Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what his plans are for the staff requirement upon full establishment of the proposed Trade Remedies Authority.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We are currently undertaking an organisation design process to determine the precise capacity and capability requirements for the Trade Remedies Authority.
We have reviewed the structures, caseloads and resources of a range of trade remedies systems. We have also worked closely with counterparts in other UK government departments and arm’s-length bodies.
We are committed to creating an organisation that has the appropriate number of people, skills and infrastructure to investigate cases and assess injury quickly and effectively, in order to ensure that we can continue to protect UK Business from unfair and injurious trading practices.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he will take to protect access to generic medicines in low and middle-income countries when trade agreements are negotiated after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has a longstanding commitment to support developing countries to reduce poverty through trade and the UK continues to be committed to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, which allows the world’s least developed countries to remain exempt from complying with certain intellectual property obligations on pharmaceuticals until 2033. The Doha declaration also reaffirms agreed flexibilities in the WTO’s intellectual property framework (TRIPS) that support access to medicines, including during public health emergencies in developing countries.
We will ensure that our future trade deals respect and do not contravene the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 107560, on exports, whether the target to export £1 trillion of goods and services by 2020 remains his intention.
Answered by Mark Garnier
We are committed to increasing exports of all our goods and services as part of our vision of a UK that trades its way to prosperity, stability and security.
The trillion pound ambition was set as an aspirational target before the creation of the Department for International Trade. DIT is establishing a network of nine overseas Trade Commissioners, who will lead DIT activity on a regional basis around the world. We are now reviewing how performance should be targeted in the new organisation to ensure measures are fit for purpose in an evolving landscape.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK is on course to meet the target to export £1 billion of goods and services by 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Garnier
We remain committed to increasing UK exports around the world. Following the creation of the Department for International Trade (DIT), and the establishment of a network of 9 overseas Trade Commissioners, we are reviewing our performance metrics to ensure they remain fit for purpose in an evolving landscape.
We will use our world leading digital offer to equip exporters with the tools they need to take advantage of a world of opportunity, and use DIT’s presence in 108
countries to promote British products and services, whilst removing trade barriers and increasing market access.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff at what civil service grades his Department employs.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Following her appointment on 13 July 2016 the Prime Minister established the Department for International Trade (DIT). The DIT aggregates UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), UK Export and Finance (UKEF), Trade Policy Units from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as well as some new hires.
Until such time as a transfer of functions order establishes the Secretary of State as a corporation sole, DIT remains a unified Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department for accounting purposes.
As DIT is currently being formed, the number staff the Department employs is being finalised while employee transfers and recruitment are taking place.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many flights (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have taken as part of their official duties since his Department was set up on 14 July 2016.
Answered by Mark Garnier
As part of their official duties, since 14 July 2016, Ministers have taken 22 flights overseas and accompanying officials have taken 25 flights overseas.