Oral Answers to Questions

George Hollingbery Excerpts

Tuesday 17th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mark Simmonds]

The International Criminal Court deserves our full and unconditional support. My hon. Friend has made the important point that the people who are responsible for crimes such as those that have been reported in the CAR and elsewhere must be brought to justice. I think that the move by the interim president is significant and welcome, especially as the CAR is not able to prosecute domestically, and further demonstrates the value that African countries ascribe to the ICC.

[George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) (Con)]

7. What progress his Department has made on the GREAT campaign overseas.

[Michael Ellis (Northampton North) (Con)]

8. What progress his Department has made on the GREAT campaign overseas.

[The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Hugo Swire)]

The GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign is now deployed in 144 countries in support of jobs and growth for the United Kingdom. We expect activity conducted in 2013-14 to deliver between £600 million and £800 million to the British economy, and the target for this financial year is £1 billion.

[George Hollingbery]

It is also interesting to note that the value of the top 50 brands in the UK has increased to £37 billion over the past year, and that some of that is attributable to the GREAT campaign. Can my hon. Friend confirm that the campaign has the support of all three main parties, and that the Government intend it to continue?

[Mr Swire]

Having subjected the campaign to an independent assessment, we intend to commit ourselves to continuing it, and to increasing our support by 50% over the next two years. It is worth pointing out that trade activities related to the campaign have supported the export plans of more than 1,150 United Kingdom companies. By any measure, it is hugely successful: one might even go so far as to say that it is a great initiative.