Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when her Department plans to respond to the fourth report of the International Trade Committee entitled Parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements, published on 27 October 2022.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department responded to the fourth report of the International Trade Select Committee on 5 January 2023.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish the data her Department holds on the economic benefits to the UK economy of the memoranda of understandings with the US states of (a) Indiana, (b) South Carolina and (c) North Carolina.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave her on 13th January 2023, UIN 117618, and the answers I gave her today, UIN 119142, 119143.
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 her oral evidence before the International Trade Committee on 30th November, HC 16 Q454, whether her Department has (a) published or (b) provided information to that Committee on her Departments analysis of investor state dispute settlements.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Inclusion of Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in UK treaties is considered where it is in the UK's interests and where we agree with partners that it can play a useful role in supporting the bilateral investment relationship. These considerations are negotiation sensitive, and therefore not appropriate for publication.
Investment protections and ISDS can provide reassurance to UK investors to make substantial long term foreign investments. UK investment overseas contributes to economies across the globe, strengthens international trade and security and supports developing countries.
The UK has never had a successful ISDS claim against it.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in reference to the answer to Question 454 in the oral evidence given to the International Trade Select Committee on 30 November 2022, if she will publish the analysis her Department has carried out on the long-term benefits of ISDS versus the risk.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Inclusion of Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in UK treaties is considered where it is in the UK's interests and where we agree with partners that it can play a useful role in supporting the bilateral investment relationship. These considerations are negotiation sensitive, and therefore not appropriate for publication.
Investment protections and ISDS can provide reassurance to UK investors to make substantial long term foreign investments. UK investment overseas contributes to economies across the globe, strengthens international trade and security and supports developing countries.
The UK has never had a successful ISDS claim against it.
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 plans to publish an assessment of the impact of the Memorandum of understanding on cooperation and trade relations between South Carolina and the UK on the economy.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) seeks to bolster an already strong trading relationship, with South Carolina importing £1.4bn of UK goods in 2021. It lays the foundation for closer collaboration in priority sectors such as life sciences and automotives.
The MoU provides a framework to boost trade and investment, including by sharing expertise, organising trade missions, and addressing market access barriers. The Government will monitor activities and outcomes of the MoU through a bilateral working group, and plans to publish an update following the first meeting of this group.
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 17 October 2022 to Question 59222 on Visits Abroad, when her Department plans to release the next instalment of data on DIT ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for International Trade released the latest data on ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings on the transparency pages of gov.uk on Friday 16 December 2022.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish details of the (a) meetings and (b) events she attended on her visit to Washington DC in November 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Details of ministerial meetings will be published in the usual way in Q1 2023.
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 visits by (i) officials and (ii) Ministers to the United States between January 2020 and December 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Department for International Trade Ministerial travel is published at the following location: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dit-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings where the full cost can be retrieved.
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 unsuccessful applications have been made to the UK Tradeshow Programme to date in 2022.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has had 184 unsuccessful applications for UK Tradeshow Programme support.
The applications were unsuccessful due to the following reasons:
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when her Department's review on membership of the (a) Strategic Trade Advisory Group and (b) Trade Advisory Group will be completed.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is working to ensure its full suite of stakeholder engagement is suited to the department’s current and anticipated work plan and priorities. Therefore, as stated at the International Trade Select Committee, DIT is looking at wider reforms beyond the membership of our advisory groups. We do however anticipate that the Strategic Trade Advisory Group and Trade Advisory Groups will meet with refreshed membership early in the New Year.