Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations he has made on behalf of businesses in Wales in discussions with foreign (a) businesses and (b) trade ministers.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade supports businesses across the whole of the UK and we are developing a trade policy to reflect this in preparation for our exit from the European Union. Welsh businesses accompanied my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade during his recent visit to India in November 2016 as part of the business delegation. Within the last few weeks, both my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy (Lord Price) and the Secretary of State met with businesses based in Wales in order to hear about opportunities and concerns, and will continue to hold such meetings.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings he has had with (a) Ministers in the Welsh Government, (b) businesses in Wales and (c) Ministers in the Wales Office since his appointment.
Answered by Greg Hands
Wales plays an important role as part of the UK’s strategy for boosting exports and inward investment and DIT has good relationships with the Welsh Government. My Rt Hon friend the Secretary of State met with a range of businesses during his recent visit to Wales and has regular discussions with cabinet colleagues and the Wales Office regarding trade and investment. The Prime Minister led her first business delegation to India in November, and the Secretary of State and I were able to engage with Welsh businesses that joined the visit.