Continuity Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Debate between Lord Grimstone of Boscobel and Lord Brougham and Vaux

Wednesday 18th November 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grimstone of Boscobel (Con)]

The noble Lord makes a good point. The free trade agreements are vitally important for the African countries; we are well seized of that. We have an active dialogue with them, and look forward to strengthening those agreements as we go forward.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Brougham and Vaux) (Con)]

I call the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy of Cradley.

[Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Lab) [V]]

I am afraid it is in fact Lady Kennedy of The Shaws—there was a mistake in the listing. It is clear from many of our debates that the House does not want trade to be elevated above human rights. The noble Lord, Lord Alton, put his finger on the particular problems regarding China. The Government give the right rhetorical support on this, but it is difficult to have confidence when the Minister is on record as saying that

“everything in China gets associated with politics, but we have to look through politics to help get successful business with China”,

and that:

“The fact that Xi is prepared to give such strong authoritarian guidance within the context of a market economy is great for companies like mine


I am afraid that this does not give a lot of assurance to those of us who are concerned about the horrors taking place in China.