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Written Question
Exports: Austria
Wednesday 30th November 2022

Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if her Department will make an estimate of the potential economic impact of the requirement for companies exporting to Austria to register with a local authority for a fee on those companies; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Austrian requirement is for applicants for public procurements to register with a local authority before submitting tender documents. This is not a general requirement for all companies exporting to Austria. While we have not estimated the potential economic impact of the specific issue raised, estimates for a selection of barriers where Government action is being taken are included in the published “Aggregate valuation estimates for market access barriers”.


Written Question
Musicians: Belgium
Monday 28th November 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, hat recent discussions she has had with the Belgian Government to agree bespoke bilateral arrangements for UK musicians seeking to tour in Belgium without restrictions.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

We have worked extensively with the sector and directly with EU Member States, including Austria and Belgium, to clarify arrangements on the movement of people, goods and haulage. We have worked across government and with industry to develop guidance including ‘landing pages’ on GOV.UK specifically for touring musicians and other creative sectors.

Visa and work permit requirements vary from Member State to Member State, and travellers should always check what requirements they need to fulfil with the EU Member State they are travelling to. That is why we have worked with Member States to ensure their guidance is clear and accessible, and why we have published general business traveller summaries for each Member State on GOV.UK.

More broadly, we have confirmed that:

  • Nearly all Member States offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers.

  • Portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets; and

  • Small ‘splitter vans’ are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement limits around haulage for the creative sectors and ‘cross trade’. In addition, the Government has introduced dual registration to support specialist hauliers, meaning they can benefit from more generous market access arrangements in Great Britain and the EU.


Written Question
Musicians: Belgium
Monday 28th November 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what bilateral arrangements are in place for UK musicians seeking to tour in Belgium.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

We have worked extensively with the sector and directly with EU Member States, including Austria and Belgium, to clarify arrangements on the movement of people, goods and haulage. We have worked across government and with industry to develop guidance including ‘landing pages’ on GOV.UK specifically for touring musicians and other creative sectors.

Visa and work permit requirements vary from Member State to Member State, and travellers should always check what requirements they need to fulfil with the EU Member State they are travelling to. That is why we have worked with Member States to ensure their guidance is clear and accessible, and why we have published general business traveller summaries for each Member State on GOV.UK.

More broadly, we have confirmed that:

  • Nearly all Member States offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers.

  • Portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets; and

  • Small ‘splitter vans’ are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement limits around haulage for the creative sectors and ‘cross trade’. In addition, the Government has introduced dual registration to support specialist hauliers, meaning they can benefit from more generous market access arrangements in Great Britain and the EU.


Written Question
Musicians: Austria
Monday 28th November 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Austrian Government to agree bespoke bilateral arrangements for UK musicians seeking to tour in Austria without restrictions.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

We have worked extensively with the sector and directly with EU Member States, including Austria and Belgium, to clarify arrangements on the movement of people, goods and haulage. We have worked across government and with industry to develop guidance including ‘landing pages’ on GOV.UK specifically for touring musicians and other creative sectors.

Visa and work permit requirements vary from Member State to Member State, and travellers should always check what requirements they need to fulfil with the EU Member State they are travelling to. That is why we have worked with Member States to ensure their guidance is clear and accessible, and why we have published general business traveller summaries for each Member State on GOV.UK.

More broadly, we have confirmed that:

  • Nearly all Member States offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers.

  • Portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets; and

  • Small ‘splitter vans’ are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement limits around haulage for the creative sectors and ‘cross trade’. In addition, the Government has introduced dual registration to support specialist hauliers, meaning they can benefit from more generous market access arrangements in Great Britain and the EU.


Written Question
Musicians: Austria
Monday 28th November 2022

Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what bilateral arrangements are in place for UK musicians seeking to tour in Austria.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

We have worked extensively with the sector and directly with EU Member States, including Austria and Belgium, to clarify arrangements on the movement of people, goods and haulage. We have worked across government and with industry to develop guidance including ‘landing pages’ on GOV.UK specifically for touring musicians and other creative sectors.

Visa and work permit requirements vary from Member State to Member State, and travellers should always check what requirements they need to fulfil with the EU Member State they are travelling to. That is why we have worked with Member States to ensure their guidance is clear and accessible, and why we have published general business traveller summaries for each Member State on GOV.UK.

More broadly, we have confirmed that:

  • Nearly all Member States offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers.

  • Portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets; and

  • Small ‘splitter vans’ are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement limits around haulage for the creative sectors and ‘cross trade’. In addition, the Government has introduced dual registration to support specialist hauliers, meaning they can benefit from more generous market access arrangements in Great Britain and the EU.


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Tuesday 8th November 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September to Question 48499 on Dogs: Imports, if his Department will publish the number of dogs imported into the UK from each country outlined in that Answer in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for UK, and the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to the 31/08/2022) is Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.

This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFFs systems, which are not directly controlled by the department.

EU imports

2020

Rest of World Imports

2020

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Austria

6

Antigua and Barbuda

1

Belgium

13

Argentina

30

Bulgaria

222

Australia

118

Croatia

153

Bahrain

95

Cyprus

4246

Barbados

8

Czech Republic

135

Belarus

50

Denmark

2

Bermuda

4

Estonia

21

Bosnia and Herzegovina

1636

Finland

7

Brazil

120

France

33

Canada

76

Germany

103

Cayman Islands

6

Greece

563

Colombia

12

Hungary

5065

Costa Rica

9

Ireland (Rep. of)

5814

Egypt

26

Italy

243

Ethiopia

3

Latvia

5

French Polynesia

1

Lithuania

99

Hong Kong

69

Malta

5

India

29

Netherlands

38

Indonesia

2

Poland

3945

Israel

13

Portugal

343

Japan

8

Romania

32525

Jordan

3

Slovakia

106

Kenya

26

Slovenia

5

Korea (South)

29

Spain

6475

Kuwait

12

Sweden

15

Lebanon

10

Switzerland

1

Macao

2

Total

60188

Malawi

1

Malaysia

25

Mauritius

85

Mexico

51

Namibia

3

New Zealand

40

North Macedonia

566

Nigeria

3

Oman

8

Peru

5

Philippines

1

Qatar

43

Russia

713

Saudi Arabia

9

Serbia

40

Singapore

58

South Africa

519

Sri Lanka

2

Taiwan

7

Tajikistan

1

Thailand

18

Turkey

375

Turks and Caicos

1

UAE

164

Uganda

2

Ukraine

3

Uruguay

5

USA

1592

Viet Nam

15

Zimbabwe

11

Total

6764

EU Imports

2021

Rest of World Imports

2021

Country

Dogs

Country of origin

Dogs

Austria

22

Argentina

17

Belgium

78

Australia

345

Bulgaria

1093

Bahamas

1

Croatia

2003

Bahrain

55

Cyprus

3758

Barbados

22

Czechia

221

Belarus

1

Denmark

719

Bermuda

12

England

72

Brazil

125

Estonia

23

Canada

167

Finland

8

Cayman Islands

15

France

411

China

174

Germany

76

Colombia

12

Greece

1017

Costa Rica

13

Hungary

4517

Ecuador

2

Iceland

1

Egypt

41

Italy

296

Ethiopia

4

Latvia

512

Guam

3

Lithuania

678

Hong Kong

161

Luxembourg

2

India

96

Malta

3

Indonesia

2

Netherlands

152

Israel

12

Northern Ireland

2

Jamaica

2

Norway

3

Japan

12

Poland

5593

Jordan

13

Portugal

500

Kenya

43

Republic of Ireland

6658

Kuwait

30

Romania

38081

Lebanon

36

Scotland

1

Macao

1

Slovakia

291

Malawi

2

Slovenia

7

Malaysia

71

Spain

5909

Mauritius

3

Sweden

49

Mexico

11

Switzerland

8

Mozambique

2

Wales

1

Namibia

3

(blank)

1

Nepal

1

Grand Total

72766

New Zealand

92

Nigeria

2

Oman

14

Panama

2

Peru

25

Philippines

1

Qatar

179

Russian Federation

261

Saudi Arabia

27

Serbia

2

Singapore

141

South Africa

1522

South Korea

60

Taiwan

4

Thailand

48

Turkey

148

Ukraine

6

United Arab Emirates

499

United States of America

966

Vietnam

2

Zimbabwe

22

Grand Total

5533

EU Imports to 31/08/2022

2022

Rest of World Imports to 31/08/2022

2022

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Austria

5

Albania

1

Belgium

25

Algeria

1

Bulgaria

1248

Australia

295

Croatia

1742

Bahrain

84

Cyprus

1982

Barbados

13

Czech Republic

108

Bermuda

10

Denmark

216

Brazil

65

England?

