Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many (a) applications, (b) applicants, (c) interviews and (d) job offers there have been for trade negotiator positions in his Department since July 2016.

At this stage, the Department’s primary focus is on developing our trade policy positions, international relationships and approach to future trade negotiations.

The Department has run a number of recruitment exercises since July 2016 for both internal Civil Service and external candidates. From these recruitment exercises the Department’s Trade Policy Team has taken on over 150 new members of staff to fill a range of trade policy positions, including analytical and legal posts.

We are also in the process of recruiting a Chief Trade Negotiations Adviser at the level of Second Permanent Secretary.