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Written Question
Business: Wales
Thursday 21st July 2022

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the Welsh Government on supporting Welsh businesses at Hannover Messe 2022.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I have not had any discussions with the Welsh Government regarding supporting Welsh businesses at Hannover Messe.


Written Question
Overseas Investment and Trade Agreements: Indigenous People
Thursday 10th March 2022

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that protecting (a) the environment and (b) the human rights of indigenous communities are embedded in future trade and investment agreements.

Answered by Ranil Jayawardena

HM Government is committed to upholding rights and responsibilities around the world, which guide our international policy, including our approach to trade.

We are protecting the environment through our recently signed trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, which go beyond precedent. They preserve our right to regulate to meet net zero, affirm our shared commitment to the Paris Agreement and seek to cooperate on a range of environmental issues.


Written Question
Olympic Games: Beijing
Tuesday 23rd November 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what guidance her Department is providing to UK businesses on sponsorship of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) does not get involved with sponsorship discussions as this is a commercial matter for companies that may wish to choose to sponsor or become an official partner or supplier of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. DIT, along with the British Embassy in Beijing, offers trade advice and support to UK companies seeking to pursue export opportunities, including those which might arise from the organisation of the 2022 Winter Olympics.


Written Question
Balance of Payments: Republic of Ireland
Tuesday 6th July 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to improve the balance of payments between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for International Trade actively seeks out business opportunities in Ireland for firms across the United Kingdom to help increase market share. The Government continuously identifies supply lines in Ireland that match UK expertise in key sectors like Offshore Wind, Construction and Infrastructure, Life Sciences and Maritime/Aviation Services. The Government works closely with existing and new exporters, provides market access support and helps companies win contracts, which in turn generates new revenue for the United Kingdom.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Wales
Tuesday 29th June 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2021 to Question 17695 on Investment and Trade: Wales, what her Department’s allocated budget is for the (a) establishment and (b) running of the proposed trade and investment hub in Scotland.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The budget allocated to the Department for International Trade (DIT) Scotland hub for the current financial year is £714,394 to cover staff pay for the initial team. We expect costs to increase as our delivery progresses under the Places for Growth programme, which will see DIT grow its presence in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Darlington. The budget allocated for running the DIT Scotland hub in future years will be determined after the upcoming spending review has concluded.


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 29th June 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2021 to Question 17695 on Investment and Trade: Wales, what her Department’s allocated budget is for the (a) establishment and (b) running of the proposed trade and investment hub in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The budget allocated to the Department for International Trade (DIT) Northern Ireland hub for the current financial year is £366,138 to cover staff pay for the initial team. We expect costs to increase as our delivery progresses under the Places for Growth programme, which will see DIT grow its presence in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Darlington. The budget allocated for running the DIT Northern Ireland hub in future years will be determined after the upcoming spending review has concluded.


Written Question
Investment and Trade: Wales
Tuesday 22nd June 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what her Departments allocated budget is for the (a) establishment, and (b) running of the proposed trade and investment hub in Wales.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The budget allocated to the Department for International Trade (DIT) Wales hub for the current financial year is £419k, to cover staff pay for the initial team. We expect costs to increase as our delivery progresses under the Places for Growth programme, which will see the DIT grow its presence in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Darlington. The budget allocated for running the DIT Wales hub in future years will be determined after the upcoming spending review has concluded.


Written Question
Trade: Wales
Monday 19th April 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department has taken to support the Welsh Government’s trade responsibilities established through the 2013 Devolution Memorandum of Understanding.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The 2013 MoU states that HMG has lead responsibility for the provision of support and assistance to new and existing exporters and outward investors both at home and overseas, and for promoting the UK to foreign investors. The Welsh Government is responsible for devising and implementing additional programmes to meet the particular needs of companies in Wales and for promoting Wales to foreign investors.

We are dedicated to providing the best possible trade and investment support for all nations of the United Kingdom. Last month, we announced a new Trade and Investment Hub in Cardiff as part of a new strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK, including benefits from future free trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP. My colleague, the Minister of State for Trade Policy, holds regular bilateral meetings with his Welsh counterpart as well as the quarterly Ministerial Forum for Trade.

In 2020 more than 56,000 jobs were created throughout the UK through foreign investment, including 2,736 new jobs in Wales. Our free trade agreements will significantly benefit exporters in Wales. For example, indicative estimates show that an ambitious UK-US FTA could boost the economy in Wales by £154m.


Written Question
Investment and Trade: Wales
Thursday 15th April 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department conducted an impact assessment on the establishment of a Trade and Investment Hub in Cardiff.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

No impact assessment was conducted on the establishment of a Trade and Investment Hub in Cardiff. Government-led research included in a Board of Trade report published in March showed exports support 6.5m jobs across the UK, 74% of which are outside London. The research estimates jobs directly and indirectly supported by exports pay around 7% higher than the national median, with Office for National Statistics estimating that goods-exporting businesses are also 21% more productive. Exports and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will be central to this Government’s mission to ‘level up’ the UK economy. Given this context, the Trade and Investment Hubs in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Darlington will be established as part of the Department for International Trade’s refreshed strategy to boost exports and bring the benefits of the government’s global trade policy to the whole of the UK.
Written Question
Investment and Trade: Wales
Tuesday 13th April 2021

Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she had with the Welsh Government prior to the announcement of a Trade and Investment Hub in Cardiff.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) works closely with the devolved administrations on our full trade agenda. This includes regular ministerial engagement through the Ministerial Forum for Trade, which takes place at least 3 times a year and which met most recently on March 18th.

DIT also runs a substantial programme of senior official-level engagement which includes Welsh Government colleagues, for example through our Senior Officials Group and Executive Forum.