Oral Answers to Questions

Kate Osborne Excerpts
Thursday 8th October 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Greg Hands Portrait Greg Hands
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The UK is a different economy from Malaysia, and the UK has never lost a an investor dispute case through the investor-state dispute settlement. Secondly, Government procurement is a huge opportunity for this country. Just yesterday, we were delighted to see our accession to the World Trade Organisation’s Government procurement agreement, as a sure way to make sure that Government procurement remains open for UK businesses and UK procurers. A bit like the SNP, I have checked the hon. Gentleman’s record on CPTPP and he has opposed doing the deals. He voted against on Singapore, abstained on Japan and even went further than his Labour colleagues in voting against CETA—the comprehensive economic and trade agreement—taking effect. A bit like the SNP, he is trying to find fault in an agreement that he has no intention of supporting, at any point.

Kate Osborne Portrait Kate Osborne (Jarrow) (Lab)
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What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on the inclusion of human rights clauses in future trade agreements.

Janet Daby Portrait Janet Daby (Lewisham East) (Lab)
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What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on the inclusion of human rights clauses in future trade agreements.

Greg Hands Portrait The Minister for Trade Policy (Greg Hands)
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This Government have a strong history of promoting our values globally. Although our approach to agreements will vary between partners, our strong economic relationships allow us to have open discussions on a range of issues, including human rights. We will not compromise our high standards in trade agreements.

Kate Osborne Portrait Kate Osborne
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The Government have listed 20 countries and one trading bloc where negotiations are ongoing about rolling over existing EU trade deals beyond 31 December. Are human rights part of those discussions? Will the Minister guarantee the inclusion of human rights clauses in any eventual deals reached with those countries?

Greg Hands Portrait Greg Hands
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We have been absolutely clear throughout the continuity trade deal programme that there will be no diminution of UK standards, and that also applies to human rights. We will make sure that our strong, proud record on human rights—we are a world leader in ensuring and guaranteeing human rights—continues throughout all the continuity trade programme.