Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many times UK Export Finance has used its special audit rights to seek further information from companies about their agents and commission in the last five years.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance (UKEF) routinely seeks information from exporters about agents and commissions as part of its anti-bribery due diligence and may seek further information from the applicant as part of this process. Separately, UKEF has audit rights that are exercisable in respect of issued guarantees and insurance policies. The audit rights do not exclusively relate to details of agents and their commission.
Since 2011, 24 audits have been carried out on companies following the receipt of applications for support.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, by whom the decision was made to have a European Committee debate on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on 6 February 2017 rather than a debate on the floor of the House; when that decision was made; for what reason that decision was made; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has always been clear that he wanted to see a full debate in Parliament on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) ahead of the vote on the European Parliament, now scheduled for 15 February. Decisions with respect to the timing and form of a debate are for the business managers in the House of Commons. Due to the pressures of the legislative timetable it has not been possible to hold the debate in the main chamber, but the Government was pleased to have had the opportunity to debate this important matter on 6 February and within the appropriate timetable.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on how many occasions since 2005 UK Export Finance has cancelled a policy with an insured company on grounds of admission of or conviction for corrupt activity.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance provides insurance to exporting companies through its insurance products. Since 2005, UKEF has not had cause to cancel any of these insurance policies.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on how many occasions UK Export Finance has provided a payment to Rolls Royce under export finance policies since 2000; and what the amounts were of each such payment made; and in relation to which (a) project and (b) country each such payment was made.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance has made no payments to Rolls Royce in respect of export insurance policies issued since 2000. Nor has it made payments to financing parties of Rolls Royce export contracts, in respect of guarantees issued since 2000.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether it is the policy of UK Export Finance (UKEF) to take against a company if it discovers that a company it has insured has breached its anti-corruption warranty in cases where there has been no loss to UKEF.
Answered by Greg Hands
UKEF’s policy is that at the time it makes its support available, it takes recourse rights against exporters, which can be invoked, where bribery or corruption is subsequently admitted by the exporter, or found by a court. After UKEF has provided support for a transaction, if it comes to its attention that bribery or corruption has been admitted or found by a court in relation to that transaction, its policy is to invoke this recourse where it has incurred any loss or expense. Where UKEF has issued an insurance policy, UKEF may cancel the cover where bribery or corruption is admitted or found by a court.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what cover UK Export Finance has given to Rolls Royce since 2000; and what the (a) type of export credit finance, (b) year, (c) amount, (d) country and (e) project was of each instance of such cover.
Answered by Greg Hands
Where such information is not commercially sensitive, details about exporters supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF) since 2000/01 are published annually in its Annual Report and Accounts which is presented to Parliament.
Prior to these details being included in its Annual Report and Accounts, UKEF provided support for one Rolls-Royce case within the relevant period. The details are: a) buyer credit; b) 2000; c) maximum liability of £40.1m; d) Thailand; and e) aero engines.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what export credit support his Department or its predecessors have provided to Alstom Power in Lithuania, Tunisia, Indonesia, Egypt and India since 2000; and whether UK Export Finance have made payments to Alstom Power for losses in relation to projects in those countries.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance has not provided export credit support to Alstom Power for projects in Lithuania, Tunisia, Indonesia, Egypt or India since 2000.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which Minister approved the arms export licence given to CAS Global in July 2014.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
This was a routine strategic export licence application approved at official level, in line with standard processing procedures.
In July 2014 the Department for Business Innovation and Skills had overall responsibility for the export licensing process. The then Secretary of State (Vince Cable) was responsible for the decision to grant or refuse an export licence in any individual case.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what companies each Minister in his Department has responsibility for government relationships with.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is responsible for the government’s strategic relations programme which manages relationships with key investors and exporters through named contact ministers.
DIT is currently refreshing the allocation of contact ministers across government and intends to publish the updated list on www.gov.uk in due course.
Ministers in DIT also have responsibilities supporting trade and investment in various industry sectors. Details can be found on www.gov.uk.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he has made a request to the Government's business managers for a (a) debate and (b) vote on ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and if he will publish the full text of that agreement.
Answered by Greg Hands
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade is committed to holding a full parliamentary debate on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Department for International Trade officials have made a request to Government business managers to identify a date. As is normal practice, decisions on the timing of a vote on ratification will be made following the European Parliament’s vote. The full text of the agreement is publicly available.