35

Brunei

2

Estonia

13

Canada

90

Finland

5

Cayman Islands

11

France

68

Chile

5

Germany

90

China

101

Greece

254

Colombia

7

Hungary

1766

Costa Rica

5

Isle of Man

2

Dominican Republic

1

Ireland (Rep. of)

4528

Ecuador

1

Italy

184

Egypt

13

Latvia

309

Fiji

1

Lithuania

297

Hong Kong

25

Luxembourg

1

India

108

Malta

0

Indonesia

1

Netherlands

84

Israel

5

Northern Ireland

13

Japan

6

Norway

7

Jordan

4

Poland

1242

Kenya

24

Portugal

237

Korea (South)

44

Romania

8698

Kuwait

10

Slovakia

127

Lebanon

16

Slovenia

1

Malaysia

32

Spain

3348

Mauritius

13

Sweden

10

Mexico

16

Switzerland

2

Namibia

2

UK

4

New Zealand

82

Total

26651

Nigeria

1

Oman

1

Panama

2

Peru

4

Philippines

7

Qatar

56

Russia

21

Saint Lucia

1

Saudi Arabia

17

Singapore

66

South Africa

557

Sri Lanka

3

Taiwan

1

Thailand

30

Turkey

57

UAE

233

Uganda

5

Ukraine

2

USA

416

Vietnam

1

Zimbabwe

9

Total

2584


Written Question
Cats: Imports
Monday 31st October 2022

Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many cats have been imported this year under the Balai Directive; and from which countries those cats originated.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Since we left the EU, the EU import data for 2021 and 2022 was collated from PIMS which is APHA’s Post Import Management System and accounts for all Imports into the United Kingdom that have been entered using IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system).

This information is drawn from the external IPAFF’s system not directly controlled by the department.

From 14th April 2022 the United Kingdom temporarily suspended the commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets if they originated from or have been dispatched from Belarus, Poland, Romania or Ukraine, until 29th October 2022.

January-September 2022

Country Of Origin

Total

Austria

1

Belgium

15

Bulgaria

115

Croatia

32

Cyprus

392

Czech Republic

22

Denmark

5

England

3

Estonia

3

France

17

Germany

28

Greece

42

Hungary

94

Ireland (Rep. of)

1

Italy

18

Latvia

155

Lithuania

107

Netherlands

11

Poland

208

Portugal

32

Romania

705

Slovakia

17

Spain

339

Sweden

2

Switzerland

3

Antigua and Barbuda

6

Argentina

7

Australia

140

Bahamas

4

Barbados

1

Bahrain

124

Bermuda

6

Brazil

59

Brunei

3

Canada

81

Cayman Islands

12

Chile

3

China

31

Colombia

12

Costa Rica

2

Egypt

357

Georgia

1

Ghana

2

Hong Kong

29

India

46

Indonesia

5

Israel

2

Japan

8

Jordan

2

Kenya

9

Korea (South)

18

Kuwait

22

Lebanon

8

Malaysia

33

Mauritius

6

Mexico

12

Myanmar

2

Namibia

2

New Zealand

85

North Macedonia

9

Oman

5

Pakistan

2

Peru

1

Philippines

2

Qatar

106

Russia

48

Saint Lucia

1

Saudi Arabia

67

Seychelles

1

Singapore

39

South Africa

348

Taiwan

2

Thailand

43

Turkey

15

UAE

1043

Uganda

1

USA

256

Vietnam

4

Zimbabwe

18

Total

5518


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Thursday 29th September 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 40929 on Dogs: Imports, if he will publish a breakdown of the countries of origin of the dogs commercially imported into the UK from abroad in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.

Answered by Scott Mann - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for the UK, while the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to 31 August 2022) is for Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.

This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFF systems not directly controlled by the department.

Country Of Origin from EU 2020

Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2020

Austria

Antigua and Barbuda

Belgium

Argentina

Bulgaria

Australia

Croatia

Bahrain

Cyprus

Barbados

Czech Republic

Belarus

Denmark

Bermuda

Estonia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Finland

Brazil

France

Canada

Germany

Cayman Islands

Greece

Colombia

Hungary

Costa Rica

Ireland (Rep. of)

Egypt

Italy

Ethiopia

Latvia

French Polynesia

Lithuania

Hong Kong

Malta

India

Netherlands

Indonesia

Poland

Israel

Portugal

Japan

Romania

Jordan

Slovakia

Kenya

Slovenia

Korea (South)

