Oct. 04 2023
Source Page: Intelligence shows Russia may target Black Sea civilian shippingFound: Intelligence shows Russia may target Black Sea civilian shipping
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the enforcement of export controls (a) in general and (b) to halt the potential transfer of British goods to Russia via third countries.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC is responsible for enforcing export controls on strategic goods and sanctions and investigating potential breaches of those controls. There are extensive trade measures in place and the UK Government monitors the effectiveness of all its sanctions, including those made through the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
We are committed to tackling sanctions circumvention, ensuring that sanctions are robustly enforced; potential breaches are investigated, and appropriate action taken. Departments from across HMG are working together, and with UK companies, to ensure that sanctions are enforced.
Internationally, we are working closely with our US and EU sanctions coordinators to raise circumvention with several countries to highlight these risks and support them to enforce sanctions effectively.
For information, on 22 May 2023, HMRC and DBT issued a Notice to Exporters outlining trade sanctions circumvention - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-202308-russia-sanctions-trade-sanctions-circumvention
Nov. 14 2023
Source Page: 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on RussiaFound: 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Russia
Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what volume of gas was imported from Russia in 2023.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In 2023, the UK did not import any gas from Russia. The last import of gas from Russia to the UK was in March 2022 (Energy Trends Table 4.4).
Nov. 14 2023
Source Page: Russia-bound flight from Inverness after introduction of flight restrictions to Russia: FOI releaseFound: Russia-bound flight from Inverness after introduction of flight restrictions to Russia: FOI release
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps the Government is taking to monitor the potential supply of Russian crude oil via third parties into the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK, alongside our international allies, has imposed sanctions on Russia to limit its ability to wage war. Sanctions have curtailed total Russian goods imports to the UK by 94%.
The Government continues to monitor the effectiveness of all sanctions, including on crude oil, leading the international effort to counter circumvention alongside our partners. The Government is committed to ensuring that third countries are not used by Russia to evade sanctions.
It is a criminal offence to contravene, or to enable or facilitate contravention of, UK sanctions on Russia including those on Russian oil and oil products. Oil and oil products may be subject to forfeiture if the importer cannot prove they do not originate from Russia.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on standardising measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Preventing circumvention is a priority for UK ministers and officials who routinely work in close coordination with G7 members and allies. Our collective response to circumvention has included the joint publication of a list of Common High Priority goods critical to Russia's military-industrial complex and the introduction of the Oil Price Cap. We continue to deliver joint outreach to third countries and coordinated packages of sanctions that include targets in third countries that are enabling Russia to sustain its war machine. The most recent package was on 22 February. The Government will continue to coordinate with allies on circumvention issues.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will hold discussions with international partners on strengthening multilateral approaches to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia through third countries.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK coordinates closely with the EU, US, G7 and other international partners to tackle circumvention via multilateral fora and strategic consultations. Senior officials attend the Sanctions Coordinators Forum in Brussels, most recently in February 2024 focusing on strengthening enforcement of Russia sanctions. With the EU, US and Japan we have agreed a list of 50 Common High Priority items; battlefield-critical components we are targeting through joint diplomatic engagement with third countries. With the US and EU we have jointly engaged with the UAE, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Serbia, to highlight circumvention risks and offer technical support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps through the Financial Action Task Force against Russia for violating sanctions on North Korea.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 23 February, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) expressed its concern about the growing financial connectivity of Russia with countries subject to countermeasures, namely North Korea and Iran, and the potential risks of proliferation financing, malicious cyber activities and ransomware attacks.
The UK’s recent joint statement (12 January 2024) is clear that Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and their use against Ukraine violate multiple UNSCRs. Actively facilitating the circumvention of UNSCR 1718 and violating its prohibitions undermines the global fight against proliferation, the UN sanctions regime, and consequently the financial sanctions requirements of the FATF standards. The UK will continue to call out Russia’s violation of UNSCRs both at the UN and within the FATF.
Apr. 26 2024
Source Page: We urge Russia to translate its apparent concern for critical infrastructure into action by ceasing attacks in Ukraine: UK statement at the UN Security CouncilFound: We urge Russia to translate its apparent concern for critical infrastructure into action by ceasing attacks