Russia: Sanctions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Luke Evans

Monday 31st January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I have already given the steps that Her Majesty’s Treasury and the Ministry of Justice are taking on the issues that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. The sanctions regime is under direct Foreign Office control. That is why we are taking action as soon as we can, by 10 February, to get these sanctions in place so that we can exercise them in the event of an incursion.

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for her announcement on sanctions. She said in her statement that the UK will join discussions at the UN Security Council to apply further pressure on Russia. Could she explain what she hopes to gain out of this and what success would look like?

[Elizabeth Truss]

Russia is a member of the permanent Security Council and needs to be held to account for its aggressive actions with respect to Ukraine.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Luke Evans

Wednesday 22nd July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. [R]

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth Truss)]

I have been clear that the Government are committed to tackling the abhorrent practice of so-called gay-conversion therapy in the UK. As the Prime Minister reiterated earlier this week, this practice has no place in civilised society. Our action will be determined by research looking at how best to define conversion therapy, the scale of the issue, where it is happening and who it is happening to. When that research is complete, I will bring forward proposals to ban conversion therapy, making sure that our measures are effective so that no innocent people have to endure such tortuous practices.

[Dr Evans [V]]

As we approach to the summer holiday recess, it looks like we all need it. With that in mind, what steps are the Government taking to tackle the effects of body-image issues on young people? Will the Minister meet me to consider the merits of a law that requires a logo to be displayed if an image of a human body or body part has been digitally altered in its proportions?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are working closely with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the issue of body image and its impact on young people. I would be happy to organise a meeting, possibly with those Ministers who are leading on the issue. I also welcome the work that the Women and Equalities Committee is doing on the subject.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Luke Evans

Thursday 18th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to ensure that UK farmers are able to sell their products into global markets under future free trade agreements.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss)]

We are determined to remove barriers so that more of our fantastic British produce can be sold internationally. We have now become a net dairy exporter for the first time in recent years. A US-UK FTA can reduce tariffs of, for example, 26% on beef and more than 25% on some dairy products.

[Dr Evans [V]]

Some of my constituents in Bosworth have written to me concerned about food standards. What discussions is my right hon. Friend having with DEFRA regarding the Food Standards Agency to guarantee that the agency is fully supported to ensure and enforce that our food standards are up to scratch in our new trade deals as they come to fruition?

[Elizabeth Truss]

It is very important to note that we are not going to be lowering our food standards in any of our trade negotiations. British food standards—or certainly those in England and Wales—are a matter for the Food Standards Agency, and it is down to the agency to ensure that standards are upheld. Those standards are also in UK law, transferred as part of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, so they are guaranteed, and the Food Standards Agency is an independent body designed to ensure that they are upheld.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Elizabeth Truss and Luke Evans

Thursday 23rd January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I know that the employment Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies), has already agreed to meet the hon. Lady to talk about this issue. She is absolutely right that opportunities to start one’s own business are particularly good for people who need additional freedom and flexibility. I commend the scheme that the hon. Lady is running.

[Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth) (Con)]

11. What steps the Government are taking to support women in (a) Bosworth constituency and (b) the UK who experience domestic violence.