Matthew Patrick

My Department leads cross-Government efforts to identify and resolve market access barriers in order to unlock opportunities for UK business and drive UK growth. In sectors and markets across the region we have trade promotion teams and programmes to support UK businesses that wish to export or expand into Africa.

In addition, the UK has one of the most generous preferential trade policy offers to sub-Saharan African countries. We provide preferential trade access to over 45 sub-Saharan African countries via our world-leading Developing Countries Trading Scheme and development-focused Economic Partnership Agreements. These focus on strengthening exports to the UK, promoting two-way trade and economic growth.

The Department is working with the European Union and Members States to break down trade barriers. As part of this agenda, we need effective ongoing dialogue with both British businesses and the European Union. As part of this, later today, Minister Thomas and I are hosting a roundtable to gather views from businesses on how the UK-EU trading relationship can be improved. My officials are also engaging with businesses to understand the barriers they face and how this Government can support then to grow and export to the European Union.

Split payments are considered in exceptional circumstances to provide support to vulnerable families and children from facing financial issues that could arise from a range of circumstances, particularly where one partner in the relationship may have substance abuse issues which increase risks to other members of the family unit. Whilst this can include domestic abuse, we do not believe they are particularly well-suited to such circumstances as a matter of course, but they may be used with the consent of customers.

Where split payments are being considered, risks are mitigated to the fullest extent possible to allow the Alternative Payment Arrangement to be implemented.