Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of future trade agreements on the ability of UK creative businesses to export digital services.

The Government recognises the important contribution that the UK’s creative industries make to exports and economic growth. Through digital trade chapters in our trade agreements, we seek to reduce barriers to cross-border trade by supporting trusted data flows, preventing unjustified data localisation requirements and promoting digital trading systems. These provisions can help creative businesses that export services digitally to reach overseas customers, collaborate internationally and operate more efficiently across markets. The Government assesses the potential impacts of trade agreements throughout their development, drawing on stakeholder engagement and evidence from businesses to help ensure that trade policy supports UK exporters.