Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is being done to overcome the low level of exports contributing to the UK’s trade deficit.

I refer the noble Lord to the written statement I made on trade on Tuesday 19th January

The statement outlines a new, whole-of-government approach to expanding the number of exporters and the value they generate for the British economy. This will be delivered through a transformed UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), focused on priority markets and sectors. We will develop better digital platforms, work more closely with partners (including in the private sector) and make sure that our services match the needs of companies.

UKTI will co-ordinate and review the UK’s export performance on behalf of the Cross-Government Exports Implementation Taskforce, led by the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills.