Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights has informed his Department's policies on trade and investment with Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Mark Garnier
The UK is strongly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide. The National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights is included in the Department for International Trade’s online advice to businesses operating in Saudi Arabia to highlight the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and their responsibilities under national and international law wherever they operate. In addition, the Department continues to work with all international partners on the promotion of Human Rights in its international engagements.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it Government policy that future trade deals concluded after the UK leaves the EU include provisions to (a) assess the effect of trade liberalisation on the environment and (b) enforce the highest standards on (i) environmental protections, (ii) workers' rights, (iii) animal welfare and (iv) health and safety standards.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has long supported the promotion of our values globally and this will continue as we leave the EU. We will explore all options in the design of future bilateral trade and investment agreements, including, where relevant, social, labour, animal welfare and environmental provisions within these. We want to ensure economic growth, development and environmental protection go hand-in-hand.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of the latest draft of the EU-Japan trade deal in (a) maintaining environmental and animal welfare standards and (b) enforcing environmental laws on (i) EU standards in timber to prevent illegal logging and (ii) the international ban on whaling.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has been one of the strongest supporters of the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement which upholds existing EU commitments to the environment and animal welfare. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal logging and associated trade, and to working with other consumer countries to meet this aim. The UK government strongly supports the global moratorium on commercial whaling and will continue to give appropriate consideration to the implications of the EU-Japan trade deal as it develops.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make representations during the EU-Japan trade negotiations on including environmental and animal welfare safeguards in any future EU-Japan trade deal.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK has been one of the strongest supporters of the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and we welcome the close involvement of the leaders from both sides to make progress on the deal. The UK, as a member of the European Union, will continue to engage on the EU-Japan FTA as it develops. The consolidated text of the draft agreement includes environmental and animal welfare provisions in-line with EU standards.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in (a) Bristol and (b) the South West that depend on trade with the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is working to secure an FTA with the EU and to build our global trading links with the rest of the world to support jobs across the UK. Our regional teams of international trade advisors in the UK encourage and support British businesses to start, increase or sustain their exporting activity. We offer financial support to help small and medium UK businesses gain market access and exposure through tradeshows as part of our strategic approach to exporting.