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, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2021 to Question 171559, what steps she has taken to provide export opportunities for tuna fishermen in the Maldives through an Economic Partnership Agreement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Maldives is an important partner for the United Kingdom and my officials are exploring pragmatic options to promote increased trade and investment at present.
We are exploring opportunities to enhance bilateral trade with The Maldives in areas of mutual interest, such as food and drink, defence, education, health and fitness, environmental science, and sustainable development.
HM Government is exploring a range of options for collaboration in financial services and infrastructure development too, including securing green financing to aid Maldivian efforts towards cleaner, renewable energy generation.
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 support she has provided to countries in the Global South that have seen their supply chains adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Greg Hands
HM Government is working hard to keep supply chains open to ensure essential goods and services reach consumers and vulnerable livelihoods are protected. Last year, HM Government launched the Vulnerable Supply Chains Facility, which has helped over 200,000 vulnerable people working in the agriculture and garments sectors in developing countries to recover from, and remain resilient to, the impacts of Covid-19.
Moreover, we are providing opportunities for exporters from developing countries through our Economic Partnership Agreements and our Generalised Scheme of Preferences.
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, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 63293 on Department for International Trade: Overseas Aid, if she will publish the programmes managed by her Department that are (a) recorded as Official Development Assistance and (b) prioritise support for women and girls.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department’s only Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme is the Investment Promotion Programme (IPP). In line with the Government’s transparency commitments, we will publish the full business case once finalised. This ODA programme is expected to support increased job opportunities and incomes for women and men in selected countries.
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, whether her Department allocates Official Development Assistance to programmes that are targeted at supporting women and girls.
Answered by Greg Hands
The UK’s Gender Equality Act 2014 (an amendment to 2002 International Development Act (IDA)) legally requires all overseas development funding to meaningfully consider the impact of how it will contribute to reducing gender inequality.