Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bridgen Excerpts

Thursday 16th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

2. What recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on increasing (a) trade with and (b) foreign direct investment from India.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

15. What recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on increasing (a) trade with and (b) foreign direct investment from India.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade (Mr Ranil Jayawardena)]

Mr Speaker, I should also like to associate myself with your comments about our colleague Jo Cox.

Our trading relationship with India was worth over £24 billion last year, and we are already India’s top investment destination in Europe. We have had many discussions and remain determined to create more good jobs and boost wages across Britain. Together, we are bulldozing trade barriers and—from Scotch whisky to Welsh lamb and medical devices—I think we all know that a trade deal will take our relationship even further.

[Mr Jayawardena]

I may not be sufficiently flexible to attend and to join the high commissioner on International Yoga Day, but it is wonderful to hear of my hon. Friend’s collaboration.

Following the Prime Minister’s visit to India in April, British and Indian businesses have confirmed more than £1 billion of new investment and export deals in areas from software engineering to health, and this has created almost 11,000 jobs across the country, including in Edinburgh, Leeds, Northumberland and York. This illustrates how investment and a trade deal will continue to bolster our levelling-up agenda to the benefit of the whole of the United Kingdom.

[Andrew Bridgen]

Does the Minister agree that British business should look more towards India than China for future trade relationships given its democratic structure and our historical ties, and what steps are the Government taking to encourage and facilitate that?

[Mr Jayawardena]

The world’s oldest democracy and the world’s biggest are certainly natural partners, and this, alongside our historical ties and thoroughly modern relationship with one of the fastest growing economies in the world, makes India a clear priority trading partner for the United Kingdom. Through the integrated review, we are pursuing deeper engagement with India and other partners across the Indo-Pacific, and I am very keen to continue our work to support those who do so much to champion Anglo-Indian relations.