Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK has sold weapons or defensive arms to Serbia in the last three years; and whether the UK plans to sell weapons or defensive arms to Serbia in the next two years.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) on export licences granted, refused and revoked to all destinations: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. These reports contain detailed information, including the overall value, the type (e.g. Military, Other), and a summary of the items covered by these licences.
All future export licence applications received will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. These Criteria are one of the means by which we implement a range of international legal commitments including the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant rules of international law.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in the context of the US Commerce Department's recently launched investigation into Chinese solar suppliers for tariff circumnavigation, if the Government will (a) launch a similar investigation and (b) take steps to ensure that Chinese suppliers operating in the UK do so legally and without circumnavigation.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducts trade remedy investigations, including on the circumvention of existing anti-dumping or countervailing measures. The UK did not transition the EU’s anti-dumping measure on solar glass, due to a lack of evidence that it was necessary. As there is no existing measure in place on solar products from China, the TRA cannot launch a similar circumvention review.
The TRA can undertake new reviews, so if domestic industry have concerns that they are being impacted by dumping, including on the dumping of solar products, they can contact the TRA’s pre-application office at contact@traderemedies.gov.uk
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether Hikvision CCTV or other surveillance software or equipment from Hikvision, is used on any property owned or administered by her Department.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
It is not government policy to comment on security procedures in government buildings.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the export of UK higher education is a priority sector in future trade negotiations; and whether (a) research collaboration and (b) student exchanges will be included in those negotiations.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Department for International Trade (DIT) recognises that higher education is a significant export for the United Kingdom, bringing value in the collaboration and partnerships they foster, and helping to forge deep global relationships. These underpin opportunities for the United Kingdom and our international partners to develop, trade and work together.
HM Government is exploring to what extent our trade negotiations could support trade in education services. This may include collaboration in science, research and innovation as appropriate. DIT will continue to work across government and with other interested parties to make sure our trade negotiations represent the sector’s interests.