Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Daniel Zeichner

Thursday 15th April 2021 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I would be delighted to engage with the local Indian community in Ipswich and across the country, because I think we have huge opportunities to expand our trade with India. It is currently £24 billion, but it could be so much more. We are currently working on an enhanced trade partnership with the Indian Government and I look forward to engaging with my hon. Friend and the people of Ipswich to make it happen.

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

May I ask the Secretary of State if she understands the frustration of the Cheshire Cheese Company, whose co-founder, I understand, spoke to officials in her Department before Easter about the problems that they are facing exporting to the EU? Extraordinarily, instead of being given advice on how to fix the problem, they were advised to look for other emerging markets. Given the Secretary of State’s infamous passion for cheese, will she tell us whether her departmental officials could not have done better?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I am very happy to help the cheese company export not just to the EU, but around the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Daniel Zeichner

Thursday 14th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)[V]]

Data is the lifeblood of modern economies, but the data provisions in the UK-Japan deal, which Ministers have been boasting about this morning, make it less likely that the EU will grant us the vital adequacy agreement that our researchers and businesses need in just a few months. So can Ministers explain how these contradictions are to be resolved?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I observe to the hon. Gentleman that Japan has data adequacy with the EU and it is also part of the comprehensive and progressive trans-Pacific partnership, which has a strong digital and data chapter. So it is absolutely reasonable that we should be able to have both and be successful.

ONS Decisions: Student Loans

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Daniel Zeichner

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

As I have said, the Government no longer mark their own homework on these issues. It is down to the independent OBR to produce that forecast.

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

The terms of reference for the Augar review say that

“its recommendations must be consistent with the Government’s fiscal policies to reduce the deficit and have debt falling as a percentage of GDP.”

Is it not absolutely clear that this ONS reclassification reduces the resources available to further and higher education?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I have been very clear that this decision, which is fundamentally an accounting decision, will not affect the outcome of the review.

Exiting the EU: Costs

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Daniel Zeichner

Wednesday 29th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I assure my hon. Friend that that consideration is part of our discussions.

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

Before making a big decision, it is generally sensible to inquire about the price. Most people will be staggered to learn that the average household in this country will be asked to stump up between £2,000 and £3,000 to pay for this. What plans do the Government have to tell people about the bill they are facing and to ask them whether they think it is a good use of their money?

[Elizabeth Truss]

The hon. Gentleman needs to look at both sides of the account, because we will not be paying ongoing vast sums into the EU as we are at the moment. He needs to look at the big picture.