The project referenced is at an early stage, however the Department for Business and Trade is actively involved in a range of railway projects in Africa. Through its network of staff, DBT supports UK companies access opportunities in the rail, engineering and manufacturing sectors, creating UK jobs and growth.

Recent examples include:

- A Letter of Intent signed last year between the Southern African Railway Association (SARA) and the UK Railway Association, committing to explore priority rail corridors in Southern Africa, which also includes the Tanzanian, Angolan and DR Congo railway companies

- There have also been notable commercial successes in recent years, including Alstom winning a £2.3billion contract for the 61-mile monorail network in Cairo in 2019. In total, 272 Cairo Monorail cars were assembled and tested at the company's site in Derby, supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) maintains a rigorous credit due diligence framework, to ensure that it abides by its mandate to operate at no net cost to the taxpayer over time.

UKEF assesses each country in which it has an actual or potential credit exposure, using methodologies that are widely used in the commercial sector and draw on a range of external factors, and assigns a credit rating.

As a result of this assessment, UKEF’s business in Argentina and Nigeria is currently limited to medium or long-term projects that are foreign exchange earning (i.e. projects that generate revenue in currencies other than that of the destination country itself, and are structured in a way that reduces the credit risks to UKEF), and short term insurance and guarantees (again, subject to robust credit risk mitigants being in place). We regularly refresh our credit risk due diligence, and should the circumstances, change, UKEF would be able to offer a wider set of products in support of exports to Nigeria and Argentina.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) maintains a rigorous credit due diligence framework, to ensure that it abides by its mandate to operate at no net cost to the taxpayer over time.

UKEF assesses each country in which it has an actual or potential credit exposure, using methodologies that are widely used in the commercial sector and draw on a range of external factors, and assigns a credit rating.

As a result of this assessment, UKEF’s business in Argentina and Nigeria is currently limited to medium or long-term projects that are foreign exchange earning (i.e. projects that generate revenue in currencies other than that of the destination country itself, and are structured in a way that reduces the credit risks to UKEF), and short term insurance and guarantees (again, subject to robust credit risk mitigants being in place). We regularly refresh our credit risk due diligence, and should the circumstances, change, UKEF would be able to offer a wider set of products in support of exports to Nigeria and Argentina.

We have not appointed a Trade Envoy to the United States of America, India or China. We recognise the importance of each of these markets to the government’s growth mission, however, markets such as these already have significant diplomatic, trade and investment networks, as well as receiving regular high-level visits by Ministers.

The government is committed to the UK becoming a Clean Energy Superpower, achieving clean power by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Skills have a crucial role to play in achieving this mission.

The department is working to ensure the English skills system supports learners, workers and employers to prepare for jobs in renewable energy. This includes the new growth and skills offer, which will prioritise investment that supports economic growth, increases opportunity, better meets employers’ skills needs and increases investment in skills shortage areas.

Other reforms include the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and Skills England. The LLE will launch in the 2026/27 academic year and will broaden access to high-quality, flexible education and training by providing funding for full courses as well as modules of high-value courses.

Skills England is a new body which will provide authoritative assessments of skills needs, ensure a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships and technical qualifications and work with devolved areas and regional organisations to ensure skills needs are met. Skills England published its first report in September, highlighting the skills needed to support targets on net zero, the Clean Energy Mission and UK targets for environmental improvements. Skills England are working closely with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which focuses on developing a skilled workforce in core energy and net zero sectors, including renewables.

There is already considerable provision for the skills key to renewable infrastructure in delivery across England. For example:

• Over 40 of the occupational standards that underpin technical education in England are directly supportive of the clean energy industry. This includes the wind turbine technician maintenance and operations engineering technician level 3 and the domestic air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems technician specialism of the plumbing and domestic heating technician level 3.
• Education and training providers must have regard to their local skills improvement plan when making decisions on provision that may be relevant to the skills, capabilities or expertise required now or in the future in their area. This is particularly important for areas with major renewable energy projects.
• There are an extensive number of vocational education courses available in further education (FE) settings for renewable energy skills. For example, Skills Bootcamps in Renewable Energy and level 3 awards in installing solar PV panels.

