Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, What recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on increasing (a) trade with and (b) foreign direct investment from India.

The United Kingdom’s trading relationship with India was worth over £24 billion last year and we are already India’s top investment destination in Europe. My Rt Hon. Friend for Berwick-upon-Tweed, the former Secretary of State for International Trade engaged with her Indian counterpart in August, and her successor, my Rt. Hon. Friend for Saffron Walden, has already spoken with him.

With a 1.4 billion population and an increasing demand for high quality products and services, India is a clear trading priority for the UK. Together, we have already reduced trade barriers ranging from medical devices to Scotch whisky and Welsh lamb.

We remain determined to strengthen our economic cooperation with India.