Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to join previous speakers in thanking Ambassadors Çevik and Grau for briefing us today and for the crucial work you and your teams do.

Both of your reports draw attention to the volatility of this conflict and its devastating impact on thousands of Ukrainian civilians living under constant threat in the conflict area. Regular spikes in violence continue to threaten these innocent people on a daily basis and remain a serious concern for the UK.

Ambassador Grau, we welcome the work of the Trilateral Contact Group towards achieving peace and stability in eastern Ukraine. We reaffirm our full support to the Minsk agreements, and we join others in this hall in reiterating that Russia also signed up to those agreements and has obligations under them.

The TCG is made up of representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE, which chairs the group. We commend the Ukrainian government for the commitment they have shown to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the efforts they are making in this regard. Sadly, the Russian Federation consistently fails to play its part. They should fulfil their responsibility to act constructively in the TCG and its Working Groups to ensure that progress can be made.

Ambassador Çevik, we appreciate your ongoing efforts to ensure the SMM continues its important work while ensuring duty of care for all staff remains a priority. We commend the numerous sensible precautionary measures you have taken, and continue to take, in light of the pandemic. This makes it all the more unjustifiable that the Russia-backed armed formations continue to use COVID-19 as a pretext to restrict the Mission’s access across the Line of Contact. This is a clear violation of the SMM’s mandate, and is having a grave operational consequence – as you outlined. The pandemic must not be used as an excuse to blind the Mission or divide it into three.

Unfortunately, the SMM has always operated in challenging circumstances, and we are deeply concerned to note that the SMM’s assets continue to be targeted. It is unacceptable that three SMM cameras were damaged within the space of a few weeks, in Petrivske and Shryrokyne and at the Oktiabr mine. We reiterate that the Mission must have full, safe and unimpeded access throughout the entirety of Ukraine, in accordance with its mandate. We call on Russia to use its influence over the armed formations it backs in this regard.

We welcome the re-opening of some Entry-Exit checkpoints, which are important for maintaining social and economic links between Ukrainians either side of the line of contact. We are concerned by reports of inconsistent and sporadic reopening of checkpoints on the non-government controlled side, with some civilians continuing to be denied passage. While reasonable precautions should of course be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this should not be used as a pretext for unnecessary limitations on their freedom of movement. We join your calls to re-open all the entry and exit crossing points and remove unnecessary restrictions.

The Russian Federation has not only failed to demonstrate the political will to implement the Minsk agreements in full, but has also taken unilateral steps which undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and the spirit of the Minsk agreements. We condemn Russia’s use of “passportisation” policies in Donetsk and Luhansk. The latest example of this unacceptable behaviour is the involvement of Ukrainian residents from non-government controlled Donetsk and Luhansk in voting on the Russian constitutional amendments. We also further condemn Russia’s organisation of voting in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, which is Ukrainian territory.

Russia should stop these provocations and withdraw their military personnel and weapons from all Ukrainian territory; cease its support for the armed formations it backs; stop access restrictions and intimidation of SMM in areas held by Russia-backed armed formations and reverse all unilateral measures. They should also take their international humanitarian obligations seriously and allow crucial assistance to reach civilians.

The UK supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, including its territorial waters. We do not and will not recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The UK has consistently stood with Ukraine in opposing all instances of Russian aggression towards Ukraine and we will continue to do so, including through sanctions and other restrictive measures, together with our international partners. Thank you.

Figures from the Department for International Trade published today (10 July), show the UK attracted 1,852 new inward investment projects in 2019/2020 financial year, representing a 4% increase on the previous year.

Today’s figures show the US continues to be the number one source of foreign direct investment in the UK, delivering 462 projects and 20,131 jobs, while India is now the UK’s second largest source of investment followed by Germany, France and China and Hong Kong. Australia and New Zealand were responsible for 72 projects and the Nordic and Baltic region 134, an increase for both regions.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all saw an increase in the number of projects each nation attracted, whilst Scotland saw a decline on the number of projects from the previous year.

While the number of new jobs as a direct result of foreign investment has declined – a global trend as seen in other FDI reports this year – the number of UK jobs safeguarded by FDI increased by 29%. DIT worked closely with existing investors to safeguard 26% more jobs compared to 2018 to 2019, demonstrating the broad range of support DIT delivers for the UK economy by promoting investment.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said:

These figures further demonstrate the resilience of the UK economy and the work of the Government to continue to build and attract inward investment into the UK. Future trade agreements will deepen our economic relationship with key sources of investment such as the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

There is still work to be done in our levelling up agenda, to ensure all regions of the United Kingdom reap the benefits of inward investment, increasing jobs and prosperity across the nations, and these free trade agreements will contribute to this.

Developing key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences and renewable energy will help us to rebound post-pandemic and build on our attractive business environment across the UK for investors around the globe.

This year, DIT’s statistics also include the Cambridge and Oxford Arc, a priority area for government, while the GREAT Investors Program data has also been included showcasing the strengthening of growth capital investment in the UK.

See Inward Investment Results for 2019 to 2020.

The Financial Times FDI Report 2020

• The Financial Times FDI Report 2020 highlights that the UK remains top in Europe on attracting FDI projects and on greenfield capital expenditure.

