Monday 7th October 2019

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

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Conor Burns Portrait Conor Burns
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The best support we can give them is to strain every sinew to persuade the United States not to implement these tariffs in 10 days’ time.

Drew Hendry Portrait Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)
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These tariffs will cause concern not just in my constituency but across Scotland. Can the Minister confirm that since last Thursday there has been no direct contact between him or any other UK Minister and the US Administration over this issue?

Conor Burns Portrait Conor Burns
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On this I can only speak for myself, having returned to the United Kingdom from Vietnam last night. I have not had a direct conversation—

Drew Hendry Portrait Drew Hendry
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Why not?

Conor Burns Portrait Conor Burns
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Because I was in Vietnam. I went to the office today, and we have been reaching out and having those conversations. I say to Opposition Members that the absolute determination that we must all share is to try to protect the Scotch whisky sector and persuade the United States not to implement these tariffs in 10 days’ time. That will be my focus for the rest of this week.