Oral Answers to Questions

Paula Sherriff Excerpts

Thursday 28th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Ian C. Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking to promote UK exports in global markets.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to promote UK exports in global markets.

[Mr Paul Sweeney (Glasgow North East) (Lab/Co-op)]

6. What steps he is taking to promote UK exports in global markets.

--- Later in debate ---

[Graham Stuart]

I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman, who is a great champion of his local exporting businesses. We need the right arrangements going forward to support the strong export growth we have seen. He will note that, since 2010, export growth for Wales has gone up by 82%.

[Paula Sherriff]

What direct support is being given to businesses that want to export overseas and, crucially, how is it being signposted?

[Graham Stuart]

The hon. Lady is right to mention the importance of ensuring that British companies know support is in place. In DIT, we have for the first time in our history a Department of State whose only job is to support international economic exports, investment and trade policy. The GREAT campaign has been very significant in promoting that and we have trade advisers throughout the country. Indeed, in Yorkshire and Humber, DIT has 33 mobile and desk-based international trade advisers, who are there explicitly to support local business and to make sure they know what we have on offer.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Fox]

The Department will provide an update on the grants available for trade show attendance in 2019-20 later this year in the context of our forthcoming export strategy. My hon. Friend has made an important point, but we must also ensure that the help we give is targeted to produce the best results, not the greatest number.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

T5. The Secretary of State has previously suggested that outward direct investment is often seen as a fig leaf for outsourcing jobs and cutting costs at the expense of domestic investment in jobs. Does his Department monitor the number of jobs lost in the UK as a result of decisions to invest overseas? If so, will he tell us what they are?

[Dr Fox]

I do find it strange that people think that foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom is a good thing, but that UK investment in other countries is a bad thing. Such investment is an essential part of an open trading system. It is also an important part of our development agenda. Investing and creating jobs overseas, as we saw with Jaguar Land Rover in South Africa, for example, is often one of the ways in which we can provide help for some of the poorest countries in the world.