Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to include human rights clauses in trade agreements.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. This work takes place separately to negotiations on Free Trade Agreements.
While aspects of trade policy can provide the opportunity to address other issues in our bilateral relationships, Free Trade Agreements are not generally the most effective or targeted tool to advance human rights issues.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 on Question 11149 on Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny, if he will announce his plans for scrutiny arrangements of trade deals prior to the conclusion of the negotiations of those deals.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government will continue to fulfil commitments set out under the current scrutiny framework for free trade agreements (FTAs).
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to his Answer on 24 October 2024 to Question 8573 on Trade, if he will publish his trade strategy prior to the conclusion of trade negotiations.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As recently outlined in the Chancellors budget, we intend to publish the Trade Strategy in the Spring.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10718 on Trade Agreements, what opportunities he plans to provide to parliamentarians to scrutinise proposed free trade agreements.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As well as meeting our statutory obligations under CRaG, the Government will continue to provide additional information and time to support parliamentary scrutiny of FTAs. This includes running a call for evidence on proposed new negotiations, publishing negotiating objectives and publishing regular updates throughout negotiations. Following signature of a new FTA, the Government will publish the full treaty text along with an Impact Assessment and explanatory memorandum and allow a reasonable period of time for Parliament to consider the agreement before commencing the formal CRaG scrutiny period.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10718 on Trade Agreements, whether he plans to include labour rights protections in prospective trade agreements.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government will protect our labour standards in new trade agreements. To date, we have secured chapters on labour in FTAs with Australia and New Zealand, and within CPTPP. The UK also has labour provisions in a range of other agreements. We will continue to work internationally to strengthen workers’ rights and enhance labour standards globally.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12540 on Trade Agreements: Gulf Cooperation Council, whether his Department has made an assessment of the extent to which the supply chains of Gulf Cooperation Council member states use forced labour.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK remains committed to eradicating forced labour in global supply chains, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, and commitments made through the G7. No company should have forced labour in its supply chains.
Trade deals like the UK-GCC FTA will be aligned with the trade and industrial strategies. This Government is committed to working with international partners to ensure global supply chains are free from human and labour rights abuses.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help promote the growth of independent brewers in Wokingham constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government will consult on ways to ensure that independent brewers can retain and expand their access to UK pubs, and maximise drinkers’ choice, including through provisions to enable ‘guest beers’.
In recognition of the economic and cultural importance of pubs, and the wider “on trade”, the Government is reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products – approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This represents an overall reduction in duty bills of over £85m a year.
This Government remains committed to helping small businesses and independent brewers thrive and will be publishing our Small Business Strategy next year. This will set out our vision for all small businesses, from boosting scale-ups to growing the co-operative economy. Support is also available via the Business Support Service, Gov.uk and the network of local Growth Hubs across England. The Government-backed British Business Bank also improves access to finance to help businesses grow.
Businesses who want to start exporting or expand into new markets can access support through our digital GREAT.gov.uk platform and Export Support Service. We are supporting businesses to build their exporting knowledge and capability through our online Export Academy programme and series of ‘peer to peer’ networking events around the UK.
Additionally, The Department for Business and Trade has a network of international trade advisers offering one to one support across England including Wokingham where we directly support three local craft breweries in the area.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase competition in the (a) pub and (b) breweries sector in Wokingham constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that competition drives better consumer outcomes, productivity, innovation and, ultimately, economic growth. The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK’s independent competition authority charged with upholding and promoting competition.
The Government wants to work with the hospitality industry, including the pub sector, to identify the barriers to small brewers accessing their local markets, particularly where there is consumer demand, for example in tourist areas, and to look at options for overcoming those barriers. The Government will also consult on ways to encourage small brewers to retain and expand their access to UK pubs, maximising drinkers’ choice and local economies, including through provisions to enable more ‘guest beers’
Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to increase the variety of ownership amongst large breweries in the public sector.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that competition drives better consumer outcomes, productivity, innovation and, ultimately, economic growth. The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK’s independent competition authority charged with upholding and promoting competition.
The Government wants to work with the hospitality industry, including the pub sector, to identify the barriers to brewers accessing their local markets, particularly where there is consumer demand, for example in tourist areas, and to look at options for overcoming those barriers.
Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to require the Board of Trade to produce an annual trade report which assesses the UK's trade policy developments.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade is currently reviewing the Board of Trade and a decision on appointments and future direction of the Board will be made soon.