Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many full-time staff are employed by the Maritime Capability Campaign Office.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Maritime Capability Campaign Office (MCCO) was launched on 10 March 2022 to support maritime exports and investment opportunities. We are still in the process of recruiting to the MCCO but as of 27 June 2022 the MCCO employed 17 full-time staff and 5 part-time staff.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much money from the public purse has so far been allocated to the Maritime Capability Campaign Office.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Maritime Capability Campaign Office (MCCO) was launched on 10 March 2022, to support maritime exports and investment opportunities. The MCCO's spend for 2021/22 financial year was £1.432m this was to carry out initial development work. The MCCO has been allocated an additional £10.569m for 2021/2025 subject to approval of a full business case. This business case is currently under review by HM Treasury.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what criteria her Department plans to use to assess the success of the Open General Export Licence with India for defence procurement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
We are continuing to work with relevant departments on the Open General Export Licence announced by my Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister, at the press conference with India’s Prime Minister Modi on 22nd April 2022.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her department is taking to increase trade between the UK and Israel.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has committed to enhancing and improving the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement. The United Kingdom published a Call for Input on February 1st to hear the views of businesses and wider society on how to improve our £4.8 billion trade relationship. Israel is one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative economies and this will be a first step in strengthening our trade relationship even further.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the export value of the Type 26 frigate in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Type 26/Global Combat Ship is a formidable design with significant potential for export. Australia and Canada have both selected a variant of the T26 for their anti-submarine frigate programmes, which is expected to result in substantial economic and security benefits. However, as the commercial arrangements are ongoing, the Department for International Trade is not yet able to provide the requested export value.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the value has been of defence exports to Chile in the last 20 years, by export.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Although defence and security export statistics by region are published annually on GOV.UK. they do not separately identify data relating to individual countries.
For the period, 2001 to 2020, the value of UK defence exports to Latin America are estimated at around £1.56Bn.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government's accession to the WTO's Agreement on Government Procurement includes an exemption to UK shipbuilding.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The procurement of ships, boats and floating structures is covered under Annex 4 of the UK’s schedules of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Government Procurement. This is provided no other exceptions apply.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support UK maritime businesses to attend overseas trade shows.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) provides businesses with information on overseas trade shows and helps facilitate their attendance by organising DIT stands, leading targeted trade missions and linking potential buyers, investors and decision-makers to UK companies who attend these events. DIT can also cover the associated costs of setting up activities such as workshops, presentations, and networking dinners.
DIT remains in contact with other government departments and key stakeholders, such as Maritime UK, to discuss future arrangements to help UK businesses continue to attend international trade shows.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions her Department has held with relevant stakeholders on (a) the cessation of the Tradeshow Access Programme and (b) a replacement scheme for the Tradeshow Access Programme.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A range of trade associations were consulted last summer by Department for International Trade (DIT) officials on plans for a revised trade show support programme. DIT will announce further details when discussions with HM Treasury are concluded.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support her Department is providing to maritime SMEs participating in international export activity.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK maritime sector is export intensive and contributed £12 billion to the UK’s total exports in 2017. The Department for International Trade (DIT) is supporting maritime small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach their exporting potential with a range of schemes. The Department recently launched the Internationalisation Fund. The fund, part of the Government’s Export Growth Plan and supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), offers eligible SMEs in England between £1,000 - £9,000 in matched funding to help overcome barriers to grow their overseas trading and strengthen their business. This is in addition to a suite of practical, promotional and financial initiatives from DIT to boost exports right across the economy including the Export Academy. DIT is also supporting maritime SMEs through engagement with industry stakeholders and events aimed at enabling companies to export more.