Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to his oral evidence to the European Scrutiny Committee of 26 October 2016, for what reasons the Government did not make time for a debate on the Canada/EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on the floor of the House in November 2016.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has pledged to hold a full debate on the floor of the House of Commons on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). It is important to note that the European Parliament vote on this agreement was initially expected on 14 December, but has now been delayed until 2 February next year. Decisions with respect to the timing of a debate are for the business managers in the House of Commons.
Asked by: Roger Godsiff (Labour - Birmingham, Hall Green)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to Airbus Group's press release, entitled Airbus Group announcement on UK Export Credit Financing, published on 1 April 2016, if UK Export Finance will take steps to review its anti-corruption procedures to take account of the findings by Airbus that there were inaccuracies relating to applications for export credit financing for Airbus customers.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is currently working with Airbus and the French and German export credit agencies to understand and seek assurances around Airbus’s practices and procedures with regard to overseas agents.
UKEF’s policy with regard to anti-corruption due diligence is guided by the OECD Recommendation on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits (2006 OECD Bribery Recommendation), which it applies to its fullest extent.
UKEF’s role is to take reasonable precautions, including by making reasonable enquiries, to avoid financial loss by becoming involved in transactions that may be tainted by corruption. However, responsibility for detection, prevention and suppression of criminal offences resides with law enforcement bodies with investigatory powers.
All UK companies must abide by the 2010 Bribery Act and any relevant local law.
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 what date UK Export Finance started a temporary freeze of Airbus export credit cover; and whether that freeze is still in place.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance has not supported any new deliveries of Airbus aircraft since January 2016.
UK Export Finance is working with Airbus and the French and German export credit agencies to understand and seek assurances around Airbus's practices with regard to overseas agents. In the meantime UK Export Finance remains open to applications from any UK exporter, including Airbus, subject to conducting appropriate due diligence on compliance issues.
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 the Government plans to provide a mechanism for (a) British citizens, (b) the voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations, (c) local authorities, (d) the devolved administrations and (e) Parliament to have an input on the terms and priorities of the bilateral trade deals the UK will negotiate when it leaves the EU.
Answered by Mark Garnier - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Engaging with stakeholders will play a vital role in informing the development of the UK’s approach to trade. We are currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and over the coming weeks and months we will continue to do so.
We have established the trade.consultation@trade.gsi.gov.uk mailbox as the existing mechanism for receiving input from external stakeholders. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this approach as we get closer to the time when we may be negotiating trade deals.
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 policies UK Export Finance has developed for investigating transactions involving foreign bribery which cannot be investigated by law enforcement authorities.
Answered by Greg Hands
UK Export Finance takes issues of bribery extremely seriously. It takes precautions, including by making reasonable enquiries, to avoid financial loss by becoming involved in transactions that may be tainted by corruption.
Before providing support, it carries out anti-bribery due diligence in line with the 2006 OECD Bribery Recommendation. This informs how export credit agencies such as UK Export Finance should undertake anti-bribery due diligence.
UK Export Finance does not have investigatory powers, but will not grant its support until it has satisfied itself from the information it has available that exports are not tainted by bribery or corruption. Where UK Export Finance suspects foreign bribery it reports it to the Serious Fraud Office.