Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have for the reform of the World Trade Organisation.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The UK champions rules-based multilateral trade, and strongly supports the Director-General of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) efforts to drive forward reform. WTO reform has been a central aspect of this year’s G7 Trade Track discussions, which are seeking to build momentum and common ground ahead of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference. We are actively participating in discussions through bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral channels, including the G20 and Ottawa Group.
Examples of specific proposals include our co-sponsorship of a proposal at the WTO Council for Trade in Goods to enhance WTO monitoring and transparency requirements, co-sponsorship of the Ottawa Group’s Trade and Health proposal, and submission of textual proposals to the E-Commerce Joint Initiative negotiations.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a trade agreement with Australia on agriculture in Less Favoured Areas.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The UK produces high quality, premium produce that is globally sought after and this Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will create new export opportunities for British farmers and businesses.
The Scoping Assessment, carried out before negotiations began, found that Wales and Scotland and all English regions benefit in all modelled scenarios from a UK-Australia FTA. A full impact assessment will be published prior to implementation of the agreement.
Defra and the Department for International Trade are working in lockstep with partners like the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Food and Drink Federation to deliver tailored support on the ground for these farmers and food producers through schemes such as our Open Doors programme, helping them to capitalise on the enormous global demand for British food and drink and benefit from new trade deals.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many orders have been placed by foreign governments for the Type 31e frigate.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
There have been no orders from foreign companies for the Arrowhead 140 (T31) yet. UK Defence and Security Exports is currently supporting Babcock in their campaigns to export UK built ships, as well as the sale of the design to overseas customers.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to Commonwealth countries; and to which countries.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Open General Export Licences (OGELs) are not granted for specific exports to specific destinations, rather they are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to a range of specified countries, following an online registration. They remove the need for exporters to apply for individual licences, providing the exporters can meet the terms and conditions set out in the licence.
There are also EU General Export Authorisations (EUGEAs) under the dual-use regulations. These permit the export of certain specified dual-use items to specified destinations, subject to the terms and conditions of the licences. They are equivalent to OGELs and are available for use by any exporter within the EU, as well as the United Kingdom for now.
At the end of the transition period, the EUGEAs will be retained as part of the retained Dual-Use Regulation. They will be renamed as “Retained General Export Authorisations” and will be available for use by exporters based in the United Kingdom, to export from the United Kingdom.
In total, there are 65 OGELs and six EUGEAs currently available. To provide actual registrations over the last five years can only be provided at disproportionate cost, as my Department would have to review each live and archived OGEL/EUGEA, which will include reviewing country additions/removal dates and analysing specific registrations over each period.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to African countries not in the Commonwealth; and to which countries.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Open General Export Licences (OGELs) are not granted for specific exports to specific destinations, rather they are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to a range of specified countries, following an online registration. They remove the need for exporters to apply for individual licences, providing the exporters can meet the terms and conditions set out in the licence.
There are also EU General Export Authorisations (EUGEAs) under the dual-use regulations. These permit the export of certain specified dual-use items to specified destinations, subject to the terms and conditions of the licences. They are equivalent to OGELs and are available for use by any exporter within the EU, as well as the United Kingdom for now.
At the end of the transition period, the EUGEAs will be retained as part of the retained Dual-Use Regulation. They will be renamed as “Retained General Export Authorisations” and will be available for use by exporters based in the United Kingdom, to export from the United Kingdom.
In total, there are 65 OGELs and six EUGEAs currently available. To provide actual registrations over the last five years can only be provided at disproportionate cost, as my Department would have to review each live and archived OGEL/EUGEA, which will include reviewing country additions/removal dates and analysing specific registrations over each period.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to South American countries; and to which countries.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Open General Export Licences (OGELs) are not granted for specific exports to specific destinations, rather they are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to a range of specified countries, following an online registration. They remove the need for exporters to apply for individual licences, providing the exporters can meet the terms and conditions set out in the licence.
There are also EU General Export Authorisations (EUGEAs) under the dual-use regulations. These permit the export of certain specified dual-use items to specified destinations, subject to the terms and conditions of the licences. They are equivalent to OGELs and are available for use by any exporter within the EU, as well as the United Kingdom for now.
At the end of the transition period, the EUGEAs will be retained as part of the retained Dual-Use Regulation. They will be renamed as “Retained General Export Authorisations” and will be available for use by exporters based in the United Kingdom, to export from the United Kingdom.
In total, there are 65 OGELs and six EUGEAs currently available. To provide actual registrations over the last five years can only be provided at disproportionate cost, as my Department would have to review each live and archived OGEL/EUGEA, which will include reviewing country additions/removal dates and analysing specific registrations over each period.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many open general export licences have been granted in the last five years to the United States.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Open General Export Licences (OGELs) are not granted for specific exports to specific destinations, rather they are pre-published licences that permit the export of specified items to a range of specified countries, following an online registration. They remove the need for exporters to apply for individual licences, providing the exporters can meet the terms and conditions set out in the licence.
There are also EU General Export Authorisations (EUGEAs) under the dual-use regulations. These permit the export of certain specified dual-use items to specified destinations, subject to the terms and conditions of the licences. They are equivalent to OGELs and are available for use by any exporter within the EU, as well as the United Kingdom for now.
At the end of the transition period, the EUGEAs will be retained as part of the retained Dual-Use Regulation. They will be renamed as “Retained General Export Authorisations” and will be available for use by exporters based in the United Kingdom, to export from the United Kingdom.
In total, there are 65 OGELs and six EUGEAs currently available. To provide actual registrations over the last five years can only be provided at disproportionate cost, as my Department would have to review each live and archived OGEL/EUGEA, which will include reviewing country additions/removal dates and analysing specific registrations over each period.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many licences were granted for the export of military equipment to each member state of the Arab League in each of the last five years for which records are available.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences on GOV.UK. The number of licences granted for the export of military equipment to each of the countries in each of the last five years is attached.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many licences were granted for the export of military equipment to each EU member state in each of the last five years for which records are available.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences on GOV.UK. The number of licences granted for the export of military equipment to each of the countries in each of the last five years is attached.
Asked by: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the report into the issuing in error of export licences for arms or military equipment to Saudi Arabia in breach of their undertaking given to the High Court on 20 June 2019.
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)
Preparations to publish the outcome of the investigation are underway.