Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Wallis and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 8th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

T8. Does my right hon. Friend agree that to deter foreign states from sponsoring or launching cyber-attacks on the United Kingdom, now is the time, especially considering the recent Russian aggression, to show the world that Britain is willing and able to retaliate?

[Elizabeth Truss]

The UK remains vigilant to cyber-threats and we are ready to defend against them, working closely with our allies to deter, mitigate and attribute malicious cyber-activity. We are being very active in calling out the terrible cyber-activity by the Russian Government, and of course we will consider all levers of power to protect the UK’s security.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Wallis and Elizabeth Truss

Wednesday 7th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to support victims of conversion therapy.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Elizabeth Truss)]

Conversion therapy is an abhorrent practice that this Government will ban. We are launching a consultation in September to ensure the action we take is informed and effective.

[Dr Wallis [V]]

Will my right hon. Friend outline what she is doing to promote LGBT safety not just in the UK but abroad?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his campaigning work on this issue. I am proud that we have announced the UK’s first ever global LGBT conference, Safe To Be Me. It will take place in June next year, and it will bring the world together to end persecution, violence and discrimination against LGBT people everywhere.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Wallis and Elizabeth Truss

Thursday 3rd September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to engage with businesses as part of free trade agreement negotiations.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss)]

This Government are committed to engaging business and farmers in our trade negotiations. Last Wednesday, I announced the creation of 11 new trade advisory groups to ensure that trade deals benefit the whole UK, from agriculture to the car industry.

[Dr Wallis]

I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests and thank my right hon. Friend for her answer. In my Bridgend constituency, the Ford factory is imminently to close and we hear that we may not be getting a much hoped for investment from Ineos, so our local economy is more dependent on small and medium-sized enterprises than ever before. What steps is her Department taking to engage with SMEs in particular to find out what they need as we negotiate free trade agreements with the rest of the world?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We have engaged with SMEs directly, and we are also working through organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chambers of Commerce. What we are committed to is negotiating dedicated SME chapters in our trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to give our fantastic small businesses greater access to those markets.