Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) national and (b) international potential merits of introducing a TRIPS waiver in respect of covid-19 related (i) vaccines and (ii) vaccine technology.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
Whilst HM Government has not seen evidence that Intellectual Property (IP) is a barrier to the production or supply of COVID-19 goods, including vaccines, we will continue to engage constructively in debates at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Council and other international institutions to promote affordable and equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines for all.
The United Kingdom affirmed this commitment in the G7 Trade Ministers’ communique of 22nd October, which notes our determination to achieve an impactful outcome on trade and health, including how the international IP framework can best support the WTO’s pandemic response.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish the letter from British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay MVO, to her Department of 17 June 2020 regarding labour concerns within Malaysia's glove industry.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The UK takes allegations of labour exploitation in supply chains extremely seriously. On 26 March 2020 we became the first country to publish a Government Modern Slavery Statement setting out the steps we have taken to prevent modern slavery and incentivise responsible business conduct in our supply chains. This Government is committed to ensuring that our trade policy is consistent with our international obligations. We are clear that more trade does not have to come at the expense of human rights.
Advice from civil servants to ministers is not routinely published.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the US-EU agreement on steel and aluminium announced on 30 October 2021, what (a) assessment she has made of the implications of that agreement for British steel producers and (b) steps she is taking to ensure UK manufacturers have the same access to the US market as their European competitors.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The US-EU deal on the application of Section 232 tariffs comes into effect from 1 January. Following their announcement, the US issued a statement reflecting our ongoing discussions with each other on this issue and committing to resume talks with the UK. In preparation, we continue to work closely with the steel and aluminium industries to understand the implications of the US-EU deal. Any deal that the UK secures with the US must work for the steel and aluminium sectors.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he made of the implications for his policies of the labour chapter of the proposed UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand trade agreements and compliance in collective bargaining under the terms of the principles of the International Labour Organisation.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
At the start of negotiations, the Government was clear that free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand would not come at the expense of workers’ rights in the UK. These agreements uphold this commitment to maintain the UK’s high level of workers’ rights and affirm our obligations under the International Labour Organization (ILO), including those related to collective bargaining.
The UK has ratified all eight of the Fundamental Conventions, and we continue to encourage our partners to do the same.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the analysis by London Economics of the Tradeshow Access Programme to the UK economy; and what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for that programme in this financial year.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The London Economics report was from 2008, and as the Tradeshow Access Programme had evolved (and now ceased), some implications no longer apply. We are discussing revised support for trade shows with HM Treasury (HMT), which considers key implications raised in the analysis. We continually review support to ensure maximum impact and that services meet business needs in the current economic context.
2021-22 programme funding was discussed with HMT during the 2020 Spending Review.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the total value was of the 42,000 grants provided by the Government to UK businesses through the Tradeshow Access Programme between April 2009 and March 2021.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The total value of more than 42,000 grants provided by HM Government to UK businesses through the Tradeshow Access Programme between April 2009 and March 2021 was in excess of £93.4 million.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on UK competitiveness of the decision to discontinue the Tradeshow Access Programme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
We have not carried out a direct economic analysis of the decision to discontinue the Trade Access Programme. However, we are working closely with HM Treasury on alternative future arrangements for supporting businesses to participate in tradeshows as part of our plan to support exports to help drive economic growth around the whole of the UK.