Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement on his Department.

The UK and Republic of India concluded talks on their free trade agreement (FTA) on 6 May.

The FTA includes a standalone environment chapter that supports the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission, transition to Net Zero and climate goals. It promotes trade in green goods needed to deliver clean power and could boost UK clean energy exports, as well as strengthening cooperation on clean energy. It reaffirms commitments to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement and recognises the right of the UK to regulate in pursuit of our ambitious climate and environment goals. Finally, the FTA will commit both countries to strive to uphold strong levels of environmental protection, and to not waive their environmental laws to encourage bilateral trade or investment.

The Department for Business and Trade will publish a formal Impact Assessment of the UK-India FTA in due course. This will provide estimates of the economic impacts of a trade deal with India, including estimates of the sectoral, regional and environmental impacts.