Oral Answers to Questions

Patricia Gibson Excerpts

Thursday 18th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jayawardena [V]]

As a newly independent trading nation, we will be able to champion free trade, fight protectionism and remove barriers at every opportunity. That includes tariffs. We will be trading on British terms with our new global tariff, which will cut red tape and cut costs for consumers and businesses in Gedling and in the region. My Department and our experienced international trade advisers will continue to support companies across the east midlands access exporting opportunities, and to provide export credit and insurance through UK Export Finance.

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

What recent progress she has made on negotiating free trade agreements with (a) the US and (b) Japan.

[Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP)]

What recent progress she has made on negotiating free trade agreements with (a) the US and (b) Japan.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth Truss)]

We have launched negotiations with both the US and Japan. We want to secure ambitious trade deals that benefit every part of the United Kingdom. Scotland is expected to be a particularly strong beneficiary from those deals.

[Patricia Gibson]

Despite what the Secretary of State said in response to previous questions, there are persistent concerns about the lifting of the ban on pathogen reduction treatments, which would permit chlorine washes over food as part of future trade deals. That would be bad for us and bad for animal welfare. To address those concerns once and for all, will the Secretary of State commit to enshrining minimum food standards into law? If she will not, will she devolve the necessary powers to Scotland to allow us to do it for ourselves?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I would point out that Scotland has its own food standards agency, which is responsible for upholding food standards in Scotland. I would also point out that the standards already are in the law and will continue to be in the law.