Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.
Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on negotiations to roll-over each EU-negotiated free trade agreement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Discussions with all partner countries have demonstrated a commitment to finding a pragmatic way to ensure continuity of our existing international agreements. Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU agreed to notify its treaty partners that the UK be treated as a Member State for the purposes of EU international agreements during the Implementation Period (IP). This includes trade agreements. A number of countries have already publicly welcomed this approach (Library deposit of 13 September DEP2018-0926 provides a list of countries).
Nevertheless, to ensure preparedness for a ‘no deal’ scenario, we have already signed a number of agreements.
The Government recently updated the House on our progress to achieve continuity of our existing free trade agreements, and I refer the honourable member to the Government’s written statement published on 21st February 2019. We will continue to inform the House as soon as further agreements are signed.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which free-trade agreements with non-EU member states he does not expect to be rolled-over immediately after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
We want to ensure there is no disruption to our global trading relationships and therefore delivering a deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority. A deal with the EU would provide a clear mechanism to achieve continuity of our existing free trade agreements from exit day and throughout an implementation period.
Nevertheless, we are planning for all eventualities, including a ‘no deal’ scenario, working to have bilateral agreements in place ready for when we need them, whether that is in March 2019 or after the proposed implementation period.
The Government recently updated the House on our progress to achieve continuity of our existing free trade agreements, and I refer the honourable member to the Government’s written statement published on 21st February 2019. We will continue to inform the House as soon as further agreements are signed.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether provisions relating to (a) the National Health Service and (b) food standards will be included in future trade negotiations between the US and the UK; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Protecting the National Health Service (NHS) is of the utmost importance to the UK. The NHS is protected by specific exceptions and reservations in EU trade agreements and as we leave the EU, the UK will continue to ensure that rigorous protections are included in any future trade agreement between the US and the UK.
We have also been clear that any future trade agreements must work for UK producers, businesses, and consumers, and uphold the UK’s high levels of food safety, animal welfare standards, and environmental protection.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to businesses of no longer having access to tariff-free trade with other EU Member States.
Answered by Liam Fox
The Government will work hard to get the best deal for Britain. The PM has made it clear that we want to maximise access to free trade to allow British companies to trade with the EU.
The deal we negotiate will be bespoke, and we will make the most of the opportunities that our departure presents to do business right across the globe.