The Home Office publishes information on asylum in the Immigration statistics quarterly release. Section 2.2 of the ‘How many people do we grant asylum or protection to?’ chapter includes international comparisons on the number of people applying for asylum in the UK and in the EU+ (as published by Eurostat).

There were 37,235 people (applicants and their dependants) who applied for asylum in the UK in the year ending June 2021 (the latest comparable statistics available). This is less than France (87,180) and Spain (67,425), but higher than Italy (24,885) and Greece (24,275). When looking at the EU+ and UK together, the UK received the 4th largest number of applicants, or 8% of the total asylum applicants across the EU+ and UK combined over that period (France and Spain received the second and third largest).

Asylum applications in the UK and the EU have declined in the latest year, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the fall in applications seen by the EU+ (the EU, EEA and Switzerland) (-21%) was steeper than the decline in applications to the UK (-9%).

The number of applications to the UK has remained fairly stable in the last 5 years in comparison with the EU, where application numbers have fluctuated more.

We routinely discuss matters of European security with the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, including challenges in the Western Balkans. This includes coordination in capitals and in the region, and ahead of relevant meetings in the UN, NATO and other fora. The Foreign Secretary will raise the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the forthcoming NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Riga. The Foreign Secretary will also discuss the region with counterparts at the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Liverpool in December.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office promotes the international interests of all parts of the UK and continues to regularly engage with the Welsh Government, and other Devolved Administrations, on international areas relevant to their devolved competence, and on topical issues, such as climate change. Responsibility for foreign affairs and international development is reserved to the UK government. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers did not hold specific discussions with the Welsh Government ahead of the G20 Summit in Rome.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has supported the Prime Minister's objective to use the G20 Rome Summit as an opportunity to rally the most powerful nations to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and secure a sustainable, inclusive recovery. We have been at the forefront of UK diplomatic engagement at the G20 and have pushed for greater multilateral cooperation on areas of climate, health, trade, technology and development. We will continue to use this forum alongside our G7 Presidency and hosting COP26 to demonstrate international leadership and deliver on the priorities set out in the Integrated Review.

The Government is committed to establishing reciprocal arrangements with Italy that facilitate private motoring with a minimum amount of bureaucracy. UK photocard licence holders do not need to carry an additional International Driving Permit (IDP) when visiting Italy, nor any EU Member State.

Department for Transport officials continue to negotiate exchange arrangements for UK licence holders resident in Italy and vice versa as a matter of priority. I will ensure that GOV.UK pages are updated as soon as future arrangements are finalised (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu-uk-licence-holders-living-in-the-eu#italy).

Whilst discussions are ongoing, UK licence holders can continue to use their UK licence until 31 December 2021, or for 12 months from becoming a resident in Italy, whichever is later.

The Department for Transport has successfully agreed arrangements with Italy for the mutual recognition of photocard licences. As such, visitors with UK photocard licences will not need to carry an additional International Driving Permit when driving in Italy.

We have also secured interim arrangements with the Italian authorities which will allow UK licence holders resident in Italy to continue to use their valid UK licence until the end of this year. We are working with the Italian Government to finalise a permanent licence exchange agreement as soon as possible.

Consulate staff in all British Embassies and Consulates are available to assist families of British Nationals. In addition, Rapid Deployment Teams (RDT) have been sent to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Dubai to reinforce our Embassy staff to assist arrivals from Afghanistan.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures both Vaxzevria and Covishield vaccines and both branded vaccines are exactly the same COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine. All SII-made doses approved by the United Kingdom (UK) regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and administered in the UK were branded as the ’COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca’ which is now known commercially as ‘Vaxzevria’.

The government continues to liaise with counterparts in Italy and we are seeking Italian confirmation that they will recognise all AstraZeneca doses administered in the UK. We will ensure that Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice is kept up to date following any developments.

Travel advice is a matter for the FCDO. The government is clear that all AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised Vaxzevria and we are confident that travel will not be affected. The government recommend that all passengers check FCDO travel advice before travelling overseas.

Bee health is a devolved matter: inspections data held by the National Bee Unit cover England, Wales and Scotland.

Biosecurity is a priority for this Government and we recognise that small hive beetle would present a serious threat to our honey bees if it were to arrive in the UK.

The National Bee Unit's agreed inspection target for England and Wales is 50% of consignments of honey bees from Italy. In all years from 2014 to 2020 this figure was met or exceeded in relation to packages. In 2018 there were no packages from Italy imported by beekeepers in England and Wales.

The figures for checks on consignments containing packages of honey bees are:

2014 – 100%

2015 – 52%

2016 – 50%

2017 – 82%

2018 – Zero

2019 – 56%

2020 – 78%

No imports into any part of the UK are permitted from the area of Italy affected by small hive beetle.

The 3-year Concept & Assessment phase will commence in 2021 with a full business case commitment by 2028 that will include details of applicable production arrangements. The Concept & Assessment phase is vital to the FCAS Programme, as we conduct the work needed to narrow down options and provide supporting evidence. The Programme aims to deliver an Initial Operating Capability by the mid-2030s.

It is too early to say where work will be undertaken, but industrial partners estimate that over 1,800 new STEM jobs have been created in over 300 companies nationwide, sustaining and supporting a sector which employs tens of thousands of workers across the UK. Tempest will exploit our industrial base to create a next generation combat air enterprise. The early preparatory work of the FCAS Technology Initiative and Team Tempest had an aspiration to secure employment for 1,800 people directly supporting the programme. Based on information from our industrial partners we believe that estimate has been exceeded, with over 2,000 people now engaged in Tempest enterprise activities alone.

In December 2020 the UK, Italy and Sweden signed the FCAS trilateral MOU. This enabling MOU signals the start of a long-term partnership that will allow us to begin the critical trilateral R&D work as part of the FCAS Concept and Assessment phase in 2021. It is too early to say where specific components of Tempest will be built.

The region of Italy affected by Small hive beetle is not permitted to export honey bees, whether to EU member states or to the UK.

Imports which are permitted to enter the Republic of Ireland from other EU member states are subject to requirements involving advance notification and health certification to confirm that consignments are free of key pests and diseases including Small hive beetle.

Similar requirements apply to imports from any EU country including the Republic of Ireland into any part of the UK. We carry out checks on EU honey bee imports into the UK to ensure that consignments are compliant with the rules.

Biosecurity is a priority for this Government, and we recognise that Small hive beetle represents a serious threat to our honey bees.

Following the detection of Small hive beetle in the far south of Italy in 2014, Defra published a contingency plan and contingency exercises have taken place regularly so that inspectors from the National Bee Unit (NBU) are prepared to deal with any suspected occurrence of this invasive pest in England or Wales. To date, Small hive beetle has not been detected in Europe beyond the far south of Italy.

Exports of bees from the affected region of Italy are not permitted. Exports from other regions in Italy are subject to notification requirements and health certification to ensure freedom from key pests and diseases including Small hive beetle. Laboratory analysis and follow up checks are carried out by NBU inspectors.

We are working with the NBU, beekeepers and other stakeholders to stop Small hive beetle from entering the UK. An extensive surveillance programme is in place for exotic pests. NBU inspectors currently conduct around 6,500 apiary inspections each year. Our Sentinel Apiary Programme ensures that there is enhanced surveillance at high-risk apiaries near ports and airports. Inspectors also provide training and guidance on pest recognition to beekeepers.

Along with colleagues in the Devolved UK Administrations, we are monitoring the impact of the new trading arrangements with EU countries and our contingency protocols will be reviewed and updated accordingly.

Small hive beetle was first detected in Europe in 2014, in the far south of Italy, and safeguard measures have been maintained by the Italian authorities since then. While further cases have occurred in the same area in subsequent years, Small hive beetle has not been detected outside the far south of Italy.

Exports of honey bees from the affected region of Italy are not permitted. The Government has no plans to ban imports of honey bee queens from unaffected regions of Italy.

The Government is engaging closely with the Italian government on citizens' rights, including the delays issuing new residence documents (carta di soggiorno elettronica) evidencing the rights of UK nationals in Italy under the Withdrawal Agreement. These delays have now been addressed by the Italian government. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will raise concerns if significant delays or wider implementation issues arise in Italy, including at the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights.

Italy has adopted a declaratory system under the Withdrawal Agreement. This means that UK nationals and their family members who were lawfully resident before the end of the transition period do not need to apply for a new residence status to be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. This is because the rights under the Withdrawal Agreement are conferred automatically by operation of the law. While it is not a prerequisite to having status under the Withdrawal Agreement, UK nationals are encouraged to obtain the new residence document to evidence their rights. Pending the issuance of a new residence document, existing residence documents or other forms of proof can be used to evidence status under the Withdrawal Agreement.