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 12 March 2018 to Question 131181 on small businesses: overseas trade, when the Export Strategy review will be completed; and whether that review will consider how the Government can best support businesses in the North East after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Export Strategy will be published in the coming months and will set out measures to support businesses throughout the UK both before and after the UK leaves the EU. The terms of reference were published on 20 March, alongside a final call for business input into the strategy, to supplement evidence already gathered through a series of engagement events, including roundtables, which have taken place across the country.
We have already met representatives from the North East England Chamber of Commerce and will hold a roundtable event in the North East next month with local businesses which will identify any specific issues faced by them.
The strategy will be a strategy for the whole of the UK, and as set out in the terms of reference, covers working with other providers, including those relevant to the North East.
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 steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses identify new trading markets after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade (DIT) supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through our overseas network, international events programme, and online services. Our great.gov.uk website, offers digital tools to help businesses export. In its first year, the site had over 2.7 million visitors. UK Export Finance provides support which helps UK companies sell around the world. In 2016/17, 79% of those supported were SMEs.
We are working with a number of countries to explore the best ways to develop our trade and investment relationships. We will aim through these discussions, to put in place various mechanisms to improve trading relations and remove barriers affecting UK businesses, before and after we leave the EU.
My noble Friend, the Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, is leading the Export Strategy review, which aims to ensure that government has the right financial, practical and promotional support in place, to allow businesses to benefit from growth opportunities.
DIT have engaged closely with businesses of all sizes as part of this strategy, including through the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce.