Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to apply to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Pursuing potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a priority for the HM Government and is a key part of our trade negotiations programme. We have engaged with all eleven member countries, at both ministerial and official level. Most recently, on 9th September 2020, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade addressed a United Kingdom-CPTPP Senior Officials’ meeting and all CPTPP members have welcomed our interest in accession. Prior to that, on 10th July 2020, the Secretary of State convened Heads of Mission from all CPTPP countries to discuss the United Kingdom’s potential accession. We will continue to engage all members as we consider our application, an approach that aligns with the accession process for new CPTPP members, which encourages countries to engage informally with every CPTPP member.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what agreement they have reached with Tony Abbott in relation to expenses, including (1) travel, (2) accommodation, and (3) support, in connection with his role at the Board of Trade.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
All Board of Trade appointments are voluntary, unpaid roles. In line with departmental policy, the Department for International Trade will reimburse all reasonable expenses (including travel, subsistence and other expenses) properly and necessarily incurred in respect of Board of Trade appointments. All travel and hotel bookings are signed off by department officials in line with departmental policy.
Attendance at Board of Trade meetings may also be via online platforms.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what remuneration package they have proposed to Tony Abbott in connection with his proposed membership of the Board of Trade.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Membership of the Board, and the role of Adviser to the Board, is not paid. Members may have their reasonable travel costs reimbursed following each meeting. All expenses which are incurred will be published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether contracts between Quintissentially and (1) the Department for International Trade, and (2) any other Government department or agency, required details of the people who received goods and services under the contracts; and whether any goods or services were specifically excluded from those contracts.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for International Trade always requires the details of the people receiving the goods and services delivered through the Quintessentially contract. The goods and services supplied under the contract are provided in the contract schedule which are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts Finder is a Government website which is used for the publication of contract opportunities and contract awards. It is Government policy to publish all contracts over £10,000 further details of Contracts Finder and of the Quintessentially contract may be found here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice0ccf6274-6878-4ad0a106-94a723595cbb.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the names of the foreign investors introduced to the Department of International Trade by Quintessentially; and what venues were used for such introductions.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for International Trade meets multiple foreign investors on a weekly basis. Our investors seek the ability to pursue and implement their investment strategy confidentially. We work within GDPR guidelines and respect the commercially sensitive nature of our work.
We use Government venues for meetings and engagements wherever possible to showcase the UK’s heritage and ensure value for money. We also seek to secure partnerships and sponsorship to ensure public expenditure is minimised.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries have free trade agreements with the EU but have not yet signed such agreements with the UK.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
The Government recently updated the House on our progress to achieve continuity of our existing free trade agreements, and I refer the noble Lord to the Government’s written statement published on 21 February 2019.We will continue to inform the House as soon as further agreements are signed.
You can find a list of all the EU’s Free Trade Agreements here: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/negotiations-and-agreements/
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to establish a scheme to retrain as trade negotiators people with experience of high level intergovernmental and global institutional practice.
Answered by Lord Price
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has created the Department for International Trade, which is responsible for promoting British trade across the world and ensuring the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We are building up our trade policy capability. The Department has begun a process to recruit and train staff to work on the UK’s trade policy. We will adapt the resource devoted to trade policy in line with future demands.