Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to adapt the process under section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 for when third-party states accede to plurilateral trade agreements after UK implementing legislation has been passed.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government currently has no plans to make changes to the process under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRAG). Where a third-party state’s accession to a plurilateral trade agreement would require the UK to ratify a treaty in accordance with terms of CRAG, that process will apply.
It is Government policy that ratification of an agreement should only take place once necessary domestic legislation is in place.
As the Government pursues its ambitious trade agenda, we will continue to ensure arrangements remain fit for purpose.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the most recent visit by Lord Johnson of Lainston to the People’s Republic of China, who he met; what he discussed; what response he received to any representations he may have made on the government of China's treatment of the Uyghur minority, threats to Taiwan, and imprisonment of pro-democracy advocates and lawmakers in Hong Kong, including the British citizen Jimmy Lai.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In China, I met businesses and investors. Whilst attending the China International Fair for Trade in Services, I was briefly introduced to the Minister of Commerce and the Party Secretary of Beijing. I expressed support for our trade and investment relationship, where it is consistent with our values and national security.
On 30 August, The Foreign Secretary visited China meeting senior government figures. He emphasised the UK's position on the mass incarceration of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and raised rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the case of Jimmy Lai.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the export control criteria used by the UK Trade and Investment Office following reports that it approved a partnership between the University of Cambridge and a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned military technology company that does an estimated 60 per cent of its business with the Chinese military, which reportedly involved the appointment of a former Chinese Communist Party politician to the university's partnership programme.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is responsible for licensing the export and transfer of controlled goods and technology, including where this occurs through academic collaboration. The ECJU has no record of having granted an export licence for the University of Cambridge with the Beijing Institute of Aerospace Control Devices.
HM Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control regime. The Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, introduced in 2021, continue to provide a thorough risk assessment framework for assessing all export licence applications, including those relating to academic collaboration.
If the ECJU were presented with credible evidence of a breach of export controls, we would take these allegations seriously. We will not support collaborations which compromise our national security.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis they have made of any alleged atrocities in India as part of the process of agreeing a free trade agreement with India, for the purposes of giving effect to section 3 of the Trade Act 2021.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has not made an analysis per the Lord's question, as no responsible House of Commons or House of Lords committee has published a report concerning India pursuant to section 3 of the Trade Act 2021.
The UK has engaged with India on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with Non-Governmental Organisations, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. This is undertaken on an ongoing basis and separately to the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Johnson of Lainston on 18 May (HL 7382), whether Lord Johnson of Lainston raised any plans to end democratic elections for district councils with officials in Hong Kong; and whether they have made any assessment of whether any such plans are compliant with China’s obligations under the Sino–British Joint Declaration.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
During his visit, Lord Johnson raised the deterioration of civil and political rights in Hong Kong, along with trade and investment matters.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is responsible for monitoring compliance with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, including its application to democratic elections for district councils in Hong Kong. The detail of these issues does not fall within Lord Johnson’s portfolio.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, in light of the findings of the report of Dr Adrian Zenz, to prevent companies sourcing Xinjiang cotton from supplying slave-made goods to UK consumers.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has taken several measures to ensure that no British organisations are profiting from or contributing to human rights violations in Xinjiang. Over the last year we introduced enhanced export controls, and announced plans to introduce financial penalties for organisations who fail to meet their statutory obligations to publish annual modern slavery statements.
The overseas business risk guidance makes clear to UK companies the risks of operating in Xinjiang and urges them to conduct appropriate due diligence and consider their corporate responsibilities when making business decisions.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Lord Johnson of Lainston raised (1) democracy in Hong Kong, (2) the military intimidation of Taiwan, or (3) the situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, during his recent meetings to promote business ties with Hong Kong treasury minister, Christopher Hui.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Integrated Review Refresh sets the direction across Government for a consistent, coherent, and robust approach to China, rooted in our national interest and values. That extends to our approach on Hong Kong.
The 'engage' strand of the United Kingdom's policy towards China involves maintaining channels of communication with China and Hong Kong. The ‘align’ strand involves standing with allies to push back against behaviours that undermine international law or violate human rights. My meeting with the Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury provided the opportunity to raise several significant issues, including democracy concerns.