Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what provisions there are in the Trade and Partnership Agreement between the UK Government and the Government of Israel for monitoring the adherence by both parties to duties to respect democratic principles and human rights; how respect for democratic principles and human rights is defined; whether those rights are based on (a) international and (b) European law; whether respect for democratic principles and human rights (i) is limited to the territories of each party or (ii) includes territories annexed or under the control of each party; and what the effect on the agreement is of one party not respecting democratic principles and human rights.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The provisions of the EU-Israel Trade Agreements concerning human rights are incorporated into the UK-Israel Agreement, without modification. Accordingly, the UK-Israel Agreement provides that respect for democratic principles and human rights constitute an essential element of the Agreement. This is based on international obligations applicable to both parties.
The UK has long supported the promotion of our values globally and this will continue as we leave the EU. We are committed to upholding the UK’s high standards and will consider the full range of mechanisms available to us in doing so.
We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on human rights and legal issues relating to the occupation, including settlements and the treatment of Palestinian children in military custody.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Trade and Partnership Agreement between UK Government and the Government of the State of Israel presented to Parliament in February 2019, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the provisions of the UK-Israel Agreement are not applied to Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of the State of Israel. The OPTs are not covered by the current EU-Israel Trade Agreements, nor by the UK-Israel Agreement.
Products produced in the Israeli settlements, located within the territories brought under Israeli administration since June 1967, are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Trade Agreements. These areas are set out in a list of postcodes, which will be hosted on gov.uk, alongside a notice to importers. Tariff preferences will be implemented by UK customs authorities.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reason (a) article 4 of the Trade and Partnership Agreement between the UK Government and the Government of Israel describes the territoriality of only the UK and (b) the territoriality of Israel is referred to only in the explanatory memorandum; what legal force the explanatory memorandum has; and what assurances the Government has given to the state of Israel on accepting the territorial limitation of that UK-Israel agreement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
With regard to Israel, the EU-Israel Trade Agreements apply to the State of Israel and this same territorial application is incorporated into the UK-Israel agreement, without change. The UK has been clear that it does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including the settlements, as part of the State of Israel and that the OPTs are not covered by the UK-Israel Agreement.
The incorporated territorial application of the EU-Israel agreements has had to change with regard to the UK, to reflect our departure from the EU. The UK-Israel agreement, therefore, makes clear that it applies to the UK and the territories for whose international relations it is responsible.
The Explanatory Memorandum is laid before Parliament to assist parliamentary scrutiny of the UK-Israel agreement.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department is monitoring content that is publicly available on social networking sites using overt monitoring techniques.
Answered by Greg Hands
This department regularly uses social networking sites such as Twitter to communicate our policy to the public and our key stakeholders. As part of this, DIT monitors engagement on our channels and with our campaigns by looking at interaction numbers – click-throughs, video/graphic views, hashtag usage, retweets and replies – to make sure we are tailoring content to reach our target audiences. Departmental communications teams are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of their communications following Government Communications Service (GCS) Standards using the GCS Evaluation Framework https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/guidance/evaluation/tools-and-resources/.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking in response to the outcome of the EU referendum to boost the UK's inward investment promotion and delivery effort.
Answered by Greg Hands
DIT Ministers and I have been clear that Britain remains open for business. On 5th September 2016, the Directorate General within DIT responsible for inward investment moved to a new, more focussed operating model to deliver inward investment. This focuses on attracting high-value FDI that maximises wealth creation within the UK in the sectors, places and markets that provide the greatest opportunity.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to retain current inward investors in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK remains the most attractive place in Europe to invest in. As well as attracting new projects, this Department already focuses substantial effort on retention of our existing investors and supporting them to grow and remain in the UK to maximise wealth creation. On 5th September 2016, the Directorate General within DIT responsible for inward investment moved to a new, more focussed operating model to deliver inward investment, which will push this agenda and provide more focussed support than ever before to retain our inward investors.