Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative Greenhouse Gas Emissions arising from UK and Australian farming products; and whether such an assessment was considered when concluding its agreement in principle on a free trade agreement with Australia.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Government has always been clear that any free trade agreement it signs will not threaten the UK’s ability to meet its environmental commitments or its membership of international environmental agreements. The Government is seeking a deal with Australia that will further environmental and climate policy priorities and the UK will not compromise on high environmental protection.
The Government carried out a public consultation and scoping assessment for its free trade agreement negotiation with Australia, which can be found on the Government’s website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-approach-to-negotiating-a-free-trade-agreement-with-australia/uk-australia-free-trade-agreement-the-uks-strategic-approach). This preliminary scoping assessment considered illustrative scenarios and served as a point of reference when concluding the agreement in principle. Following the conclusion of negotiations, a full impact assessment will be published prior to implementation.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the parties to the UK-SACU Economic Partnership Agreement have ratified that Agreement.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
As of 4th August 2020, Botswana and South Africa have completed their domestic ratification procedures. Britain completed her own domestic scrutiny procedures, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, on 5th February 2020. We continue to monitor progress closely in the remaining countries.
Our preference is that all our Southern Africa Customs Union + Mozambique Economic Partnership Agreement partners ratify the agreement, so that it can enter into force at the end of the transition period. Nevertheless, we will consider all possible options to maintain continuity, including provisional application, if not every partner is able to ratify the agreement before the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many parties to the UK-SACU Economic Partnership Agreement they expect to have ratified that Agreement by 1 December.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
As of 4th August 2020, Botswana and South Africa have completed their domestic ratification procedures. Britain completed her own domestic scrutiny procedures, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, on 5th February 2020. We continue to monitor progress closely in the remaining countries.
Our preference is that all our Southern Africa Customs Union + Mozambique Economic Partnership Agreement partners ratify the agreement, so that it can enter into force at the end of the transition period. Nevertheless, we will consider all possible options to maintain continuity, including provisional application, if not every partner is able to ratify the agreement before the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow provisional application of the UK-SACU Economic Partnership Agreement if the parties to that Agreement have not ratified it in time for it to come into force on 1 January 2021.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
As of 4th August 2020, Botswana and South Africa have completed their domestic ratification procedures. Britain completed her own domestic scrutiny procedures, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, on 5th February 2020. We continue to monitor progress closely in the remaining countries.
Our preference is that all our Southern Africa Customs Union + Mozambique Economic Partnership Agreement partners ratify the agreement, so that it can enter into force at the end of the transition period. Nevertheless, we will consider all possible options to maintain continuity, including provisional application, if not every partner is able to ratify the agreement before the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what contributions they have made to support the implementation of the UK-SACU Economic Partnership Agreement as required under Article 12 of that Agreement.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Britain is working hard to understand the requirements of Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) to implement our Economic Partnership Agreement effectively, which is due to enter into force at the end of the transition period. This is part of a broader programme of £8 million of technical assistance to the region that was announced in August 2018.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on UK chemical and metal companies’ exports to the EU 27 member states.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK chemical and metal companies will be able to continue to export to the EU 27 countries in the event of the UK exiting the EU without a deal.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.