Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reason she did not include an essential elements clause relating to human rights in the UK’s free trade agreement with Turkey, absent any accompanying political arrangements.

The United Kingdom’s priority was to replicate the effects of existing trading arrangements between the EU and Turkey, as far as possible, into a bilateral arrangement by the end of the Transition Period.

HM Government is clear that trade does not come at the expense of rights and responsibilities. We have longstanding, deep relationships with Turkey and will continue to engage the Turkish government on these important issues.