Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the financial value was of arms exports to each member of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen since 2015.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) about export licences on GOV.UK. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. Military, Other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.
Bespoke reports (e.g. by country, goods type and for specific timeframes) may also be produced by registering on the Strategic Export Controls Reports and Statistics Website at: https://www.exportcontroldb.trade.gov.uk/sdb2/fox/sdb/SDBHOME
The value of exports licensed in a given period is not necessarily a measure of actual exports shipped in that period. This is because most licences are valid for multiple shipments over two years and export values are only available for a subsection of licences (Standard Individual Export Licences). Some licences expire before they are fully used and in these circumstances exporters must apply for a new (duplicate) licence, which can result in a significant element of double counting in some periods.
All export licences are issued in strict accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will ensure that (a) the NHS and (b) other public services are excluded from future trade deals.
Answered by George Hollingbery
I refer the Honourable Friend for Leicester East to the answer I gave to the Member for Midlothian on 26 February 2019, UIN 224362.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effect of the WTO reforms proposed at the G20 summit in Argentina on UK trade with the EU after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
At their Summit in Buenos Aires on 30 November – 1 December 2018, G20 Leaders agreed to support the necessary reform of the WTO to improve its functioning. The objective of the reform is to strengthen the WTO, which is the foundation on which the vast majority of global trade is conducted. Ensuring a stronger foundation for global trade will also benefit UK trade with the EU after the UK leaves the EU.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent estimate he has made of the level of bi-lateral trade with Sri Lanka.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Total trade in goods and services (i.e. exports plus imports) between the UK and Sri Lanka was £1.2bn in year to end 2018 Q2.
In year to end 2018 Q2, UK exports to Sri Lanka amounted to £317m (a 2.3% increase from year to end 2017 Q2) while UK imports from Sri Lanka were £917m (a 19.0% decrease from year to end 2017 Q2).
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the total value was of UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia in financial year 2017-2018.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government publishes Official Statistics (on a quarterly and annual basis) of licences granted and refused for military exports on GOV.UK, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data
The total value of military rated items, licensed between 1 April 2017 and 31st March 2018, was £894,505,658.
The value of exports licensed in a given period is not necessarily a measure of actual exports shipped in that period. This is because most licences are valid for multiple shipments over two years and export values are only available for a subsection of licences (Standard Individual Export Licences). Some licences expire before they are fully used and in these circumstances exporters must apply for a new (duplicate) licence, which can result in a significant element of double counting in some periods.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK retail sector on the potential implications for that sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Mark Garnier
A responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. Officials from my Department engage regularly with the UK retail sector to understand their trade and investment interests while we are a member of the EU and after we leave the EU.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will review his Department's policy on arms sales to Saudi Arabia following alleged human rights violations in Yemen.
Answered by Mark Garnier
All export licences are issued in strict accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. The framework was announced to parliament by the former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Rt. Hon Member for Twickenham, Sir Vince Cable, as a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 March 2014.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions have been had with the EFTA states on the UK continuing with such an agreement after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is committed to seeking continuity in its current trade and investment relationships, including those covered by EU Free Trade Agreements or other EU preferential arrangements.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure (a) transparency and (b) parliamentary scrutiny of all trade deals concluded by the UK after exiting the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As always, Parliament has a vital role to play in the scrutiny of trade agreements. In the recently published White Paper ‘Preparing for our future UK trade policy’ the government committed to a transparent and inclusive process and we welcome feedback on this.
The Department for International Trade is engaging widely with Parliament and a number of stakeholders, including businesses, trade associations and civil society organisations, to inform our approach to trade as we prepare to leave the EU.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings he has had with representatives of UK arms manufacturers on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Mark Garnier
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has met a number of defence companies since his appointment. The meetings have covered a range of topics, including the UK’s Exit from the European Union.