Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many businesses her Department has supported to increase exports in Bolton South East constituency since July 2016.
Answered by Mike Freer
We are unable to publish a breakdown of the number of companies The Department for International Trade has helped by constituency. Export support for businesses in Bolton is provided through our Northern Powerhouse regional team. Of the £38m Internationalisation Fund, £16.5m is allocated to the Northern Powerhouse alone, with the target of providing co-investment to over 3,300 companies. We provide a range of support mechanisms, and for instance, this June, the Northern Powerhouse team brought an inward delegation of international buyers to the Global Offshore Wind Summit in Manchester, highlighting to the world the North’s capability in this sector.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure the participation of (a) women and (b) marginalised groups in the development of trade agreements.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Department for International Trade works for people across the country. We speak to businesses, trades unions, think tanks and other organisations on a regular basis, and our public consultations have provided the opportunity for everyone to share their views.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK Government’s trade policy is aligned to its international commitments on women’s rights.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government is committed to equality of opportunity for men and women, including through our trade policy. We want the World Trade Organisation’s work to take this issue into account routinely, building on progress already made in implementing the Buenos Aires Declaration. Further, we have sought commitments in our bilateral free trade agreements to date, securing stand-alone chapters on this with Australia and New Zealand.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of widespread forced labour in the Xinjiang cotton industry on the global cotton industry; and what steps she plans to take to raise that matter at the (a) upcoming discussion on trade on trade-related matters affecting cotton and (b) other relevant forums of the World Trade Organization.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 26th May (UIN: 5177).
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the UK Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the effect of widespread forced labour in the Xinjiang cotton industry on the global cotton industry; and what steps he plans to take to raise that matter at the upcoming discussion on trade-related matters affecting cotton at the WTO.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom has taken a leading international role in holding China to account for its violations of rights and responsibilities in Xinjiang.
The Secretary of State for International Trade was in Geneva on 29th and 30th March where she met the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and they spoke about a range of International issues.
The United Kingdom is committed to ongoing discussions on cotton and trade related matters at the WTO. We recognise the importance of reform to the global cotton market, which will benefit the most vulnerable in particular.