Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Sudan's performance against the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights (the Ruggie Principles); and what was the outcome of the trade conference with Sudan on 12 December.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
The Government of Sudan is ultimately responsible for implementing the commitments contained in the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights, and the UN, as a body, is responsible for assessing this implementation. However, the UK Government stands ready to support Sudan in implementing their national action plan, having been the first country to produce an action plan and as a strong supporter of the UNGPs.
The UK-Sudan Trade and Investment Forum was a private business venture. Her Majesty's Government did not provide financial or administrative support. Consequently, any requests for information on the outcomes of the Forum should best be directed to the organisers and participating parties.
However, we expect that such fora will improve trade relations, helping to create growth and jobs, and raise standards of living. We will continue to support the Government of Sudan in making reforms for a more inclusive and prosperous Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new members of staff appointed to work in the Department for International Trade have been recruited from outside the civil service; and what proportion of those staff are consultants on fixed-term contracts.
Answered by Lord Price
Following her appointment on 13 July 2016 the Prime Minister established the Department for International Trade (DIT). The DIT aggregates UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), UK Export and Finance (UKEF) and Trade Policy Units from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Until such time as a transfer of functions order establishes my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade as a corporation sole, DIT remains a unified Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department for accounting purposes. The transfer of functions order (No 2016/ 992) laid on 19 October 2016 will come into effect on 9 November 2016.
As DIT is currently being formed, details of the staff that the Department employs is being finalised, whilst employee transfers and recruitment are taking place.