Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability

Debate between Lord Fowler and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Monday 11th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, absolutely; I am happy to give that assurance on these important areas. We certainly did not see that an advantage of leaving the European Union would be that we could lower standards in these areas.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked. We now come to the second Oral Question.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Debate between Lord Fowler and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Tuesday 15th December 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

We are watching RCEP closely, but at least six ASEAN and three non- ASEAN signatories need to ratify the agreement before it enters into force, and there is then a gap of 18 months before any other country can enter—so it would be many years before it would even be possible for us to consider entry into RCEP.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

I call the noble Lord, Lord Haskel. Lord Haskel? No? We will move on.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, only a small handful of agreements have not yet been concluded. We are anxious and keen to conclude those but, of course, it takes two to make a trade agreement, and we are in the hands of our partners for the timing of some of those.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked, and we now move to the next Question.

Intellectual Property Rights: Affordable Drugs

Debate between Lord Fowler and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Monday 30th November 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

The right reverend Prelate asks an excellent question. I am not aware of the details of any discussions of that sort; to ensure that I can give him a complete answer, I will write to him on that also.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

I call the noble Baroness, Lady Clark of Kilwinning. No? I call the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann.

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

My Lords, how are we assisting countries to take advantage of the flexibilities in the current rules on this TRIPS issue? Can we do more to help them access these drugs affordably?

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

Our posts on the ground well know the importance of this. We try to bring these flexibilities home to these countries through all available channels; one would hope that they would use these flexibilities, as they would be so much to their advantage.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.

Trade: Trans-Pacific Partnership

Debate between Lord Fowler and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel

Wednesday 23rd September 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

My Lords, I am not familiar with my noble friend’s reference, but I will certainly look that strategy up and consider it in our future efforts in this area.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked.