AUKUS partners have announced we are ready to begin consultations in 2024 with prospective collaborators regarding areas where they can contribute to, and benefit from, Pillar Two work.

Tackling irregular migration is a priority for Foreign Office engagement across our overseas networks, through international forums, including at the G7 and European Political Community, and bilaterally.

We will need unabated gas in 2035 to play a small but important role when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Our published Net Zero scenarios envisage a small but important role for unabated gas in 2035. Without a role for unabated gas, we would likely run an increased risk of blackouts.

The Government has stated its intention to include nuclear in the UK Green Taxonomy, subject to consultation. This will incentivise private investment in this important technology alongside renewables and other sectors that are key to reaching our Net Zero goal. The Government expects to publish the consultation on the UK Green Taxonomy shortly.

On 14^th March Government published its new definition of extremism, which identifies behaviour that seek to “to… undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of parliamentary democracy” as extremist.

The Government is undergoing a formal process of identifying and naming extremists. Before elections, the Government stands up the election cell, which works with the Police and Home Office to monitor threats to our democratic systems or institutions.

It is not possible to provide this information as the Department does not undertake its planning activity in this way.

The government has consistently prioritised defence spending. The Ministry of Defence was the first department to get certainty on its budgets in this Parliament. This settlement was the largest sustained spending increase in defence since the end of the Cold War, with a £24 billion uplift in cash terms over the four-year period. In March 2023, we also provided an extra £11 billion for defence and national security priorities over the next five years, with £4.95 billion over the next two years.

The government’s aspiration over the longer-term is to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence, when the fiscal and economic circumstances allow.

I know the whole House will join me in congratulating Vaughan Gething on his election as Welsh Labour leader and expected election as First Minister of Wales, and also in offering Mark Drakeford our best wishes on his retirement. The Government I lead will always work tirelessly to benefit the lives of people across the United Kingdom, and I look forward to working constructively with the new First Minister to deliver for the people of Wales.

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

At the spring Budget, the Government announced a package of tax reliefs for our world-leading creative industries worth £1 billion over the next five years, including a 40% relief on business rates for eligible film studios in England and enhanced tax reliefs for visual effects.

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns.

Whilst we have domestic restrictions on the production of force-fed foie gras, it is possible to import foie gras from abroad. In line with the Government’s commitment to improving animal welfare standards as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, we are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform future decisions.

We do not currently have an end date for when this research will conclude.

We are transforming communities the length and breadth of our United Kingdom through our £4.8 billion levelling-up fund, improving transport, regenerating high streets and rebuilding pride in place.

I know the thoughts of the whole House will be with the friends and families of Lord Cormack and Ronnie Campbell. They were dedicated parliamentarians.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I will have further such meetings later today.

In 2023 the UK imported 628 tonnes of fatty livers of geese and ducks, valued at £3.3m (source HMRC UK Trade Info; data for 2023 is provisional and subject to change).

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns.

We are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform future decisions. Any proposals would be informed by the evidence base and likely subject to consultation.

The Government recognises the benefits of collective licensing, in delivering efficient outcomes for users of copyright material, but has made no specific assessment of the potential merits of collective licensing in relation to the training of AI models. Collective licensing was examined by the working group convened last year to develop a voluntary code of practice on copyright and AI, but no agreement on a way forward was reached between rights holders and AI companies.

The Government will continue to work closely with AI developers and rights holders, including collective management organisations, on these issues and will share a public update soon.

AUKUS partners continue to make good progress on the optimal pathway to deliver conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines to Australia and to develop the advanced capabilities required.

I am determined to ensure that everybody who needs NHS dental care can receive it. We have already implemented a package of reforms to improve access and provide fairer remuneration for dentists. That has had an effect, with 1.7 million more adults being seen, 800,000 more children being seen and a 23% increase in NHS activity in the past year. We know we need to do much more, and our dentistry recovery plan will be published shortly, setting out a big package of change.

Last week, I announced the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years. We will deploy a fleet of small modular reactors and build up to 24 GW of nuclear by 2050. This will ensure we have reliable, cheap and low-carbon power to protect consumers from price volatility and hostile foreign regimes, bolstering our energy security.

The Government is committed to working with UK financial institutions to further tackle deforestation-linked finance. As we set out in the updated Green Finance Strategy, we have begun this work with Government-convened roundtables having commenced in Summer 2023.

The global approach on disclosure standards, such as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) or the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is a vital condition for success in improving nature-related disclosure.

Following the making of the first relevant regulations under paragraph 1 of Schedule 17 of the Environment Act and as set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, HM Treasury will conduct a review to assess the extent to which regulation of the UK financial system is adequate for the purpose of eliminating the financing of illegal deforestation, and to consider what, if any, changes to the regulatory framework may be appropriate.

We look forward to the moment when technology will allow the end of all animal testing. In the meantime, we are committed to supporting the growth of technologies that support human-specific research. The UK has a world leading reputation for the delivery of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (3Rs).