Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many times Mr Adam Werritty has been received on his Department's premises at his behest since he took office.
Answered by Greg Hands
None.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy to prioritise negotiating free trade agreements with (a) China, (b) Vietnam and (c) Indonesia when the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
As the Prime Minister has said, we want to build a truly Global Britain - a great, global, trading nation that is one of the firmest advocates for free trade anywhere in the world. Ministers and officials in the Department for International Trade are working with counterparts in a range of markets, including China, Vietnam and Indonesia, to promote the UK as a great place to do business and with which to trade. We are also using these discussions to address existing trade barriers between us and to consider options for strengthening our bilateral trading relationships.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will estimate how many of his Department's staff will be affected by recent changes to immigration rules introduced by President Trump.
Answered by Greg Hands
All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many applications from people with a manufacturing background have been received for non-executive positions in his Department.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade considered over 180 candidates for Non-Executive Board Member positions, sourced from direct applications and recommendations from senior leaders across Government. Of the direct applications received for the role, approximately a third declared prior experience in the manufacturing sector.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the salary will be for non-executive board members in his Department.
Answered by Greg Hands
Department for International Trade (DIT) Non-Executive Board Members are offered a fee of £15,000 per annum in line with the Non-Executive Directors of the Bank of England. Lead Non-Executives and the Chairs of the Audit and Risk Committee are offered a further £5,000 per annum. Claimed fees are included within the annual departmental accounts, in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual. The Chair of UK Export Finance Board sits on the DIT Departmental Board in an ex-officio capacity and is subject to separate arrangements with UK Export Finance.
In the course of their duties, DIT Non-Executive Board Members will be expected to prepare for and attend Departmental Board Meetings, of which there will be ten per year, and work outside of these to continue scrutinising and supporting the Department’s work. They will sit on other committees around the Department and will contribute to wider cross-Government working.
Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what his plans are for the number of hours worked per week by non-executive board members in his Department.
Answered by Greg Hands
Department for International Trade (DIT) Non-Executive Board Members are offered a fee of £15,000 per annum in line with the Non-Executive Directors of the Bank of England. Lead Non-Executives and the Chairs of the Audit and Risk Committee are offered a further £5,000 per annum. Claimed fees are included within the annual departmental accounts, in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual. The Chair of UK Export Finance Board sits on the DIT Departmental Board in an ex-officio capacity and is subject to separate arrangements with UK Export Finance.
In the course of their duties, DIT Non-Executive Board Members will be expected to prepare for and attend Departmental Board Meetings, of which there will be ten per year, and work outside of these to continue scrutinising and supporting the Department’s work. They will sit on other committees around the Department and will contribute to wider cross-Government working.