Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of any decrease in its staffing on its ability to carry out its remit.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade (DIT) inherited a Spending Review 2015 settlement that requires it to generate efficiencies in its services. The Department is prioritising its work, monitoring staffing and capability and will ensure it can fulfil its responsibilities. DIT will continue to work with the Treasury as it does this.
During the last year the Department has continued to build organisational capability and capacity and has recruited over 900 people from across the Civil Service and externally.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on staff changes for his Department.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade (DIT) inherited a Spending Review 2015 settlement that requires it to generate efficiencies in its services. The Department is prioritising its work, monitoring staffing and capability and will ensure it can fulfil its responsibilities. DIT will continue to work with the Treasury as it does this.
During the last year the Department has continued to build organisational capability and capacity and has recruited over 900 people from across the Civil Service and externally.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff in his Department were posted to each country for the purposes of promoting trade with the UK since his Department was established; and what estimate he has made of the number of staff in his Department that will be posted to each country in each of the next three years.
Answered by Greg Hands
The number of people working for the Department for International Trade (DIT) overseas and promoting trade with the UK as at 31 March 2018 is shown in the attached table. The table shows each country, grouped by HM Trade Commissioner Region.
HM Trade Commissioners (HMTCs) have recently been appointed to 5 DIT regions, with a further 4 to be announced shortly. Our HMTCs will have the freedom to determine how they wish to shape their Region going forward, including the allocation of staff at each Post.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 136006, on Legatum Institute, if he will list the meetings and discussions that officials of his Department have had with the Legatum Institute, and what the outcomes of those discussions were.
Answered by Greg Hands
Details of the meetings held by DIT Ministers are published on the Gov.uk website and can be found here:
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to conduct impact assessments on the effect of trade deals after the UK leaves the EU on women and women's rights .
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK is committed to promoting the economic empowerment of all women and recognises trade as an important lever for equality. Last week, my Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for International Trade, announced that, as the UK establishes an independent trade policy, we will take a gender-responsive approach to trade and create a framework that delivers for female exporters (www.gov.uk/government/speeches/global-economic-outlook-trade-growth-and-the-commonwealth).
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will list the (a) meetings and discussions (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department have had with the Legatum Institute and (b) outcomes of those discussions.
Answered by Greg Hands
Details of the meetings held by DIT Ministers are published on the Gov.UK website and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-trade&publication_type=transparency-data
Below ministerial level, officials routinely meet with think tanks from time to time as part of general engagement activities of the department.