Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what her policy is on (a) the prioritisation of (i) economic growth and (ii) environmental protections and (b) conceding environmental safeguards in the event that the other country demands it when negotiating trade agreements.

HM Government is clear that more trade doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Future trade agreements must work for UK consumers and businesses while maintaining our high environmental standards – and we will not compromise on this.

Therefore, we have agreed ambitious environmental chapters with both Australia, and now New Zealand, which preserve our right to regulate to meet net zero, affirm our shared commitment to the Paris Agreement and seek to cooperate on a range of environmental issues.