Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the devolved Administrations on the future composition of the Trade and Agriculture Commission.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade is in contact with relevant Cabinet colleagues with regard to the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC). The Government also works closely with the devolved administrations on all aspects of our trade policy and I have written to my counterparts seeking their views on the Commission.
The TAC will ensure that public and industry interests are protected in Britain’s agriculture trade policy.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a Bounce Back plan for the maritime sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade is working closely with the Department of Transport to support the UK maritime sector as it seeks to recover from COVID-19. We do not plan to launch a Bounce Back plan.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effect of funding allocated to UK Trade and Investment on the level of foreign direct investment in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency since 2015.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2020, the UK’s level of FDI stock was over $2 trillion in 2019. This is more than France and Germany combined.
With respect to Scotland, support for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a joint responsibility of both DIT and the Scottish Government. The FDI results for Scotland reflect their joint efforts.
In the most recent figures, for the financial year 2018/19, the total recorded number of FDI projects in the UK was 1,782, with 57,625 associated new jobs. DIT supported 81% of those projects accounting for 51,863 jobs. In the same period, 126 projects were recorded in Scotland, with 3,346 new jobs created as a result. DIT recognises the value that more granular data breakdown could provide but does not currently have the ability to report beyond UK regional level.
Further historical data for recorded FDI projects can be seen below:
Measure | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
UK FDI Projects | 2,213 | 2,265 | 2,072 | 1,782 |
Scotland FDI Projects | 108 | 183 | 141 | 126 |
UK total jobs | 115,974 | 107, 898 | 91,031 | 64,623 |
Scotland total jobs | 5,905 | 8,597 | 9,287 | 4,469 |
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy that the UK will not allow goods to be imported to the UK from countries who produce goods illegally in the (a) Palestinian Occupied Territories and (b) other territories under military occupation after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the settlements, as part of Israel. We are committed to maintaining our current approach on this issue. The Government does not believe that any form of anti-Israeli boycott would support the peace process.
The UK strongly supports the principle of free trade and the rule of law. The UK prohibits the importation of goods from certain countries including in accordance with its obligations under EU and multilateral sanctions regimes. A list of countries against which the UK currently imposes such import controls is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to prevent UK companies from trading with areas in other countries that are under illegal occupation.
Answered by Conor Burns
The UK Government promotes trade within a rules-based international order. The UK continues to apply EU and UN sanctions and will look to carry over existing EU sanctions at the end of the Transition Period. A list of countries against which the UK imposes such controls is available on gov.uk.
The UK also routinely updates our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website. We advise British businesses to consider the British Government's view when considering their investments and activities in occupied territories. The UK promotes responsible corporate behaviour by UK companies operating, or considering operating, overseas.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions the Government has had with the UAE Government on ensuring the exports outlined in the New Security Export Strategy will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Answered by Conor Burns
The new Security Export Strategy does not outline any specific exports to the UAE and no discussions linked to the strategy have taken place with the UAE Government. The UK Government takes exporting responsibly very seriously. Where an export licence is required, it will be thoroughly assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which British cyber-security companies undertaking cyber-security projects in the United Arab Emirates are funded or subsidised by the Government.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade is supporting UK business to export their world-leading capability across the globe. This includes supporting the not-for-profit accreditation organisation CREST to establish a global presence, including the UAE and wider Gulf.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it a precondition for any increase in trade between the UK and Iran that the Government of Iran adheres to international human rights norms by allowing peaceful demonstrations and protests against its policies.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) supports trade with Iran as a key part of its commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). HMG remains concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and continues to encourage the Iranian government to improve its human rights record.
The Government provides support and advice to UK businesses looking to take advantage of the commercial opportunities in countries around the world, including in Iran.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it a precondition for any increase in trade between the UK and Iran that the Government of Iran adheres to international human rights norms by allowing peaceful demonstrations and protests against its policies.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) supports trade with Iran as a key part of its commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). HMG remains concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and continues to encourage the Iranian government to improve its human rights record.
The Government provides support and advice to UK businesses looking to take advantage of the commercial opportunities in countries around the world, including in Iran.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of manual processing on paper that it carries out and to make such processing digital.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade aims to ensure that the primary route for export or investment support is digital. The Department continues to develop and extend the reach of digital services through great.gov.uk. Technology used by staff is also being upgraded to enable the use of cloud-based software that promotes simultaneous collaboration and seamless mobile working, and further drive productivity. The Digital team are also developing a new business relationship management system, which will encourage and enable staff to record business interactions digitally.