Written questions by Byrne.

With reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

The Capital DEL budgets for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) were published as part of HM Treasury’s Spending Review 2025 on 11th June and revised at the Autumn Budget 2025 on 26th November. These documents provide the settlement delegation in each year of the spending review period, 2025-26 to 29-30. Detailed information on how much capital funding has been committed to DESNZ’ programmes is included within these documents.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

Table 5.4 of HM Treasury's Spending Review 2025 document sets out the Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit budgets for each department up to 2029/30. Departmental level allocations for the Spending Review period will be set out in the coming months.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

SR25 CDEL Allocation2025/262026/272027/282028/292029/30CDEL£2,695mn£2,760mn£2,781mn£2,776mn£2740mn Defra’s current capital delegated expenditure limits are displayed above, as set out in the Budget 2025 document (Table C.2). Any future amendments to Defra’s capital budgets will be subject to business planning and set out at the relevant Parliamentary Estimate in the usual way. The Spending Review 2025 document contains more detail on areas that Defra’s capital budget will supporting including the National Biosecurity Centre, Floods programme and the Farming and Countryside Programme. Defra is not holding any unallocated provision within its CDEL budgets.

With reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

The Spending Review 2025 established allocations of Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) up to financial year 2029-30. A profile of these agreed allocations is enclosed in the table below, reflecting the measures announced at Autumn Budget 2025: £ billion (current prices)Plans 2025-26Plans 2026-27Plans 2027-28Plans 2028-29Plans 2029-30Capital DEL Expenditure21.623.024.822.724.4 Capital funding allocations in future years and how they are allocated (this includes any unallocated funds) are subject to departmental business planning processes. Furthermore, the department will provide more detail on future spending plans at the appropriate Supply Estimate.

With reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

The Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025 sets out the Home Office settlement from HM Treasury. This includes the Home Office’s Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (CDEL), which are detailed in Table 5.4: Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL)(1) within Section 5. Departmental Settlements of the document Spending Review 2025 (HTML) - GOV.UK.The department is considering how the settlement will be allocated and further detail on allocation by spending areas for 2026-27 will be published during Q1 of 2026-27 as part of the Home Office Main Estimates memorandum.

Communities and Local Government, what his proposed timetable is for establishing a West Midlands mayoral development company for east Birmingham.

I understand that the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) board has agreed on 17 October 2025, the intention to create Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) in East Birmingham by Autumn 2026. WMCA is planning to carry out public consultation in early 2026 ahead of submitting a formal notification to the Secretary of State to establish the MDC in summer 2026. Under the Localism Act 2011, Mayors have the powers to designate Mayoral Development Areas (MDAs) and once the Secretary of State receives a notification per section 197(6) of the 2011 Act, he must by order establish an MDC for the area designated by the Mayor. I look forward to working with the Mayor on this important growth initiative.

Innovation and Technology, which (a) Department and (b) Minister have lead responsibility for the implementation of the UK–US Technology Prosperity Deal; and what (i) structures and (ii) processes are in place to coordinate implementation across Government.

The departments responsible for the implementation of the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal are the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Their Secretaries of State have lead responsibility for the implementation of this deal.Both departments work closely together, across government and with delivery partners to implement the deal. They also work closely with US colleagues to drive progress under the deal, including towards convening a Ministerial-Level working group as set out in the MoU.

Innovation and Technology, which (a) Department and (b) Minister had responsibility for the negotiation of the UK–US Technology Prosperity Deal.

The responsible departments were the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Their Secretaries of State were responsible for negotiating the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports, HCWS679, if his Department will retain responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.

There are currently no plans to change DBT’s responsibility for policy on the export of dual-use items.

With reference to (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what (i) mechanisms and (ii) training he will put in place so that the new Defence Exports Office (A) has access to appropriate legal advice and (B) is fully aware of its legal obligations.

This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s (SDR) vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. Any changes required to staff training and processes will be considered as part of the implementation work All exports promoted by the Ministry of Defence or His Majesty's Government (HMG) will continue to be done in accordance with HMG's legal obligations, where there are already robust checks and balances in place across HMG decision making processes.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports HCWS679, and (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, if the new defence exports office will replace UK defence and security exports.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, improving exports is vital to national security and growth at home. We are creating a single Departmental lead through the transfer of responsibility for defence exports, comprising the majority of UK Defence and Security Exports, from the Department of Business and Trade to the Ministry of Defence. A new team under the National Armaments Director will drive forward export campaigns.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what role the National Armaments Director will have in (a) considering, (b) advising on and (c) deciding export licence applications.

This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what input other Government (i) departments and (ii) agencies will have into the export decisions of the new defence exports office.

The Strategic Defence Review was clear that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) must coordinate with other Government Departments to achieve export goals. Inputs from other Government Departments will be critical to ensure success, from the views of Ambassadors, Trade teams and Defence Attaches in our overseas embassies to the export licensing community in the FCDO, MOD and other Government Departments.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether the review of export licensing policy will examine export controls relating to (a) sensitive technologies, (b) intangible transfers, (c) technological advancements and (d) the targeting end-uses and end-users of concern.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.

With reference to page 7 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the remit is of the new defence exports office; and when that office will be operational.

With the creation of the National Armaments Group on 31 March 2025 and the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for defence exports to the Ministry of Defence on 31 July, Whitehall teams specialising in defence exports are being brought together for the first time. The new team will have responsibility for supporting defence exports, including supporting a new framework for an enhanced Government-to-Government mechanism to support defence exports.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include an examination of the effectiveness of the Export Control Joint Unit.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether (a) export licensing decisions will remain the responsibility of his Department and (b) the Export Control Joint Unit will continue to be based in his Department.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department's review of export licensing policy will include the UK’s (a) participation in, (b) its interpretation of and (c) approach to (i) international treaties and (ii) any other international law and agreements relevant to arms control.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, qwhther his Department's review of export licensing policy will include the (a) UK Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, (b) Export Control Act 2002 and (c) Export Control Order 2008.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will conduct the review of the export licensing policy; what the (a) planned timetable and (b) terms of reference of that review will be; and (i) which groups and organisations his Department plans to consult and (ii) whether there will be a public consultation.

The implementation of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations will be led by the Ministry of Defence.This will include the transfer of UK Defence and Security Exports from the Department for Business and Trade to the MOD.This will also include consideration of how our export licensing processes can best support UK industry participation in international defence programmes.It does not include plans to change the operation of the Export Control Joint Unit, which is led by the Department for Business and Trade, supported by MOD and FCDO.It also does not include plans to change our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, through which ECJU implements its responsibilities under the Export Control Act.DBT and MOD will continue to engage with the relevant committees in Parliament on the detail of this work as it develops.