Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she plans to review the UK arms export control regime.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control regime, which will be kept under continuous review.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff work in her Department's information rights unit.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of 11 January, there are 8 members of staff in the Information Rights Unit (7.8 FTE).
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the report entitled DIT action plan to achieve FOI timeliness compliance, published on 7 October 2022, whether her Department's information rights unit has delivered additional training on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to civil servants.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Additional training on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has been given to civil servants responsible for drafting and reviewing FOI responses at the Department for International Trade in line with the action plan. This training is in addition to broader awareness sessions and dates are available for colleagues to book.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many freedom of information requests received before 8 September 2022 are awaiting a response her Department.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
None.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2022 to Question 111607 on Department for International Trade: USA, for what reason a full summary of (a) travel and (b) hotel costs were not provided in that answer.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The details of ministerial and senior officials’ overseas travel, including that to the United States of America (USA) is published as part of the Department’s commitments under the transparency process. This data, including the costs of travel and accommodation can be found at the following locations:
Ministerial travel - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
Senior Official travel - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dit-senior-officials-travel-hospitality-and-permanent-secretary-meetings
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much her Department spent on (a) flights and (b) hotel accommodation for her trip to Washington D.C. in November 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The full details of Department for International Trade Ministerial travel can be found at the following location: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department takes to (a) collect and (b) evaluate feedback on working conditions for civil servants in her Department.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The annual Civil Service People Survey and departmental Pulse Surveys are the primary methods used to collect feedback on working conditions for Civil Servants in the Department for International Trade (DIT).
The results of these surveys are evaluated and used to inform DIT’s overall people strategy. DIT staff are also invited to provide feedback as part of the exit process.
Additionally, DIT holds regular dialogue with Trade Unions where feedback on working conditions is collected.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much her Department has spent on (a) flights and (b) hotel accommodation for visits by (i) officials and (ii) Ministers to the US since September 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the Hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth to the answer I gave her today, UIN: 112152.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of seeking side letters to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that would exclude the UK from investor state dispute settlement claims.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth to the answer given by my Hon. Friend the Minister for International Trade to the Hon. Member for Harrow West on 21 December 2022, UIN: 111512.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what her Department's policy is on the publication of economic impact assessments for (a) new and (b) updates to existing free trade agreements; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government publishes analysis to assess the potential impacts of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in advance of negotiations. On conclusion of negotiations for a new agreement, a full impact assessment is published.
The Government publishes analysis that is proportionate to the scope of negotiations and the agreement’s likely impact.