US Steel and Aluminium Tariffs
Debate between Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and Lord Swire(1 month ago)
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Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
My noble friend is absolutely right that we are continuing to discuss with the US the possibility of a trade deal. In the economic and tech sectors, there is the possibility of agreements on the basis of mutual interest. Those discussions are ongoing, and I hope to update the House on them in due course.
Lord Swire (Con)
My Lords, while I very much welcome the action and words that the Prime Minister is using to defend the United Kingdom in this respect, does the Minister share my concern that, if the United Kingdom is to be exempt from any tariff war with the United States but the EU is not, the EU will seek some kind of revenge on the United Kingdom? What will the Government’s reaction be if that is the case?
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
My Lords, that is very much a hypothetical question. As I said earlier, we have very good relations with both our key partners, the US and the EU, and we will continue to aim to maintain those relationships. We have seen no sign that the EU will take any action against us, and we will continue to pursue good, friendly and trade-based relationships with the EU.
Future of the Post Office
Debate between Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and Lord Swire(4 months, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
I hear what the noble Lord says. I reiterate that we absolutely understand the important role that post offices play in their communities in rural areas. We are aware of the role that they play as community hubs, if nothing else. The Post Office’s proposals are not about changing the access criteria that the Government have set for the Post Office, so those criteria will continue. That will ensure a network of branches across the country, particularly in rural areas.
Lord Swire (Con)
My Lords, the way that services are to be provided is changing, from banking services to remote GP diagnostics, so the Post Office and its invaluable network should change and adapt as well. Will the Government look at some innovative ways where we can, for instance, co-locate post offices in shops or pubs and do much more, rather than looking at them as some kind of rather outdated form of delivery, particularly for rural communities?
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)
The noble Lord is right that we need to look at innovative ways where post offices can be co-located. A lot are already co-located in other retail shops. Those the ones that are more profitable, as far as I understand it, so that may well be the future, but there is probably more that we can do to expand that innovation, bearing in mind the community role that we see for them for the future and how important that will be. We have an open mind. The Green Paper that we are launching next year will allow all that debate to take place. We do not want to rush a solution. However, I reiterate that we see a positive role for the Post Office in the future, but let us make sure that we consider all the proposals, get them on the table and work with consumers and the unions, and then everyone can sign up to the proposals for the future.