Employers have a crucial role to play in ensuring skills products are up to date and providing the knowledge and training learners need for jobs in the renewable energy industry. Employers can contribute in a range of ways including participating in route reviews or trailblazers for occupational standards, providing industrial placement or work experience opportunities for young people and working with careers hubs to provide up to date industry information. It is also crucial that employers communicate their skills and workforce needs with their local FE training providers to enable those providers to know what provision to offer.

We take a close interest in the relationship between the US and China as P5 members. We engage with the countries individually in pursuit of our interests. The US is an indispensable ally, and we are committed to the depth and breadth of the UK-US relationship across defence, intelligence and foreign policy. We will continue to work with the US on the basis of our shared values and interests. With China, we will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing our relations, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

As G20 countries and members of the UN Security Council, the UK and China have a shared responsibility to work together. This Government will take a long-term, consistent and strategic approach to UK-China relations; cooperating where we can, competing where we need to and challenging where we must.

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

A strong UK-China relationship is important for both countries, and investment and growth are priorities for this government. China is one of our biggest trading partners and therefore it is important to have serious, pragmatic discussions with its leaders, cooperating where we can, competing when needed and challenging where we must.

The Prime Minister met President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in November and agreed that the Chancellor should visit Beijing in 2025 to discuss economic and financial cooperation with her counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng. Ministerial travel will be confirmed in the usual way.

The Government is working closely with industry to ensure that sufficient installers are available to install heat pumps. The Heat Pump Association (HPA) estimate that as of 2023, the heat pump installer workforce is made up of between 4,000 and 10,000 trained and active installers. Nearly 8,000 individuals completed training in 2023, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs.

To meet future demand, the Government is supporting trainees in England taking training relevant to heat pumps and heat networks under the £5 million Heat Training Grant. Industry is also investing in upskilling the existing workforce. Octopus Energy has invested £10 million in a new training centre in Slough, Ideal Heating have announced a multi-million-pound training centre in Bridgehead near Hull, and Aira is investing £300m in the UK heat pump market, including setting up training academies.

The UK plays an active role within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and will continue to work with partners globally to tackle money laundering and the financing of terrorism. We will continue to seek provisions in our trade agreements that address the trade-distorting effects of corruption.

The Government is also committed to publishing a Trade Strategy in Spring 2025 that will be growth-based and future focused and will set out the government’s approach to future trade policy including our overarching approach to trade levers such as trade agreements.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) publicly lists jurisdictions with weak anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing regimes. The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) require regulated businesses, including banks, to undertake ‘enhanced due diligence’ in respect of business relationships and transactions involving countries on the FATF’s lists, defined as ‘High Risk Third Countries’.

Croatia was listed by the FATF in June 2023, so is a High Risk Third Country for the purposes of the MLRs. While enhanced due diligence measures are required, there is no expectation that services linked to a particular country should be withdrawn due to a country’s listing by the FATF.

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the participating European countries.

However, non-EU nationals that hold a residency card or permit in a Schengen Area country and those holding documents showing they qualify as Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries will not be required to register for EES, this includes British citizens.

The planning application for a proposed new Chinese Embassy is currently with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The timing of determining the application is a matter for them as the local planning authority. No further comment can be made in respect of this, or any prospective scheme, as to do so may prejudice any future decision the Deputy Prime Minister in her role as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government may need to make should this application come before her in the future.

In September 2021, in response to Chinese government sanctions being placed upon Members of both Houses of Parliament, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker determined that the Ambassador of China would no longer be permitted access to the Parliamentary Estate. The decision of the Speakers remains unchanged.

Following appointment to ministerial office, all ministers receive induction briefings from their departments to support them in their ministerial duties.

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.