Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of (a) the human rights records and (b) any potential reports of religious persecution in countries with which the UK is pursuing a trade agreement before entering negotiations.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The UK assesses and considers appropriate action in response to egregious human rights violations and abuses globally, and this goes much wider than considering trade alone, drawing on the wider tools and levers at our disposal.
Our strong economic relationships with trading partners allow the Government to have open discussions on a range of difficult issues, including human rights and religious freedom.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
What steps she is taking to ensure parliamentary scrutiny of UK trade deals.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government applies appropriate transparency and scrutiny procedures. For new free trade agreements with the United States, Australia, New Zealand and UK’s proposed accession to CPTTP, the Government applies enhanced transparency and scrutiny arrangements. Parliament can prevent ratification of any free trade agreement through the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act procedure, and by rejecting any necessary implementing legislation.