Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the average length of time was for Ministers of her Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Government Equalities Office has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required.
As you will understand, the Government Equalities Office is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. Officials are ensuring that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and are taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.
All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the average length of time was for Ministers of his Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department for International Trade has a target of responding within 15 working days where a response is required.
As you will understand, the Department for International Trade is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.
All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make it her policy to oppose tariffs on (a) steel and (b) rolled steel in a potential future trade deal with the US.
Answered by Conor Burns
Existing anti-dumping or countervailing measures against specific goods will not be covered by the UK government’s negotiations with the US over a future trade agreement. Such measures are imposed following independent investigations which are not addressed through bilateral trade deal negotiations.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Trade Remedies Authority will have the capacity to conduct full-scale investigations (a) on its own and (b) in parallel with EU organisations by March 2019.
Answered by George Hollingbery
We are committed to establishing the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) by the time the UK leaves the EU and have taken clear steps to achieve this, including:
We are also developing and delivering a comprehensive training programme for TRA staff to ensure they are trained and ready to operate the UK’s trade remedies system when the UK leaves the EU.
This may include undertaking some work in parallel to the European Commission during any time-limited implementation period agreed between the UK and EU.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what his policy is on market economic status for China within the EU for (a) steel and (b) other commodities.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As a member of the EU, the UK has supported the Commission’s proposal to revise its anti-dumping methodology, while clearly advocating that any amendments to the regulations must be applied in a way which is WTO compliant. Any changes to the EU’s methodology must be fair, balanced and compatible with WTO requirements.
On leaving the EU, we will operate our own trade policy. We will develop a WTO compliant trade remedies regime that will enable us to tackle significant market distortions. Our regime will provide UK industries, including steel, with protection against unfair and injurious trade practices.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will seek to retain current EU countervailing duties on biodiesel imported from the US after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Currently, a number of trade remedy measures are being applied by the EU, some of which affect UK industry.
The Government is looking into this in detail and will bring forward proposals shortly. The Government is aiming to maintain continuity for businesses as we exit from the EU.