Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement on his Department.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) worked closely with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and other relevant departments to ensure that the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) supports the UK’s strategic objectives in science, technology, and innovation. The FTA will complement and bolster ongoing cooperation with India on science and technology through the Science and Innovation Council and the Technology Security Initiative.

The FTA includes an innovation chapter, which will allow the UK and India to enhance existing collaboration in research and development. The digital trade chapter will also drive innovation and support emerging technologies through UK-India collaboration, maximising the benefits to both, including through trade. The telecommunications chapter will support fair competition, market access, and regulatory cooperation within the telecommunications sector. A full impact assessment of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement will be published at signature.