Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to support young people in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes into employment, education or training.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
The Growth and Skills Levy’s £725 million investment will deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities. Young people will benefit from:
50,000 young people across the country will be better equipped for jobs of the future through a major investment to create more apprenticeships and training courses.
As this programme is across Great Britian, my hon. Friend will be assured that it will have an effect on his constituency.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the UK (i) public and (ii) private finance commitments for renewable energy projects in Africa since launch of the Africa Approach.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) setting out the Government's new Approach to Africa.
The statement recognised that despite its abundant natural resources, Africa has the lowest levels of modern energy access, and the UK is working with the World Bank and African Development Bank to address that issue. We will provide further updates on implementation of initiatives arising from that work.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of African countries with strategic economic development priorities that align with the UK’s Africa Approach.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to monitor implementation of the Africa Approach across Government departments.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) setting out the Government's new Approach to Africa.
The statement recognised that despite its abundant natural resources, Africa has the lowest levels of modern energy access, and the UK is working with the World Bank and African Development Bank to address that issue. We will provide further updates on implementation of initiatives arising from that work.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to align the Africa Approach with multilateral development banks’ capitalisation cycles.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to co-ordinate the Africa Approach with the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government's new Africa Approach was the subject of extensive consultation with African countries, multilateral institutions and others. The priorities set out in the statement published on 15 December (UIN HCWS1168) reflect the feedback received during that consultation process, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uks-new-approach-to-africa-summary-of-consultation
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to monitor use of investment dispute resolution mechanisms under the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA, including a modernised and transparent ISDS mechanism, will protect investors in both markets, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. This enhances the certainty investors need to make investments, which is crucial for economic growth. We have concluded negotiations but have yet to reach signature, let alone ratification. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor the utilisation of the FTA by businesses.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the investment provisions of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement on UK outward investment to the Republic of Korea.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The updated investment provisions in the UK-Republic of Korea FTA will protect investors, ensuring fair, adequate and non-discriminatory treatment for both UK businesses investing in the Republic of Korea and Korean businesses investing in the UK. We believe the commitments will help provide certainty, incentivising investment and driving economic growth. We will publish a full assessment of the economic impact of the UK-Korea FTA when the agreement is formally signed.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and financial regulators on implementation of the financial services chapter of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Engagement between the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has focused on key aims for the UK-Republic of Korea FTA. HM Treasury officials, who negotiated financial services provisions, have engaged regularly with UK financial regulators throughout.
The Department for Business and Trade will lead on implementing the agreement, with input from HMT officials on financial services provisions. The Financial Services chapter contains consultation provisions which provide a formal mechanism for the UK Government – including, where appropriate, representatives from its financial regulators - to discuss implementation of these commitments with the Republic of Korea.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has identified sector-specific barriers to UK investment in the Republic of Korea since conclusion of the UK–Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Throughout this negotiation we have sought to address current and future barriers, impacting both goods and services trade. Once the agreement enters into force, DBT will, in line with standard practice, monitor trade and investment flows to assess the impact of the new agreement. This will include seeking to identify any new and emerging sector-specific barriers affecting UK investment in the Republic of Korea.