Oral Answers to Questions

Felicity Buchan Excerpts

Thursday 16th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mike Freer]

If there is such great export potential, I am surprised that the member of the Scottish Government who, let us not say has responsibility for exports, because we have been there before, but who does specific work on exports, has not raised it with me. I look forward to that conversation when I go up to Scotland, but if this is such a barrier, I urge the Scottish Government to discuss it with the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change.

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

2. What recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on increasing (a) trade with and (b) foreign direct investment from India.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

15. What recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on increasing (a) trade with and (b) foreign direct investment from India.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade (Mr Ranil Jayawardena)]

Mr Speaker, I should also like to associate myself with your comments about our colleague Jo Cox.

Our trading relationship with India was worth over £24 billion last year, and we are already India’s top investment destination in Europe. We have had many discussions and remain determined to create more good jobs and boost wages across Britain. Together, we are bulldozing trade barriers and—from Scotch whisky to Welsh lamb and medical devices—I think we all know that a trade deal will take our relationship even further.

[Felicity Buchan]

My constituency of Kensington has strong links with India. We have the oldest gurdwara in the whole of Europe, the Khalsa Jatha, and we also have the residency of the Indian high commission. Indeed, on Sunday I will be with the Indian high commissioner in Holland Park launching International Yoga Day. Everyone is welcome to attend. [Laughter.] Can my hon. Friend explain to the House how a trade agreement with India can benefit the whole of the UK?

[Mr Jayawardena]

I may not be sufficiently flexible to attend and to join the high commissioner on International Yoga Day, but it is wonderful to hear of my hon. Friend’s collaboration.

Following the Prime Minister’s visit to India in April, British and Indian businesses have confirmed more than £1 billion of new investment and export deals in areas from software engineering to health, and this has created almost 11,000 jobs across the country, including in Edinburgh, Leeds, Northumberland and York. This illustrates how investment and a trade deal will continue to bolster our levelling-up agenda to the benefit of the whole of the United Kingdom.