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Written Question
Human Rights: India
Monday 18th October 2021

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have made to the Government of India on the human rights of Christian and Muslim minorities in that country in the context of forthcoming trade negotiations; and if she will include clauses recognising the centrality of human rights, including those of freedom of religion or belief, in any future trade agreement with India.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

In May, the United Kingdom and India announced our intent to negotiate a free trade agreement. Since then, the Department of International Trade has launched a public consultation about our approach to negotiations.

HM Government has a history of promoting British values globally, including freedom of religion, and we are clear that upholding rights and responsibilities go hand-in-hand with our trading ambitions. We engage with the Government of India on a range of matters.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 15 Jul 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities...."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 15 Jul 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"We are six months into Brexit and the sea of opportunity that the seafood producers of my Argyll and Bute constituency were promised has turned out to be swamp of bureaucracy. Alongside a mountain of paperwork and red tape, they all report falling prices, loss of markets, labour shortages and …..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 17 Jun 2021
Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Australia

"My constituency overwhelmingly rejected Brexit, because we knew what it would do to our farming and fishing industry. Is the Secretary of State concerned that the Australian farmers are hailing this as a huge victory, while Scottish farmers see it as a complete betrayal? Will she therefore explain to the …..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Australia
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 08 Oct 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

" What discussions she has had with her US counterpart on that country’s imposition of a 25% tariff on single malt Scotch whisky. ..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 08 Oct 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"Exactly a year ago, the United States imposed 25% tariffs on Scotch malt whisky, devastating exports and threatening thousands of Scottish jobs. Despite the Minister’s Department making the removal of those damaging tariffs a priority, his Government have failed to move their special friend in the White House an inch …..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Sale of Arms: War in Yemen

"Last week, the Foreign Secretary revealed a new and seemingly ethical dimension to the UK’s foreign policy, yet within 48 hours we were back selling arms to Saudi Arabia and this Government were refusing to take action against their friends in Bahrain who are about to execute two more political …..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Sale of Arms: War in Yemen
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 05 Mar 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"Further to that question and to the question asked by the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Sarah Olney), I want to be absolutely clear about one thing: there is no such thing as an Australian free trade deal with the EU. An Australia-terms Brexit is actually a no-deal Brexit, and …..."
Brendan O'Hara - View Speech

View all Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Whisky: USA
Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what email correspondance her Department had with representatives of the US administration between 7 and 14 October 2019 on the imposition of tariffs on malt Scotch whisky.

Answered by Conor Burns

As a priority, we are continuing to engage with the US at all levels to protect and promote UK industry. Specifically, we are working closely with the US make the case that tariffs are not in the interest of the UK, EU or US. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has recently spoken to US Trade Representative Lighthizer. My Rt Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised this urgent matter with US Secretary of State Pompeo and the Prime Minister urged President Trump directly to reconsider the announced tariffs. I have also personally had a call with US Ambassador Johnson on this issue. We will continue to work with the UK, EU and US and support the case for de-escalation and a negotiated settlement.

Written Question
Whisky: USA
Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what telephone discussions her Department had with representatives of the EU between 7 and 14 October 2019 on the imposition of tariffs on malt Scotch whisky.

Answered by Conor Burns

We are working with the European Commission to continue to support a negotiated settlement to the Airbus dispute. We are continuing to engage and influence EU decision-making on these matters. We are also working with the EU to seek confirmation from the WTO of our compliance and that the UK and the EU should therefore not be subject to tariffs. We have also had extensive engagement with the US administration on the issue of tariffs.