To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Trade Agreements: Faroe Islands
Tuesday 27th September 2022

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what legal advice she has received on whether the Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands (CP 32) presented to Parliament in February 2019 is compatible with the UK’s commitments to protecting animal welfare and in particular with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021.

Answered by James Duddridge

We have not received legal advice on this matter.


Written Question
Wool: Exports
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has identified potential growth markets for British wool exports; and what steps she is taking to increase British wool exports to those markets.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.


Written Question
Wool: Exports
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans her Department has to increase British wool exports.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.


Written Question
Wool: Exports
Monday 25th October 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps she has taken to promote British wool exports overseas.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.


Written Question
Tradeshow Access Programme: Wales
Friday 16th July 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions her Department has had with the Welsh Government on (a) the cancellation of and (b) a replacement scheme for the Tradeshow Access Programme.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A range of stakeholders have been, and continue to be, engaged by Department for International Trade (DIT) officials on plans for a revised trade show support programme, and DIT will announce further details when discussions with HM Treasury are concluded.

DIT Ministers and officials engage regularly with the Devolved Administrations, including the Welsh Government, on a wide range of trade and investment support available across the UK.


Written Question
Trade Fairs: Shipping
Friday 16th July 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support her Department is providing to UK maritime businesses to attend overseas trade shows.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I refer the Hon. Member for Ceredigion to the answer I gave to the Rt Hon. Member for North Durham on 16 July 2021, UIN: 28979.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Australia
Tuesday 22nd June 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2021 to Question 10566 on Trade Agreements: Australia, if she will publish her Department’s assessment of the impact of the UK-Australia trade deal on future EU imports into the UK of (a) beef and (b) lamb.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Following the conclusion of negotiations, a full impact assessment will be published prior to scrutiny by Parliament.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Australia
Monday 14th June 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of a free trade agreement with Australia on farmers and food producers in Wales.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The economic analysis, published on 17 June 2020, seeks to identify the potential scale of the long-term additional benefit to the UK from having a deal with Australia.

This deal is for the whole union. The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Scoping Assessment found that Wales benefits in all modelled scenarios. Welsh foods and drinks producers will benefit from the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Any deal the Government signs with Australia will include protections for the agriculture industry and will not undercut UK farmers or compromise high standards.

DIT is establishing a trade hub in Wales as part of a new strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the Government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK. Providing exporters with a direct feed into UK trade policy, to take better advantage of opportunities in fast-growing markets like the Indo-Pacific region.


Written Question
Agricultural Products: Australia
Monday 14th June 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential cumulative effect on UK emissions of providing (a) duty-free and (b) tariff-free access to agricultural goods from Australia.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government has always been clear that any free trade agreement it signs will not threaten the UK’s ability to meet its environmental commitments or its membership of international environmental agreements. The Government is seeking a deal with Australia that will further environmental and climate policy priorities and the UK will not compromise on high environmental protection.

The Government carried out a public consultation and scoping assessment for its free trade agreement negotiation with Australia, which can be found on the Government’s website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-approach-to-negotiating-a-free-trade-agreement-with-australia/uk-australia-free-trade-agreement-the-uks-strategic-approach). This preliminary scoping assessment considered illustrative scenarios. Following the conclusion of negotiations, a full impact assessment will be published prior to implementation.


Written Question
Trade Agreements: Australia
Monday 14th June 2021

Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of a free trade agreement with Australia on (a) Ceredigion and (b) Wales.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The economic analysis, published on 17 June 2020, seeks to identify the potential scale of the long-term additional benefit to the UK from having a deal with Australia.

This deal is for the whole union. The Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Scoping Assessment found that Wales benefits in all modelled scenarios. Top Welsh goods exports to Australia, including medicinal and pharmaceutical products, currently face tariffs of up to 5%, and will benefit from the liberalisation of tariffs on these products. Welsh foods and drinks producers will also benefit from the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers.

DIT is establishing a trade hub in Wales as part of a new strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK. Providing exporters with a direct feed into UK trade policy, to take better advantage of opportunities in fast-growing markets like the Indo-Pacific region.