Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to facilitate the development of a UK hydrogen export market.
Answered by Mike Freer
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 December to Question UIN: 87668 & 87669.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2021 to Question 15453, what progress she has made on introducing a world-leading certified UK environmental, social and governance standards scheme to label British goods and services for international export.
Answered by Greg Hands
The United Kingdom continues to explore the role of eco-labelling and other forms of consumer information to support positive environmental outcomes. We are currently seeking powers through the Environment Bill that will enable us to establish mandatory labelling schemes relating to environmental impacts, where appropriate.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2021 to Question 14104, what progress she has made on placing environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards at the heart of UK international trade policy.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is committed to upholding the UK’s world-leading environmental and labour standards in Free Trade Agreements. In its outline approaches to Free Trade Agreements, the Government has committed to securing provisions that will protect workers’ rights and help promote trade in low carbon goods and services, supporting research and development in sectors such as offshore wind and smart energy systems. The United Kingdom is also working with international partners at the World Trade Organisation to promote multilateral action on trade and environment.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with the UK critical minerals industry on a globally coordinated approach on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in mining.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade and the Cabinet Office supported a recent Wilton Park conference which sought to identify and catalyse practical steps to develop coordination and governance for critical minerals worldwide. The conference included participants from across industry, academia and international organisations and has informed wider international discussions. We will continue to address the challenges of delivering a just global energy transition, while developing greater regulatory and practical cooperation on technology-critical minerals, as part of our presidency of COP26.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to introduce a certified UK environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards scheme to label goods and services for international export.
Answered by Greg Hands
In our outline approaches to Free Trade Agreements with the US, New Zealand, and Australia, we have committed to maintaining and protecting the UK’s world-leading environment and labour standards. We are also committed to securing provisions that will help trade in low carbon goods and services, supporting research and development in sectors such as offshore wind and smart energy systems.
We recognise the role that eco-labelling and other forms of consumer information can play in supporting positive environmental outcomes. We are currently seeking powers through the Environment Bill to establish mandatory labelling schemes, where appropriate, for products placed on the UK market, which would be subject to impact assessments and consultation.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards to (a) international and (b) UK free trade.
Answered by Greg Hands
In our outline approaches to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the US, New Zealand, and Australia, we have committed to high labour and environmental standards, for example by supporting Research and Development and innovation in sectors such as offshore wind. The Government also publishes scoping assessments of the broad impacts of new FTAs, prior to negotiations commencing. These include preliminary assessments of the potential implications for the environment.
Internationally, the UK is also intent on demonstrating global leadership at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other multilateral forums. In March last year, the Secretary of State for International Trade announced that the environment would be one of the UK’s top priorities at the WTO.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that environmental, social and governance factors and sustainability are an integral part of the UK's future international trade deals.
Answered by Greg Hands
Environmental, social, governance and sustainability are considerations at the heart of British trade policy, and the Government will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment and workers’ rights by including ambitious labour and environmental provisions within new Trade Agreements.
The UK’s Free Trade Agreements will facilitate trade in goods and services which support the deployment of low carbon, carbon capture, and energy efficient technology in Britain. These agreements will also underpin international cooperation in research and development, and reaffirm the UK’s sovereign right to regulate in pursuit of net zero by 2050.