Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister's trade envoy programme will continue; and if so, when new trade envoys will be appointed.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The programme will continue. Ministers are considering carefully its scope and structure to ensure that it is set up for success. The House will of course be notified of any appointments in due course.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the removal of tax-free shopping for international visitors, what steps they are taking to support affected small and medium-sized enterprises in regional economies; and what assessment they have made of the impact on regional economies and their wider supply chains.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by Norway to become the first country in the world to commence commercial deep seabed mining and the impact on the UK.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK government notes the Norwegian government’s decision of 9 January 2024 to consider awarding licences for deep sea mining exploration and potentially in future extraction on its continental shelf. This area is within Norway’s jurisdiction and is not regulated by the International Seabed Authority.