Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Thursday 15th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

We have repeatedly said that this Department is open to all businesses in the United Kingdom when it comes to seeking our support for exports, and I hope that the Scottish Government will encourage businesses in Scotland to work with the Department for International Trade, so that we can maximise that. We have made that offer, and we hope that they will take it up.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

T7. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to promote a global free trade agenda?

[Dr Fox]

We have repeatedly set out our worries about the slowdown in the growth of global trade. That has implications across the globe. It is worth making the general point that we need more free trade because it increases global prosperity. Increasing global prosperity leads to greater political stability, and greater political stability leads to greater global security. It is not possible to disaggregate those different elements.