Oral Answers to Questions

Geraint Davies Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Ms Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) (Lab)]

What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights in future trade deals.

[Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)]

What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights in future trade deals.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on inserting clauses on human rights in future trade deals.

--- Later in debate ---

[Geraint Davies [V]]

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. The English-speaking population in Cameroon faces mass killings, atrocities and torture. As we have heard, the US has now invoked trade sanctions, but the UK has signed a trade deal without parliamentary approval. So can I ask: has the EU’s essential rights clause now been removed from all future trade deals, so that abuses, however abhorrent and widespread, will now be supported by the British economy through secret deals, thereby taking control back from Parliament and giving it to those with blood on their hands?

[Mr Jayawardena]

I am not entirely sure what the hon. Gentleman is referring to in respect of secret deals. This is an agreement that the EU had originally. We have continued an agreement here to provide certainty to businesses in both countries and to date the EU has not taken measures against Cameroon—I know how fond he is of the EU.