Oral Answers to Questions

Alexander Stafford Excerpts

Thursday 25th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)]

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on trade priorities for the UK’s G7 presidency.

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on trade priorities for the UK’s G7 presidency.

[Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on trade priorities for the UK’s G7 presidency.

--- Later in debate ---

[Elizabeth Truss]

Under the trade track, there will be an opportunity for G7 democracies to work together to help to reform free and fair global trade and shape a bold vision for recovery. In particular, we want to make progress on key issues such as challenging unfair industrial subsidies, dealing with carbon leakage and promoting digital trade.

[Alexander Stafford [V]]

A key plank of the UK’s future trade strategy must be dedicated to securing our supply of critical minerals, which are vitally important components in the next generation of green renewables and communications equipment. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that in the run-up to the G7 summit, we must take urgent action, first, to work with allies to form a stable, reliable and independent coalition for the mining and processing of critical minerals and, secondly, to bolster the British critical minerals industry for domestic use and for exports?

[Elizabeth Truss]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. We need to work with allies to make sure we have resilient supply chains of critical minerals and are not reliant on high-risk vendors. That is a priority for this Government, and that is why we are leading Project Defend. I was delighted to see Cornish Lithium for myself on a visit to Cornwall last autumn. Not only will that help us make sure that we have this critical supply of minerals, but it will boost jobs and growth in a very important part of our country.