Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Nigel Huddleston and Eddie Hughes(1 year, 6 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)
Some 70% of our economy is services, so what is the Department doing to reduce barriers in that area and supercharge our global trade in services?
The Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade (Nigel Huddleston)
My hon. Friend raises an important point: more than 70% of our economy is services. Therefore, it is absolutely right that the Department for Business and Trade has a laser focus on services as well as goods, particularly in relation to international deals. Historically, some of those trade agreements have not covered services particularly well. The Secretary of State mentioned the Swiss agreement, which was silent on services. So my hon. Friend is absolutely right about this, and we have a hitlist of barriers we are working on. They relate to both goods and services, which are hugely important right across the country, including in his constituency.