Ministerial Corrections

Thursday 31st October 2019 Ministerial Corrections

Thursday 31 October 2019

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Thursday 31st October 2019 Ministerial Corrections

Topical Questions

The following is an extract from Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Topical Questions on 22 October 2019.

[Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con)]

T10. I recently visited Orbex in Forres, which is heavily involved in the new spaceport at Sutherland and is seen as a sector leader with its new innovative launch vehicle. Will the Minister outline what support the UK Government can give to companies such as Orbex, which plans to bring 250 high-quality jobs to the region?

[The Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore)]

The Government support growing our national space capabilities, especially by establishing the new national space council, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister. We are supporting Orbex to develop an exciting new launch vehicle technology with a grant of £5.5 million as part of our industrial strategy. We are keen to work with it as part of the wider national space framework we are establishing.

[Official Report, 22 October 2019, Vol. 666, c. 808-09.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, the right hon. Member for Kingswood (Chris Skidmore):

An error has been identified in the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moray (Douglas Ross).

The correct response should have been:

[Chris Skidmore]

The Government support growing our national space capabilities, especially by establishing the Cabinet-level National Space Council. We are supporting Orbex to develop an exciting new launch vehicle technology with a grant of £5.5 million as part of our industrial strategy. We are keen to work with it as part of the wider national space framework we are establishing.

International Trade

Thursday 31st October 2019 Ministerial Corrections

EU Trade Agreements: Roll-over

The following is an extract from questions to the Secretary of State for International Trade on 17 October 2019.

[Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab)]

2. What progress she has made on the rollover of existing EU trade agreements.

[The Minister of State, Department for International Trade (Conor Burns)]

In preparation for our exit from the European Union, the Government have, to date, secured 16 continuity trade agreements with 46 countries. Trade with those countries represents 72% of the UK’s total trade. I am pleased to inform the House that only last week my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State signed another agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique to roll over the existing EU trade agreements that we have with them.

[Official Report, 17 October 2019, Vol. 666, c. 431.]

Letter of correction from the Minister of State, Department for International Trade, the right hon. Member for Bournemouth West (Conor Burns):

An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton (Dr Huq).

The correct response should have been:

[The Minister of State, Department for International Trade (Conor Burns)]

In preparation for our exit from the European Union, the Government have, to date, secured 16 continuity trade agreements with 46 countries. Trade with those countries represents 72% of the UK’s total trade with those with which we are seeking continuity. I am pleased to inform the House that only last week my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State signed another agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique to roll over the existing EU trade agreements that we have with them.