Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of (a) the human rights records and (b) any potential reports of religious persecution in countries with which the UK is pursuing a trade agreement before entering negotiations.

The UK assesses and considers appropriate action in response to egregious human rights violations and abuses globally, and this goes much wider than considering trade alone, drawing on the wider tools and levers at our disposal.

Our strong economic relationships with trading partners allow the Government to have open discussions on a range of difficult issues, including human rights and religious freedom.