Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Department for Business and Trade, provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3710):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 28 April 2022 (HL7909), what is the current status of Project DEFEND; and what assessment they have made of its success in (1) strengthening national resilience, and (2) reducing supply chain dependency on China. (HL3710)
Tabled on: 06 January 2025
Answer:
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch:
Under the previous government the then Department for International Trade (DIT) ran Project Defend from April 2020 to March 2021 when the project closed.
We recognise the importance of strengthening the resilience of UK supply chains to boost our preparedness for potential disruptions and shocks, Further consideration will be given to this in our forthcoming Trade Strategy. More widely, we are carrying out a full and comprehensive audit of the UK’s interests with regards to China, which will bring a consistent, long-term and strategic approach.
Date and time of answer: 20 Jan 2025 at 17:35.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3917):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of Hong Kong’s Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer Systems) Bill, including concerns that Hong Kong businesses operating in the UK could be subject to data requests from Hong Kong authorities; and what steps they are taking to address potential risks to UK businesses and data sovereignty arising from this legislation. (HL3917)
Tabled on: 09 January 2025
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
The British Consulate General liaises closely with UK businesses operating in Hong Kong regarding local regulatory developments, including in relation to the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer Systems) Bill currently before the Hong Kong Legislative Council. We will continue to monitor developments closely as this legislation is finalised and becomes operational, and any potential impact it may have on UK business.
Date and time of answer: 20 Jan 2025 at 17:13.
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Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3817):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Hong Kong following the decision of Hong Kong police to offer rewards for the arrests of pro-democracy campaigners, including British National (Overseas) passport holders resident in the UK, and the stripping of Martin Lee SC of his status as a Hong Kong Justice of the Peace. (HL3817)
Tabled on: 07 January 2025
Answer:
Baroness Chapman of Darlington:
On Christmas Eve, the Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the Hong Kong police’s targeting of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression and called on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law, including its extraterritorial reach. Senior diplomats have raised concerns directly with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, and FCDO officials have contacted the Chinese Embassy and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London.
The UK Government will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK.
Freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under domestic law, regardless of nationality. The police and security services monitor these issues very closely.
The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong.
Date and time of answer: 20 Jan 2025 at 17:13.
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Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL3713):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number and cost of solar panels which have been purchased from China over the past ten years; how many solar panels they expect will be purchased (1) over the next ten years and (2) to meet to objectives of the Great British Energy Bill; and what is the estimated expenditure for each of these periods. (HL3713)
Tabled on: 06 January 2025
Answer:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:
The Government recently set out its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which requires significant deployment of solar electricity. Developing sustainable, diverse and resilient solar supply chains, free from forced labour, is an absolute priority for this Government and the solar industry.
The Government does not hold data on the supply chains of individual businesses and therefore cannot provide details of overall expenditure or quantities of Chinese imports of solar panels. As Great British Energy will be operationally independent, it will be for the company to determine the projects and technologies it chooses to invest in, in accordance with its objectives.
Date and time of answer: 20 Jan 2025 at 16:02.
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