Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Appeal Court decision in Western Sahara Campaign UK v Secretary of State for International Trade and Anor, what steps she is taking to encourage businesses to explore investment opportunities in the Western Sahara.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Government does not provide legal advice to private companies and individuals in relation to their commercial activities. It is therefore for companies to take their own decisions on whether to do business in Western Sahara, as elsewhere.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department issues any guidance to employee relocation businesses on the Association of Relocation Professionals' Code of Conduct as a professional standard.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
My department does not issue guidance to employee relocation businesses on the Association of Relocation Professionals' Code of Conduct as a professional standard.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of professional relocation services on inward investment; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
There are no plans to make an assessment.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has provided support for (a) building a bridge between St Kitts and Nevis and (b) the Sea City development in St Kitts and Nevis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
My department has a team which covers the Caribbean and is in regular contact with governments and businesses, actively seeking export and investment opportunities for British firms. We are working with a number of UK companies on infrastructure projects in the region and would be delighted to discuss these opportunities with any UK exporters the Member is aware of. Please contact DITLATAC@fcdo.gov.uk.
Furthermore, Department for Business and Trade trade advisers in the region can provide dedicated, well-informed guidance on viable long-term commercial prospects across the Caribbean, including St Kitts and Nevis.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance her Department issues on access to UK markets for St Kitts and Nevis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has a trade agreement with 14 Caribbean States, including St Kitts and Nevis. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides detailed information on St Kitts and Nevis’ preferential access to UK markets, including duty-free access on goods.
To assist access to UK markets, Gov.uk also provides a range of tools and resources for exporters. A key resource is the tariff-look up tool that can be used to search commodity codes, duties and VAT rates on exports to the UK. There is also guidance on finding trade partners, such as importers and retailers, to assist with trade in the UK.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to appoint a trade envoy to St Kitts and Nevis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 March 2023, UIN 167068.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to take steps to remove tariffs on goods and services from Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has a comprehensive trade agreement with all 12 Caribbean Commonwealth countries covering both goods and services. The UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement provides immediate duty-free quota-free access to the UK market for all goods from partner Caribbean States, except arms and ammunition.
The Agreement also provides CARIFORUM partners access to the majority of UK service sectors and opens most services in the UK and CARIFORUM to investment. Under the agreement the UK has committed to allowing specific categories of professional employees of CARIFORUM firms and self-employed CARIFORUM professionals in specific sectors, to enter the UK to supply services.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of opportunities for British construction firms to bid for the Bridge project connecting St Kitts with Nevis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
My department has a team covering the Caribbean and is in regular contact with governments and businesses about opportunities for UK firms. We are working with a number of UK companies on infrastructure projects in the region and would be delighted to discuss these opportunities with any UK exporters the Member is aware of. Please contact DITLATAC@fcdo.gov.uk.
Additionally, validated infrastructure opportunities overseas are published on the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) export opportunities portal https://www.great.gov.uk/export-opportunities/ and UK companies can also engage DBT trade advisors in the region directly, who can provide well-informed guidance on viable long-term commercial prospects in the Caribbean.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to appoint a Trade Envoy to cover the territory of St Kitts & Nevis.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade is constantly reviewing suitable markets to identify where the appointment of a Trade Envoy can be of greatest benefit to the trade and investment aims of the UK alongside the Department’s other support for exporters and investors. There are currently no plans at present to solely appoint a Trade Envoy to St Kitts & Nevis.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies on the supply of arms to countries in Central Africa of reports on the activities of the March 23 Movement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and rigorously assesses every export licence application on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. These Criteria are one of the means by which we implement a range of international legal commitments including United Nations sanctions.
HM Government will not grant a licence for items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, or where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. We also do not license items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items would, overall, undermine peace and security, including internal peace and security.
Licensing decisions are based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time and all licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.
The UK condemns recent atrocities committed by armed group March 23 Movement (M23) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.