Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Fairhead on 30 April (HL Deb, cols 1840–2), which ministers attended the 2018 St Petersburg International Economic Forum; which UK companies that attended the event received financial support from the Government in the last 12 months; what recent proposals they have made to (1) NATO, (2) the EU, and (3) members of the Commonwealth, for additional economic sanctions against Russia; and what response they have received.

No UK Ministers attended the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2018; however, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Moscow was present to meet, offer advice and support British companies attending the Forum.

Some UK companies exporting to Russia have received support from UK Export Finance (UKEF) over the last twelve months; the Government continues to offer advice to UK businesses exporting to Russia and supports ongoing legitimate sanctions-compliant trade and investment in Russia.

UKEF does not comment on transactions before they are supported as this may harm the commercial interests of its customers; where support has been provided and the material is not sensitive, the information is published in UKEF’s Annual Report and Accounts: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-annual-reports-and-accounts

The UK currently imposes sanctions on Russia through the EU; since 2014, the UK has had regular dialogue through the EU and with G7 partners on such measures.