EY Attractiveness Survey 2020

• The latest attractiveness report by EY shows that the UK lost its top spot to France as most attractive destination in Europe for foreign direct investment, however remains one of the most attractive destinations for investment in Europe with over 1,100 inbound investment projects in 2019, more than Germany and Italy combined; an increase of 5% despite a challenging global climate.

UNCTAD World Investment Report 2019

• The latest data by UNCTAD showed that by the end of 2019, the total value of the UK’s inwards investment stock was $2.1tn, the highest in Europe and second highest in the world. The value of the UK’s inwards stock was also worth more than Germany and France combined.

ONS

• ONS’s latest National Statistics (to the end of 2018) show the inward FDI stock is at the highest level recorded (£1.521 trillion).

Forbes ‘best countries for business’ 2019

• The UK was found to be the top country for doing business in Forbes’ 2019 report, a measure which ranks countries according to how business friendly they are based on 15 different factors from property rights to investor protection.

The CMA has received over 17,500 complaints from consumers about difficulties they have faced with package holiday businesses in relation to cancellations and refunds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of the volume of complaints received, the CMA has published an open letter to the sector highlighting its concerns and setting out what it expects businesses to do. A copy of this letter will be sent directly to over 100 businesses that we have received the most complaints about so far.

The CMA is not disclosing the identities of businesses who it issues letters to.

Find out more about our COVID-19 cancellations: package holidays investigation

Science Minister Amanda Solloway has today (Friday 10 July) unveiled details of the three new projects that have been selected as part of a joint initiative between the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) to find and support space-enabled technologies and services that can support the NHS response to coronavirus.

Space company Skyports will be working with NHS Highland, which serves a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland, to use drones to deliver medical supplies and samples from a hospital on the Argyll and Bute mainland.

Drones will use mobile connectivity, satellite communications and navigation, and Earth observation data, to chart a course to others areas of the mainland and across the sea to nearby islands to reach medical practices in need.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said:

I’m proud of how our world-leading space sector is stepping up to provide innovative solutions to directly support our amazing NHS, as we continue our national effort to tackling coronavirus.

The projects we are backing today show UK ingenuity at its finest, and will make a real difference to how we use this latest innovative technology to deliver critical healthcare now and long into the future.

The UK space industry has some of the brightest minds in the country and is well placed to support the unprecedented national effort to overcome coronavirus and recover strongly from the global pandemic.

An initial £2.6 million was made available and these first three schemes have received a total of £1.1 million. The UK Space Agency and ESA are still looking to fund further bids with the call for ideas remaining open until 30 September 2020. 

Professor Tony Young, the NHS national clinical lead for innovation, said: 

The NHS Long Term Plan is bringing new technologies into the NHS to improve patient care and save lives, and as we deal with the greatest challenge in the NHS’ history, innovation in medicine and convenient, faster technology are helping frontline staff to give people world-leading treatment for Covid-19 alongside care for killer conditions including cancer.

The space-enabled solutions include satellite communications, satellite navigation and Earth observation satellites. The UK continues to be a leading member of ESA, which is independent of the EU, having committed a record investment of £374 million per year in November 2019. This funding to support the coronavirus response comes from ESA’s Business Applications Space Solutions fund, in which the UK is the leading investor.

Nick Appleyard, Head of Downstream Business Applications at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications in Oxfordshire, said:

So many people have been so deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, in UK and around the world. We are grateful to these companies for quickly stepping forwards with their ideas to relieve pressure at some key points in the NHS’ extraordinary moment of challenge. And we are proud that European Space Agency has been able to support them through our long-standing partnership with the UK Space Agency.

We hope that these projects will now inspire even more innovators to make a difference, and we look forwards to receiving their proposals too. Finally, we would like to thank the staff and workers of the NHS for their service.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said:

Now more than ever, it’s vital that we protect our NHS, which is why it’s great to see our world-class space sector leading the way in providing solutions to protect the public and patients.

As we recover from coronavirus, the exciting projects revealed today will use innovative tech to support our national health service, now and in the future.

I’m proud to see such bright and promising British projects receive the backing they deserve from the UK Space Agency.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said:

It is great news that the UK Space Agency is supporting coronavirus response projects which will benefit Scottish communities.

I welcome the innovative Skyports and NHS Highland scheme to use space-enabled drones to deliver crucial testing and medical supplies from the mainland to islands off the west coast of Scotland.

And I congratulate Musselburgh-based Stevenson Astrosat for securing funding to develop a high-tech solution for targeting support to vulnerable communities.

Space is already playing an important part in healthcare. Last year the UK Space Agency provided £5 million for new health technologies inspired by working in space to support NHS England. These included providing real-time diagnosis of bowel cancer, developing more compact 3D X-ray machines and a mobile app that provided exercise plans free from air pollution for those with medical conditions such as asthma.

Meanwhile the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme uses UK expertise to support healthcare projects all over the world, including forecasting and providing early warning of dengue fever outbreaks in Vietnam through Earth observation satellites and using telecommunications to extend the reach of basic medical healthcare into remote areas in Nigeria.

The UK Space Agency and UKspace trade body continue to work closely together to help the space sector respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK space sector employs 42,000 people and generates an income of £14.8 billion each year, while supporting £300 billion of wider economic activity through other industries with satellite services such as navigation, communications and Earth observation. The government is developing a comprehensive UK Space Strategy to build on this success, strengthen national space capabilities and unleash a wave of further innovation across the country.