Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the visits to the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Columbia by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Americas and Caribbean), what plans they have to assist UK businesses in trading with companies in those countries.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade, now known as the Department for Business and Trade, works to support UK businesses in their trading endeavors in the Dominican Republic and Colombia.
This includes promotional activity in the UK, such as the upcoming LATAC Roadshow where our experts will showcase opportunities in these markets for UK businesses. Additionally, my noble Friend Baroness Hooper and my Hon. Friend for Fylde are active Trade Envoys for these countries, engaging with businesses in the UK and abroad.
Following recent Ministerial visits, the Government has hosted a senior Colombian rail delegation to promote UK expertise in this sector and is pursuing an ambitious multi-billion pound pipeline of infrastructure projects in the Dominican Republic.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the roles and lines of accountability for UK trade envoys and trade commissioners, including their accountability to Parliament.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trade Envoys are Parliamentarians appointed by the Prime Minister to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda in one or more specific markets. They report to my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and are ultimately accountable to the Prime Minister.
HM Trade Commissioners are senior Civil Servants recruited under fair and open competition and appointed to head the overseas operations for this department. They are accountable to the Permanent Secretary and ultimately to the Secretary of State.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what administrative, logistical, and financial support is provided to UK trade envoys when they travel overseas in that capacity.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade, now known as the Department for Business and Trade, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme and each Trade Envoy has a Civil Servant relationship manager. Relationship managers act as the Trade Envoy’s point of contact, coordinating their activity and provide administrative support when they undertake overseas visits, by arranging flights, visas, a programme of activity and briefing.
The Trade Envoy role is unpaid, but this department meets the costs of any travel expenditure such as transport and accommodation to allow them to carry out their role.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made regarding consultations on a new, enhanced UK–Israel trade agreement since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in November 2021.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The United Kingdom is strongly committed to our trade and investment relationship with Israel.
A public consultation on an enhanced bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Israel was formally launched on 1st February 2022.
We are now in the process of analysing the responses we received during this consultation and will publish a formal response to this in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress achieved by the Latin America and Caribbean Investor Club since its establishment by the Department of International Trade in April 2019.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Since the launch of the Latin American and Caribbean (LatAC) Investors Club, established to foster business connections between the United Kingdom and the region, the club has brought together over 180 participants, from overseas investors, HM Government, and British companies for two annual events (in 2019 and 2020).
These events provided opportunities for HM Government to strengthen its relationship with investors from the LatAC region, helping us to better support and maintain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and map potential expansions. Since its launching, club members have supported British growth through at least six new expansion projects, contributing to 73 jobs across the United Kingdom.
In 2021, we are expanding the programme to strengthen contact with investors to address requests for assistance and provide a forum to on how to improve Britain’s competitiveness. It will support account management of around 200 existing LatAC investors in the United Kingdom, in coordination with the Department for International Trade’s FDI officers, Ministers, Trade Envoys, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, and Ambassadors, to build and maintain strong relationships at senior levels.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the outcome of the Africa Investment Conference held on 20 January; and what plans they have to follow up on any commitments made at that Conference.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Based on our initial assessment, the Africa Investment Conference was a success, with more than 2,800 visitors including over 1,000 individual delegates from the African and UK business communities respectively, and a positive uptake of businesses interested in further engagement after the conference.
We are carrying out an evaluation of the conference to obtain more information about its impact, and plan to follow up the event with further activity both in Africa nations and the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) countries, (2) businesses, and (3) organisations, were represented at the Africa Investment Conference held on 20 January; and whether a recording of that event will be available publicly online.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Africa Investment Conference (AIC) held on 20 January was a virtual business engagement event open to delegates from any country. On the day visitors from 74 countries (including 43 African countries), 1,747 businesses (over 2,800 delegates) and 156 different organisations accessed the AIC online. A recording of all conference sessions was made publicly available via the conference website shortly after the event. This can be accessed through the following link: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/website/3529/on-demand/.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what method they intend to use measure the planned increase in UK investment in Africa; and what are the principal means by which they are supporting UK firms to make such investments.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Department for International Trade (DIT) uses published national statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to track investment involving UK companies in other countries, including African countries. We also have an internal monitoring system that tracks business investment activity supported by DIT.
DIT provides market access entry advice for UK firms looking to invest in African countries. We have established an online deal platform that matches UK investors with high-growth African businesses, and an Africa Investors Group which comprises some of the largest UK investors in Africa.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in aligning the use of export credits with the UK’s commitments on climate change, including those related to (1) sustainable infrastructure, and (2) renewable energy.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
At the Climate Ambition Summit on 12 December 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the UK will no longer provide any new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas, other than in exceptional circumstances, and will align its support to enable clean energy exports.
A public consultation was announced at the same time to seek stakeholders’ views on i) how to enable an accelerated growth in UK clean energy exports, and ii) on the impacts of the timing of implementation of the policy shift on international fossil fuel energy sector support.
The consultation can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/aligning-uk-international-support-for-the-clean-energy-transition.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed UK and Andean countries trade agreement includes provisions about visa reform for those travelling on business from Peru to the UK.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The United Kingdom and Andean Countries agreed in May 2019 to transition the European Union-Andean Countries Free Trade Agreement. The agreement does not include any provisions regarding visa reform.