Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Louise Haigh and Liam Fox

Thursday 9th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

My hon. Friend has made an important general point in his specific question. An open trading system is a win-win: our economy, as well as other economies, can gain from sharing the same open system.

[Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)]

T4. How many trade negotiators has the civil service now managed to recruit?

[Dr Fox]

The entire departmental strength is now some 3,000. We are adding some 50 extra staff to our trade policy group this week, and the process will continue. We will increase the numbers further in the months ahead as we look to our WTO obligations, the transposition of our EU free trade agreements, and the FTAs that we have. The current number of about 200 staff will be augmented as we proceed.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Louise Haigh and Liam Fox

Thursday 15th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)]

T3. Recently, the hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr Rees-Mogg) said in relation to emissions standards that what is good enough for India is good enough for us. May we have a firm assurance that no emissions standards will be watered down as part of any free trade deal?

[Dr Fox]

The Government take very seriously their environmental obligations and will continue to do so.