Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Minister for Investment last met representatives of the UK automotive industry to discuss (1) the reduction in investment that motor manufacturing has experienced, and (2) the consequential challenges that industry is facing.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
Since becoming Minister for Investment, I have discussed current challenges and opportunities with a range of automotive companies.
The automotive industry globally has seen the impact of a downturn in demand, exacerbated by the COVID crisis. The UK government has already taken unprecedented steps - welcomed by the sector - to protect businesses and workers. The Department for International Trade has been very active in helping companies access these schemes.
We are also delivering a sustained, strategic programme of support to enable the development, manufacture and adoption of low and zero-emission technologies.
UK automotive is a great success story and we are determined to ensure its recovery from the COVID crisis and its prosperity in a zero-carbon future.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Ministerial Statement by the Secretary of State for International Trade on 7 July (HCWS339), whether details of the revised methodology described are publicly available; and if not, whether they will place a description of the non-sensitive and non-confidential elements of the revised methodology in the Library of the House.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Written Ministerial Statement of 7th July 2020 explained and set out details of the revised methodology developed to comply with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 20th June 2019 and applied to re-take the decisions remitted by the Court of Appeal on the correct legal basis.
HM Government have no plans to publish the assessments to which the Noble Lord refers. Such assessments use all available sources of information – including some that are necessarily confidential and sensitive – so we are not able to provide details of the assessments.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Ministerial Statement by the Secretary of State for International Trade on 7 July (HCWS339), what data sets were employed in the revised methodology described.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Written Ministerial Statement of 7th July 2020 explained and set out details of the revised methodology developed to comply with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 20th June 2019 and applied to re-take the decisions remitted by the Court of Appeal on the correct legal basis.
HM Government have no plans to publish the assessments to which the Noble Lord refers. Such assessments use all available sources of information – including some that are necessarily confidential and sensitive – so we are not able to provide details of the assessments.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the killing of human rights defenders in Colombia and recent reports of illegal surveillance by Colombian Military Intelligence on civil society organisations, whether they are reassessing the licensing of UK arms exports, including cryptographic equipment, to Colombia.
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
There are no extant licences granted for Colombia that may be used for such surveillance.
For context, all export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, the Department for International Trade (DIT) receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any items.
Assessments under Criterion 2 in particular include the respect of rights and freedoms in the country of final destination. A licence will not be issued if to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. Accordingly, we continue to monitor global developments closely and are able to review licences – and suspend or revoke as necessary – when circumstances require, in line with the Consolidated Criteria.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 10 July (HL Deb, col 1347), whether they will now answer the question put, namely whether Parliament will be given access to the methodology referred to in the Written Ministerial Statement made by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 7 July (HLWS336).
Answered by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel
The Written Ministerial Statement of 7th July 2020 explained and set out details of the revised methodology developed to comply with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 20th June 2019 and applied to re-take the decisions remitted by the Court of Appeal on the correct legal basis.
HM Government have no plans to publish the assessments to which the Noble Lord refers. Such assessments use all available sources of information – including some that are necessarily confidential and sensitive – so we are not able to provide details of the assessments.