Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Mak and Liam Fox

Thursday 22nd February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

Our preferred option is to do that through a widespread and liberal agreement in trade with the European Union, as set out in the Government’s memorandum in December.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

6. What progress he has made on arrangements for the GREAT Festival of Innovation in Hong Kong planned for March 2018.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

The GREAT festival will be held in Hong Kong from 21 to 24 March 2018. With more than 70 confirmed speakers, the festival will showcase the best of British innovation, the potential of the UK economy and the strength of our world-class service sector.

[Alan Mak]

Britain is becoming a world leader in artificial intelligence, big data and the fourth industrial revolution technologies that will power future export growth. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that those technologies will be widely promoted at next month’s festival?

[Dr Fox]

They will indeed be widely represented. For example, UtterBerry, an AI-based infrastructure monitoring technology that has been used in this country in projects such as the Thames tideway and Crossrail, will be showcased. The festival will be an opportunity for us to show off the best of British innovation in general.