Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions for the protection of human rights defenders are included in the United Kingdom–Andean Countries Trade Agreement; and what enforcement measures are in place.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights underpins the United Kingdom–Andean Countries Trade Agreement. The treaty allows for ‘appropriate measures’ to be taken by any member state ‘in accordance with international law’ where breaches occur. The agreement also includes a Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter, which aims to ensure that both Parties encourage high levels of environmental and labour protection. This chapter provides for an annual TSD Sub-Committee, which is an opportunity for the UK to raise concerns with partner countries where we believe there have been violations of workers’ rights or environmental commitments. The Sub- Committee last met in April 2022.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice on (1) language skills, and (2) cultural knowledge, the Export Support Service provides to UK businesses seeking to grow their export business.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Department for International Trade (DIT) publishes market guides on great.gov.uk to help companies do business in new markets, including advice on language and business culture. DIT’s specialist trade advisors worldwide also offer support to businesses seeking to grow in new markets. The Internationalisation Fund provides match funding to help small and medium sized enterprises overcome barriers to access new markets. This includes consultancy or other professional services for cultural and political advice, and translation services including website design, promotional materials and interpreter services. Funding is subject to availability within individual Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas and is accessed via DIT’s Regional Network of International Trade Advisors.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have negotiated a continuity agreement for the UK with Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, which takes forward the current UK interests in the EU Free Trade Agreement with those countries; and if so, whether such a continuity agreement includes the trade and sustainable development provisions of Title IX of that agreement.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The UK and three Andean countries signed the UK-Andean Countries Trade Agreement on 15 May 2019, in Quito, Ecuador, ensuring continuity for UK-Andean trade. The agreement carries forward the trade and sustainable development provisions from the EU-Andean agreement. More information about the continuity agreement can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-andean-countries-trade-agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials with relevant foreign language skills are currently employed by the Department for International Trade to work on negotiating free trade agreements for the United Kingdom after Brexit.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Languages are an important element of this Department’s capability needs and the Department continues to encourage its civil servants in the development of their language skills. We draw on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s in-country diplomatic staff and their language expertise. We expect future Free Trade Agreements being considered at this time will be negotiated in English, including with the US, Australia and New Zealand. Where they are not, it is normal practice to make use of professional interpreters.
We currently have 33 posts which require language skills.
DIT also promotes opportunities for UK based staff posted overseas (non speaker slots) to learn the language of the country. If a DIT staff member is posted overseas as a non-speaker they can take optional beginners language courses. This extends to the spouse or partner. If they already have a basic level of competency in a foreign language they can also take development classes. These classes are provided through the FCO Diplomatic Academy Language School and easily accessible through DIT digital channels.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to restore the one-to-one advisory service on language and culture, formerly available from UK Trade and Investment, to businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to increase exports.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have no plans to deliver the service formerly available through UK Trade and Investment because we have made alternative arrangements. The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) regionally based international trade advisers ensure that companies they advise are aware of the importance of language and culture and, if needs are identified, they are brokered to private sector providers. Language and culture issues are also covered at regionally delivered events and DIT publishes nearly a hundred country guides on gov.uk that include cultural considerations in different countries.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the value of a language skills audit across the civil service to the potential recruitment of any additional trade experts needed post-Brexit.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
The Department encourages its civil servants to expand and develop their language skills, including those who will be involved in Free Trade Agreement negotiations. The department currently has twenty four designated language roles overseas. The Department has no current plans to undertake a language skills audit across the Civil Service in order to support the potential recruitment of any additional trade experts post-Brexit.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials from the Department for International Trade have received language training at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Language Centre to help prepare them to conduct negotiations leading to future Free Trade Agreements.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
Languages are an important element of this Department’s capability needs and the Department continues to encourage its civil servants in the development of their language skills. We will draw on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s in-country diplomatic staff and their language expertise and we currently have twenty four designated language roles overseas. We expect future Free Trade Agreements being considered at this time will be negotiated in English, including with the US, Australia and New Zealand. Where they are not, it is normal practice to make use of professional interpreters.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK was represented at the meeting of the Pacific Alliance in Cali in June; and if so, by whom.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Deputy Director of Americas Directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented the UK at the 12th Summit of the Pacific Alliance in Cali, Colombia in June.
Asked by: Baroness Coussins (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to assist small and medium-sized enterprises with language skills in order to help build export growth in preparation for, and following, the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
Answered by Lord Price
We recognise the importance of language skills to the export success of our country. The Government’s new GREAT website (www.GREAT.gov.uk) contains a wide variety of material for both new and experienced exporters, including information on addressing language and cultural issues when pursuing international business opportunities.
The country guides available on the website (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/exporting-country-guides) make specific reference to legal and cultural issues that a UK business needs to consider when doing business overseas. These guides will be updated on a regular basis, when necessary.