Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue the practice of appointing unpaid Trade Envoys; and, if so, whether they intend to make the appointment process and the duties involved more transparent.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are carefully considering the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy programme in the context of the new Government's trade objectives and will update the house in due course on the programme.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to return to a system of imperial measurement; and, if so, what assessment they have made of (1) levels of understanding among younger people, and (2) any impact upon the UK’s competitiveness in world trade.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Government is reviewing the current law on units of measurement and has gathered information from the consultation ‘Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales’. A government response will be published in due course.
The Government recognises that metric units remain essential for international trade. Any legislative changes would require an impact assessment, including an equality impact assessment.