Cotton Imports

Debate between Baroness Smith of Newnham and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Thursday 21st October 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, we always bow to the noble Lord’s deep expertise in these matters, and we all very much appreciate the close attention that he pays to them. I like to think that the United Kingdom is one of the global leaders in bringing this issue to people’s attention. We have sponsored resolutions at the UN and elsewhere in relation to this, and will continue to do so.

[Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD)]

My Lords, I noticed with some dismay this morning that the dress which I am wearing was made in China. The label does not elucidate which part of China, but there is a very serious question about labelling of products. Often it is very difficult to know where things are made. What work are the Government doing to ensure that imports are better labelled, and how does the Minister define harm? He said that the Government do not believe in investment that creates harm. Does he have a definition of that?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, probably the easiest place to find a definition is in the schedules to the National Security and Investment Act, which became law at the end of last year. It contains details of 17 subsectors with very strict mandatory controls for matters which clearly would otherwise cause harm. On the first part of the question, I will write to the noble Baroness.

Russia: Trade

Debate between Baroness Smith of Newnham and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Tuesday 28th July 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel]

My Lords, as a previous banker, I abhor illicit finance working its way through the City. It benefits nobody, and no respectable City firm would want to touch it. At every opportunity, I will certainly raise the points that have just been made.

[Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD) [V]]

My Lords, the Library’s note to us suggests that of UK services’ trade with Russia in 2019, the fifth largest item in imports and exports was government services. Will the Minister tell us what government services were provided to Russia?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel]

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not have the fine print on that with me, so, if I may, I will write to the noble Baroness.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Sales

Debate between Baroness Smith of Newnham and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Friday 10th July 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel]

I do not believe that they are, but in order to give the noble Lord a completely accurate answer to his question, I will write to him.

[Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD) [V]]

My Lords, your Lordships’ International Relations and Defence Committee, of which I am a member, produced reports on the Middle East in 2017 and Yemen in 2019, in which we raised concerns about the Saudi-led coalition’s misuse of weaponry leading to the loss of civilian life. In particular, we noted that assurances by Saudi-led reviews are not enough and not an adequate way of implementing our obligations of risk-based assessment set out in the Arms Trade Treaty. Does the Minister agree, and will he clarify what assessment has been made, beyond what the Saudis have told the Government?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel]

The assessments we make are very much our own assessments, led by specialist people who are expert in these matters. We draw on information from a number of sources, including but not confined to the Saudis, and a whole range of material is considered in coming to our view of what the appropriate assessment of a particular incident should be.