Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Thursday 21st April 2022 Commons Chamber

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

13. What steps she is taking to ensure that workers’ rights are maintained in all UK trade agreements.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

23. What steps she is taking to help ensure that workers’ rights are maintained in all UK trade agreements.

[The Minister for Trade Policy (Penny Mordaunt)]

Both agreements with Australia and New Zealand commit parties to maintain international labour standards.

[Penny Mordaunt]

The issue is that the unions have not taken up the seat they were offered, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has included dialogue with unions in our trade negotiations at every opportunity—most recently, with the work she has been doing to secure a US FTA—and we will continue to do that. They are important stakeholders, and they will always be offered a seat at the table.

[Liz Twist]

Can the Minister tell the House whether the issue of labour standards in supply chains has been raised with India during the trade negotiations?

[Penny Mordaunt]

The hon. Member will know from the trade negotiations that we have concluded already, that this always forms a part of those negotiations through our discussions and consultations. I can get her chapter and verse on that and some details. It is not one of the FTAs I look after, but I can assure her that that is a core part of our negotiations.