Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with potential trading partners on uprating the pensions of UK pensioners living in frozen countries as part of any new trade agreement after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Discussions with potential trading partners on future bilateral trade agreements have focussed on building a shared understanding of both countries’ ambitions for future trading arrangements. The subject of frozen state pensions has not formed part of our trade discussions with potential trading partners. This policy area is primarily a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to take steps to help SMEs understand the different regulatory environments of Commonwealth nations in order trade with those economies.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department has an on the ground presence in 25 Commonwealth countries. These teams work closely with British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) helping them boost their exports. Such activities ensured that my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade could announce £1.5bn of UK-Commonwealth commercial deals at the recent Commonwealth Business Forum in London. He also announced policies to help boost intra-Commonwealth trade, one of which was the launch of the Commonwealth Standards Network to increase the use of international standards across the Commonwealth, which will support private and public sector users of standards, including SMEs. We also continue to look at reducing trade barriers bilaterally which will benefit SMEs through our current Working Groups with countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to use bilateral trade negotiations as an opportunity to reduce modern slavery by proposing the inclusion in trade agreements of provisions on that issue; and whether the Government plans to implement indices and metrics to monitor changes in the risk of modern slavery taking place in that context.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK is committed to working with international partners and businesses to tackle modern slavery in global supply chains. It is vital that increased trade is not based on the exploitation and abuse of workers. We will be considering what further steps we may be able to take, to prevent modern slavery, through our future trade policy.
We are in the process of developing our approach to impact assessments (IAs), pertaining to new future trade agreements. The approach will be consistent with the Government’s current impact assessment process for new legislation, which considers environmental and social impacts where appropriate.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to assist SMEs to prepare for the UK leaving the EU; and what steps his Department is taking to help SMEs scale-up to increase (a) exports and (b) global trade.
Answered by Graham Stuart
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to the Hon Member for Carshalton and Wallington on 27 April 2018: UIN: 136727.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that experts in trade from all countries of the UK are engaged in work on new trade agreements so that they reflect the interests of the country as a whole.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) task is to promote trade across the whole United Kingdom, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are committed to working closely with counterparts from the Devolved Administrations. My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade met his Scottish counterpart during a visit to Edinburgh and DIT senior officials hold regular meetings with Scottish Development International and our Scottish counterparts. He has also visited Northern Ireland and is scheduled to visit Wales later this year.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase demand for British services and manufactured goods in non-EU unsaturated markets abroad.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Firstly, the Department for International Trade is focusing resources in those markets and sectors (not just countries) that can add the most value, based on our forecasting. We have identified a number of these markets; three quarters of which are outside of the EU. These delivery plans provide export promotion support in high priority areas, and will focus Government efforts to encourage foreign buyers to buy British. They range from pursuing rail opportunities in Southern Africa to healthcare in China; from food & drink in Australia to airports in Mexico.
Secondly, our department has inherited the GREAT Britain campaign, which showcases the best of what the UK has to offer to inspire the world and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in the UK. This campaign unites the efforts of the public and private sector to help generate jobs and growth for Britain. The campaign has already secured confirmed economic returns of £1.9bn for the UK. It can now be seen in 144 countries worldwide and nearly 300 cities.
The programme is designed to enable UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the global appetite for UK products, skills and expertise in markets around the world.
Thirdly, in order to help promote economic growth in developing countries the government has created a new cross-Whitehall Prosperity Fund worth £1.3 billion over the next 5 years. Its priorities include improving the business climate, competitiveness and operation of markets, energy and financial sector reform, and increasing the ability of governments to tackle corruption. These reforms will drive sustainable development in developing countries, and create opportunities for UK companies.
Fourthly, UK Export Finance provides a diverse range of products to ensure that no viable UK export fails for want of finance or insurance from the private sector. They have provided a total of £15bn of support over the last 5 years. These products ensure that finance is not an obstacle to British businesses being awarded contracts in markets across the world.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to increase the number of skilled trade negotiators in British embassies, consulates and high commissions overseas.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade has already established a strong and capable trade policy team with significant negotiating experience. The team has more than doubled in size since 23 June and is still growing. We will continue to hire the brightest and best talent from within the UK civil service and from elsewhere in order to deliver the best outcomes for the UK.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to encourage UK nationals with expertise in trade negotiations to return to the UK from other EU countries to act as negotiators.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department for International Trade has already established a strong and capable trade policy team with significant negotiating experience. The team has more than doubled in size since 23 June and is still growing. We will continue to hire the brightest and best talent from within the UK civil service and from elsewhere in order to deliver the best outcomes for the UK.