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, if they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) conduct Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) as part of internal process where there is anticipated to be a people-related impact of change to policy, process, or organisational design. These are conducted through engagement with departmental networks and Trade Unions. EQIA documentation is for internal use and therefore is not routinely published.
As part of internal processes, DIT and UKEF both consult with Departmental Trade Unions when introducing new policies or incorporating major changes to existing policies and guidance.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department is seeking further state-level trade and economic memorandums of understanding with US states; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government sees huge potential to grow trade with US states by promoting UK business, tackling barriers, and attracting investment.
Building on Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) concluded last year with Indiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina, the Government is actively engaging with further states, including Oklahoma, Utah, Texas, and California.
Signature is just the start. Using MoUs to deliver results for business, the UK has already completed working groups with Indiana and North Carolina, which highlighted opportunities in government procurement and offshore wind respectively. The Government will hold expanded sessions with each state involving UK industry later this year.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether any chapters have been concluded during negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Two rounds of negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been held, covering all the objectives outlined in the UK’s Strategic Approach. The UK has exchanged draft chapter text with the GCC across most policy areas.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she is taking steps to increase trade with Taiwan.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK and Taiwan share a deep, £8bn trade and investment relationship. Longstanding Trade Talks with Taiwan are held annually to boost trade and support economic growth. In November 2022 my Rt. Hon. Friend for Chelsea and Fulham, the former Minister of State for Trade Policy, co-hosted the UK-Taiwan 25th annual Trade Talks in Taipei, during which discussions were held on areas of mutual interest, including on barriers to trade in sectors like fintech, food and drink and pharma, aimed at helping more UK firms export and invest in Taiwan. We are exploring a range of opportunities to further enhance our trade partnership.
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, whether her Department has notified staff to (a) tell or (b) remind them that they can sell annual leave in the last four months.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department does not currently operate a policy which enables staff to sell annual leave. The Department has not notified staff to (a) tell or (b) remind them that they can sell annual leave in the last four months.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when her Department last met the (a) Strategic Trade Advisory Group, (b) Civil Society Roundtable, (c) Trade Advisory Groups and (d) Thematic Working Groups.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Strategic Trade Advisory Group and Civil Society Roundtable last met on 13 June 2022. There are eleven Trade Advisory Groups and the most recent meeting for a group took place on 2 December 2022. There are ten Thematic Working Groups, and the most recent meeting was on 26 January 2023.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to help support the UK food industry to export into the EU.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We support our food producers through all stages of their export journey to the EU. This includes the Export Support Service, GREAT.gov.uk platform, the Export Academy, UK Export Finance and high profile events and trade shows such as SIAL in France and Anuga in Germany. The Department for International Trade has a network of agriculture, food and drink trade advisers across EU markets overseen by our Trade Commissioner in Europe
We have also established a new Food and Drink Export Council which brings together the UK Government, Devolved Administrations, and industry, to harness collective capability, expertise, and resources in boosting UK food and drink exports to global markets, including Europe.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to increase (a) the global profile of and (b) investment in research and development in cities outside the London-Oxford-Cambridge triangle; and what plans she has to use trade delegations to achieve those objectives.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is continuing to drive forward Manifesto commitments on science and technology including increasing both public and private investment in R&D, across all regions of the UK.
Our High Potential Opportunities Programme, which can be found on our Investment Atlas presents commercially attractive investment opportunities from across the UK to investors. Examples include immersive technology in the Northeast and MedTech health in Wales.
This year we have delivered 18 Trade Missions to advance our trade and investment ambitions, including a mission to the Smart City Expo in Barcelona, November 2022 where a globally renowned digital consultancy firm, with a UK branch in the Hon. Member’s constituency, attended.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish the results of the Export Client Survey for each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Export Client Survey launched in 2018 and the findings for the 2018-2019 financial year have been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-export-client-survey-ecs.
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 she is taking to ensure her Department complies with section 2.1.6 of the Civil Service Management Code; and whether that monitoring data gathered is shared with union representatives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today, UIN 128655.