply chains.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, what estimate he has made of the number of households in the UK that will benefit from enhanced broadband through OneWeb in the next 12 months.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
OneWeb plans to have UK coverage of satellite broadband by the end of 2021, with global coverage planned by the end of 2022.
The UK Government is supporting OneWeb in providing competitive global broadband whilst being mindful of its responsibility to the UK Space Sector.
The commercial operation of OneWeb will be separate from Government’s duties to ensure the transparent and effective operation of markets.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 July 2020 announcing its investment in OneWeb, how many people were employed at OneWeb’s UK base as of 10 February 2021.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Employee and workforce details are a business matter for the company. OneWeb is fully aware of the UK Government’s ambition to boost domestic capabilities in research and development and bring high-level manufacturing jobs to the UK.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much further investment in OneWeb his Department estimates will be made by Bharti Global Ltd in (a) the next 12 months and (b) the next 36 months.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Details of further investment into OneWeb are a commercial matter for the company.
The UK Government’s focus is on securing additional private investment. We are in discussions with a range of potential partners about future funding and bringing in additional shareholders.