Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Lucy Rigby (Labour) on Friday, 4 September 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Sanctions

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 29 May 2026 to Question 2052 on Sanctions, whether any of the general licences granted by OFSI allow for the ancillary provision of public relations and public affairs.

Answer

The Office of Financial Sanctions (OFSI) general licences authorise certain categories of payments and financial services that would otherwise be prohibited under UK financial sanctions regulations. OFSI does not provide exemptions from wider trade sanctions or other regulatory restrictions, but it may fall within the remit of other parts of Government.

Whether a particular service may be provided under a general licence depends on the scope and conditions of that licence. Regarding public relations and public affairs, the Government has made clear that there is a presumption that applications for specific licences for legal fees relating to defamation and similar cases will be rejected and OFSI’s Russian and Belarusian Legal Services General Licence does not authorise legal fees for such cases. Further information is set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 March 2023.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 20578
Session: 2026-27
Related items: Sanctions
Friday, 22 May 2026
Written questions
House of Commons; Sanctions
Monday, 14 September 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Licensing Exemptions Public relations Sanctions Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Sanctions

Secondary information

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