Oral Answers to Questions

Marco Longhi Excerpts
Thursday 21st October 2021

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Freer Portrait Mike Freer
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I reassure the hon. Gentleman that the food and drink sector across the whole of the UK, and in Scotland, is a priority for this team. I can honestly tell him that I am more than happy to sit down with him and his colleagues to work through some of the challenges that we both share, but I also want him to recognise the opportunities that our new trade deals will offer. When we deliver on those trade opportunities, I hope he will give credit to the UK Government.

Marco Longhi Portrait Marco Longhi (Dudley North) (Con)
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As the recently appointed trade envoy to Brazil, it would be remiss of me not to point out just one of the huge opportunities we have in building a positive relationship with Brazil. At 212 million, its population is seven times the combined populations of New Zealand and Australia. Some 65 million people in Brazil do not have a bank account. To build on the point of my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Gareth Davies), does the Minister agree that financial services represent a fantastic opportunity, not just for this country but to support Brazil in bringing in its own revenues, as it should be?

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I am going to be generous—I think it was stretching the original question—but the Minister will pick it up.