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Written Question
Trade Agreements: India
Friday 16th December 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress she has made on securing a free trade agreement with India.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Secretary of State has just returned from India, where she met her counterpart in the Government of India to discuss the free trade agreement, including goods, services, and investment. She also had the opportunity to meet Indian and UK businesses, who made clear the mutual benefits a forward-facing deal could bring to both nations.

Round six is currently underway, and at its conclusion we will update the House via a Written Ministerial Statement.

Written Question
Riot Control Weapons: Iran
Monday 7th November 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether any of the equipment used by Iranian authorities in response to ongoing protests in that country was (a) manufactured in the UK or (b) exported from the UK.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

We have checked records of licences granted over the past twenty years and I can confirm that no licences for the export of crowd control equipment have been approved for Iran.

HM Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, including if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
India-UK Trade Negotiations

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Davies, although not for the first time. Thank you for calling me to speak on this very important matter. I would also like to thank the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) for securing this debate, which I know …..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Feb 2022
UK-Andean Trade Agreement: Human Rights

"I remind Members to observe social distancing and wear masks. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates...."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: UK-Andean Trade Agreement: Human Rights
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 02 Feb 2022
UK-Andean Trade Agreement: Human Rights

"Order.

Question put and agreed to...."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: UK-Andean Trade Agreement: Human Rights
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 15 Jul 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" Does the Minister think it is appropriate that HSBC continues to meet Trade Ministers privately and advise on UK trade policy with China while it supports the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and continues to freeze prominent activists’ bank accounts?..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 15 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights into future trade deals. ..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 15 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"I will make the Minister’s life a bit easier when answering the question. Last month, the Foreign Secretary explained that there were some countries whose behaviour on human rights put them “beyond the pale” when it comes to trade agreements, but that otherwise we should be open to deals with …..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 18 Jun 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

" What steps she is taking to support (a) small businesses and (b) the self-employed to trade internationally as part of the covid-19 recovery. ..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 18 Jun 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"Do the Government recognise that, aside from covid-19, one of the biggest threats to small businesses in the UK is reaching the end of the transition period with no trade deal? What assessment have they made of the number of SMEs in the UK that would go bust if faced …..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions