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Written Question
Belarus and Russia: Iron and Steel
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the reliability of allegations that third party countries have been re-stamping steel products from Russia and Belarus for import into the UK market.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Over £20bn of UK-Russia trade is now under sanctions, with a 99.1% reduction in UK goods imports from Russia compared to before the invasion.

The Government is committed to ensuring that third countries are not used by Russia to evade sanctions and takes such allegations seriously. We are working together with our international partners to stop any attempts to circumvent sanctions measures through third party countries. Anyone who directly or indirectly imports prohibited Russian iron or steel products – or facilitates its shipment to other countries from Russia – faces a heavy fine or imprisonment.


Written Question
Russia: Sanctions
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has he made of the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia in preventing UK companies from trading in Russia; and what steps she is taking to close loopholes in those sanctions.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK has wholly or partially sanctioned £20 billion of UK-Russia goods trade – 96% of 2021 values. Compared to before the invasion, UK goods imports from Russia have fallen by 99.1%, and goods exports to Russia have fallen by 80%. Additional sanctions on services trade will further erode Russia’s ability to keep pace with Western countries.

Sanctions are starving Russia of advanced technologies and degrading their military capabilities, especially as many high-precision weapons rely on Western components.


Written Question
Russia: Sanctions
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether Agent Provocateur has been granted an exception or licence to sell luxury fashion items in Russia.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Between 14 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has not issued licences by exception for the export of luxury fashion items or cars for these specific companies to Russia. This is the latest period published in the Official Export Control Statistics.

Information on Russia Sanctions relating to luxury goods (as specified in Schedule 3A to the Regulations) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance/russia-sanctions-guidance

The Government takes the enforcement of sanctions very seriously, and any UK person or company anywhere in the world that is selling or exporting sanctioned goods to Russia, directly or indirectly, may be in breach of sanctions law and potentially faces a heavy fine or imprisonment.


Written Question
Russia: Sanctions
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether Rolls-Royce has been granted an exception or licence to sell luxury cars in Russia.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Between 14 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has not issued licences by exception for the export of luxury fashion items or cars for these specific companies to Russia. This is the latest period published in the Official Export Control Statistics.

Information on Russia Sanctions relating to luxury goods (as specified in Schedule 3A to the Regulations) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance/russia-sanctions-guidance

The Government takes the enforcement of sanctions very seriously, and any UK person or company anywhere in the world that is selling or exporting sanctioned goods to Russia, directly or indirectly, may be in breach of sanctions law and potentially faces a heavy fine or imprisonment.


Written Question
Russia: Sanctions
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether Paul Smith Limited has been granted an exception or licence to sell luxury fashion items in Russia.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Between 14 April 2022 and 30 September 2022, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has not issued licences by exception for the export of luxury fashion items or cars for these specific companies to Russia. This is the latest period published in the Official Export Control Statistics.

Information on Russia Sanctions relating to luxury goods (as specified in Schedule 3A to the Regulations) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance/russia-sanctions-guidance

The Government takes the enforcement of sanctions very seriously, and any UK person or company anywhere in the world that is selling or exporting sanctioned goods to Russia, directly or indirectly, may be in breach of sanctions law and potentially faces a heavy fine or imprisonment.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps their Department takes to comply with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; and if they will make a statement.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

There is a range of HR information which is published on GOV.UK and therefore publicly available:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sections-181-185-of-the-trade-union-and-labour-relations-consolidation-act-1992

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-trade

In addition, the Department for International Trade, now the Department for Business and Trade, meets regularly with their recognised Trade Unions and presents and shares a range of information and data where it is appropriate and in line with privacy statements. This helps inform decision making through negotiation, engagement and consultation as appropriate.

This department is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and we always seek to work constructively with trade unions.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) have also provided a similar response to confirm that UKEF is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Recruitment
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much her Department spent on recruitment consultants in each of the last three years.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The total cost of support from external recruitment consultants for 2020, 2021 and 2022 was £648,408.47. This covers support for recruiting substantive civil servants at delegated grades and Senior Civil Servants (SCS) grades and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), at the Department for International Trade and UK Export Finance.

Recruitment consultant support is used when the department is looking to recruit for roles that require a specialised or senior skillset to ensure we maximise our reach, and to help attract external candidates.

Year

Total Spend

20/21

£183,480.00

21/22

£161,970.70

22/23 year to date 31/01/23

£302,957.77

Total

£648,408.47


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Written Questions
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when she will provide a full response to Question 118845 tabled on 9 January 2023 by the hon. Member for Bristol East.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon. Member for Bristol East to the answer I gave her today, UIN 118845.


Written Question
Foreign Investment in Uk
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act on the level of investment in UK industry.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

We are engaging closely with the US administration to address our serious concerns about the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as talking to our friends and allies across the world who are similarly affected, we will continue to robustly defend the interests of UK industry.

During the Secretary of State's visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, the Inflation Reduction Act was atop of her agenda. She held meetings with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reaffirm her concerns about the legislation and a potential global subsidies race, as well as EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, where she continued to push for both sides to work together and with other international partners on our response to the Inflation Reduction Act.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Staff
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in which countries does her Department employ staff based in UK (a) embassies (b) consulates.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

As of 31 January 2023, this department employed UK-based staff in UK embassies in the following countries:

Algeria, Azerbaijan, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Myanmar.

UK-based staff in UK consulates in the following countries:

Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States, Vietnam.