Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125208 on UK trade with the EU and with reference to each agreement mentioned at the URL provided in that Answer, how many (a) staff and (b) non-staff are involved in (a) replicating the agreement and (b) involved in a negotiating role with third countries; what level of experience is required for staff involved in such negotiations; and how many similar negotiations those staff have previously participated in.
The task of ensuring continuity of EU trade agreements, is a cross-government project, drawing from resource in the Department for International Trade's 500-strong Trade Policy Group (TPG), and working closely with expertise in a range of sectors from other government departments.
TPG has staff with international negotiating experience in a wide range of international organisations, including EU institutions. Over 115 TPG staff have worked on, or represented, UK interests in bilateral and multilateral free trade arrangements, including at the WTO.