Spain

Kuwait

Sweden

Lebanon

Switzerland

Macao

Malawi

Malaysia

Mauritius

Mexico

Namibia

New Zealand

Nigeria

North Macedonia

Oman

Peru

Philippines

Qatar

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Serbia

Singapore

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Thailand

Turkey

Turks and Caicos

UAE

Uganda

Ukraine

Uruguay

USA

Vietnam

Zimbabwe

Country Of Origin from EU 2021

Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2021

Austria

Argentina

Belgium

Australia

Bulgaria

Bahamas

Croatia

Bahrain

Cyprus

Barbados

Czechia

Belarus

Denmark

Bermuda

Estonia

Brazil

Finland

Canada

France

Cayman Islands

Germany

China

Greece

Colombia

Hungary

Costa Rica

Iceland

Ecuador

Italy

Egypt

Latvia

Ethiopia

Lithuania

Guam

Luxembourg

Hong Kong

Malta

India

Netherlands

Indonesia

Northern Ireland

Israel

Norway

Jamaica

Poland

Japan

Portugal

Jordan

Republic of Ireland

Kenya

Romania

Kuwait

Slovakia

Lebanon

Slovenia

Macao

Spain

Malawi

Sweden

Malaysia

Switzerland

Mauritius

Mexico

Mozambique

Namibia

Nepal

New Zealand

Nigeria

Oman

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Qatar

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Serbia

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United States of America

Viet Nam

Zimbabwe

Country Of Origin from EU 2022

Country Of Origin from Rest of World 2022

Austria

Albania

Belgium

Algeria

Bulgaria

Australia

Croatia

Bahrain

Cyprus

Barbados

Czech Republic

Bermuda

Denmark

Brazil

Estonia

Brunei

Finland

Canada

France

Cayman Islands

Germany

Chile

Greece

China

Hungary

Colombia

Isle of Man

Costa Rica

Ireland (Rep. of)

Dominican Republic

Italy

Ecuador

Latvia

Egypt

Lithuania

Fiji

Luxembourg

Hong Kong

Netherlands

India

Northern Ireland

Indonesia

Norway

Israel

Poland

Japan

Portugal

Jordan

Romania

Kenya

Slovakia

Korea (South)

Slovenia

Kuwait

Spain

Lebanon

Sweden

Malaysia

Switzerland

Mauritius

Mexico

Namibia

New Zealand

Nigeria

Oman

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Qatar

Russia

Saint Lucia

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Thailand

Turkey

UAE

Uganda

Ukraine

USA

Vietnam

Zimbabwe


Written Question
Dogs: Electronic Training Aids
Wednesday 13th July 2022

Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who have trained their dog with an e-collar since his Department first announced a ban on those collars.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

The Government assessed the number of people who have reported using a remotely activated electronic training device in 2018. Based on peer reviewed evidence, we estimate that 3% of owners use such devices. As our proposed ban will only prohibit those collars which deliver an electric shock controlled by hand-held devices, and not those which deliver stimuli such as vibration or sound, the number of affected users will be significantly lower.

The proposed ban on the use of electric shock collars controlled by hand-held devices was developed after considering a broad range of factors, including the impact of banning them. When considered alongside the academic research, the public consultation responses, and direct engagement with the sector, the Government concluded that these collars present a risk to the welfare of dogs and cats and that their use should be prohibited. The same conclusion was reached by other nations that have already banned the use of collars which deliver a shock, including Wales, Austria and Germany.

We appreciate that the right approach for pet owners to take in managing and controlling their dog’s behaviour differs from both person to person and from pet to pet. Defra would advise all owners who are concerned about controlling their dog’s behaviour, for whatever reason, to take advice from their vet or a suitably qualified dog behaviourist or trainer. Such specialists would be best positioned to advise on the best approach for their specific case. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council maintains national registers of appropriately qualified trainers and behaviourists which can be found at the link below: https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners/.


Written Question
Import Duties
Tuesday 28th June 2022

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make an assessment of the applicability to decisions on tax treatment in the UK of the precedent established in the October 1958 GATT dispute initiated by Austria against Italy, case reference GD/54, and the resolution agreed between those countries in May 1961, publication reference SR 18/4.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

GATT dispute reports are often considered at the World Trade Organisation in dispute settlement proceedings. However, GATT dispute reports do not set precedents in the way that judgments do in the domestic legal system.

The particular case referred to (GD/54) was settled following consultations (SR.18/4) and never came before a GATT adjudicator. There was therefore no GATT dispute report for this case.