Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Graham Stuart and Virendra Sharma

Thursday 18th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

What steps she is taking to support (a) small businesses and (b) the self-employed to trade internationally as part of the covid-19 recovery.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade (Graham Stuart)]

I know that the hon. Gentleman will welcome the unprecedented support for businesses and workers, including small businesses and the self-employed, that this Conservative Government have put in place. SMEs are the backbone of our economy and will be at the heart of the Department’s new export strategy as our response to covid-19.

[Mr Sharma [V]]

Do the Government recognise that, aside from covid-19, one of the biggest threats to small businesses in the UK is reaching the end of the transition period with no trade deal? What assessment have they made of the number of SMEs in the UK that would go bust if faced with the toxic combination of covid-19 and a no-deal Brexit in December?

[Graham Stuart]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the importance of SMEs. They need Government support to enter international markets, and that is why the DIT exists. We are not responsible for negotiation with the EU, but we are confident that we will reach a good deal with it. The Department is putting SME chapters in our trade deals with other countries. It is a pity that the Labour party opposes every trade agreement and continually shows its indifference to small business and enterprise, but I am looking to the hon. Gentleman, as he may be able to do what no others have done and lead the shadow Secretary of State away from being an enemy of business and towards supporting it, as he does.