Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Pawsey Excerpts

Thursday 21st October 2021 Commons Chamber

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

3. What recent progress her Department has made on securing free trade agreements with countries around the world.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

13. What recent progress her Department has made on securing free trade agreements with countries around the world.

--- Later in debate ---

[Penny Mordaunt]

Global Britain means using our expertise, resources, talents and values as a force for good in the world, and furthering not just our interests, but the interests of the whole of humanity. My hon. Friend’s part of the world is helping us to do that; last year, Yorkshire and the Humber exported more than £240 million-worth of goods to Australia alone. I want those businesses in his constituency to benefit from the removal of tariffs.

[Mark Pawsey]

I very much welcome the trade deals that the Government have secured, particularly the most recent one with New Zealand, but trade deals are a first step and it is now for British businesses to take advantage of them. Does the Minister agree that the role of skilled, professional salespeople with business-to-business selling skills will be critical to ensuring that we get the projected value from these deals, and that we need to give those people every support?

[Penny Mordaunt]

My hon. Friend is right, and he is doing his damnedest to make sure that Rugby is at the front of the queue in that respect. To support his businesses, we are delivering an export promotion campaign that positions exporting as a route to growth, prosperity and job creation. The campaign will encourage businesses to seize the opportunities from trade deals, while directing them to our new export support services.