Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on securing a trade agreement with the US.
Answered by George Hollingbery
The United Kingdom cannot sign or negotiate trade agreements whilst still a member of the European Union, which we are until 29 March 2019.
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions on the following dates: 24-25 July 2017, 13-14 November 2017, 21-22 March 2018, 10-11 July 2018 and 2-7 November 2018.
The working group’s aim is to provide commercial continuity for US and UK businesses, workers, and consumers as the UK leaves the EU and explore ways to strengthen trade and investment ties ahead of the exit. The group is also laying the groundwork to ensure that both sides are well prepared to open trade negotiations after the UK leaves the EU in 2019.
Our 14-week long public consultations on potential future trade agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand and on the UK’s potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) closed on 26 October.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, who the members are of the UK-US trade and investment working group.
Answered by George Hollingbery
In July 2017 my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and the United States Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, jointly launched the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group which has since met on five occasions.
The Trade and Investment Working Group delegations have been led by officials from the Department for International Trade and the Office of the United States Trade Representative. They have also included representatives from a wide range of UK and US Government departments and agencies.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had on future trade agreements with (a) China and (b) India.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK is preparing to strengthen its trade ties with international partners, including China and India post EU-exit.
The UK and China are launching a Joint Trade and Investment Review to explore options to enhance their trade and investment relationship, without pre-judging outcomes. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade, has visited China three times in 2018 to discuss our ambition for a strong trade partnership.
The UK-India Joint Trade Review, announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to India in 2016, has helped us better understand the UK-India trade relationship. In April, both Prime Ministers agreed to forge a new trade partnership, to take forward recommendations from the Review. My Rt Hon. Friend also visited India shortly after the Department for International Trade was formed.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many times each of the trade working groups have met.
Answered by Greg Hands
We have established several working groups with trading partners to explore the best ways of progressing our trade and investment relationships.
In line with diplomatic practices, it would not be appropriate to take unilateral decisions on disclosing detailed information on engagements with our trading partners. Individual announcements and statements are available on the department’s website.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of seeking the establishment of a role for Parliament in overseeing the work of the trade working groups.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK remains committed to a transparent, fair, and rules-based approach to international trade. The Government will continue to respect the role of Parliament, as it designs its future trade policy and will bring forward proposals on the role of Parliament and others in due course.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will publish a list of the (a) dates and (b) attendees of each meeting of each trade working group.
Answered by Greg Hands
We have established several working groups with trading partners to explore the best ways of progressing our trade and investment relationships.
In line with diplomatic practices, it would not be appropriate to take unilateral decisions on disclosing detailed information on engagements with our trading partners. Individual announcements and statements are available on the department’s website.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had on future trade agreements with (a) China and (b) India.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK is preparing to strengthen its trade ties with international partners, including China and India post EU-exit.
The UK and China are launching a Joint Trade and Investment Review to explore options to enhance their trade and investment relationship, without pre-judging outcomes. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade, has visited China three times in 2018 to discuss our ambition for a strong trade partnership.
The UK-India Joint Trade Review, announced during the Prime Minister’s visit to India in 2016, has helped us better understand the UK-India trade relationship. In April, both Prime Ministers agreed to forge a new trade partnership, to take forward recommendations from the Review. My Rt Hon. Friend also visited India shortly after the Department for International Trade was formed.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on understanding the scrutiny and legislative roles of the UK Parliament; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Greg Hands
As part of EU Parliamentary Scrutiny awareness raising and training across the department, the EU Trade Policy team have held internal training sessions on EU Parliamentary Scrutiny. Events were open to all grades of staff including fast streamers. Approximately 30 staff attended each of the sessions.
The Department for International Trade also offers a range of training sessions on the scrutiny and legislative roles of the UK Parliament to all members of staff. This has included specific training on secondary legislation processes as part of a ‘Secondary Legislation Awareness Week’ in February 2018, and other sessions that were included in Parliament Week in November 2017. The Department offers training as part of its ‘Delivering for Ministers’ programme and delivers bespoke training for teams on request.
Detailed records of attendance at training sessions on parliament are not held centrally by the department, but over 300 people have attended such sessions since the Department’s formation in July 2016. Attendance has not been broken down by grade.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade (DIT) supports the whole of the UK, and we are committed to enabling our staff to meet our objective to support trade and investment in every part of the United Kingdom.
DIT engages with the Cabinet Office’s Devolution and You programme which aims to build awareness of devolution and improve intergovernmental working through shared learning and knowledge exchange. For example, in recent weeks ten DIT senior civil servants attended a devolution workshop, with several more already signed up for a second workshop taking place in June. Fast Streamers can avail themselves of the training available for all staff. A DIT delegation participated in UK Government Interchange Week in 2017, and the Department hosted participants during the Interchange Week which took place earlier this year.
In addition, DIT runs its own learning initiatives, for example during Devolution Learning Week, and is in the process of planning activity for this year’s event. DIT’s devolution strategy team provides advice on devolution for effective policy making and engagement.