Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether there will be a provision in the UK-India free trade agreement safeguarding the manufacture of generic medicine for the NHS.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, on 8 December 2022, UIN 92159.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she will take to enable parliamentary scrutiny of the proposed UK-India free trade agreement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has put in place enhanced scrutiny arrangements for free trade agreements, going beyond the statutory requirements.
We have provided extensive information to Parliament, including our strategic approach and regular updates following each of the six rounds of negotiations so far.
In addition, Ministers regularly meet with the International Trade Select Committee and International Agreements Select Committees.
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement will be subject to the usual procedures under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act. In addition, the Government will commission and publish the advice from the independent Trade and Agriculture Commission to inform parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to help small businesses benefit from trade deals.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is vital for the growth of UK trade. Therefore, in all Free Trade Agreements the government seeks a dedicated SME chapter and SME-friendly provisions throughout. These signpost SMEs towards the information they need to pursue new trading opportunities and make informed decisions.
Businesses wishing to benefit from Free Trade Agreements can access dedicated resources every step of the way. This includes The Department for International Trade’s comprehensive offer for businesses, which features step-by-step guides on our great.gov.uk portal, opportunities to learn through our Export Academy, or one-to-one support from our Export Support Service and International Trade Advisers.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help SMEs benefit from free trade agreements.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital to increasing UK trade. That is why we are seeking SME chapters and SME-friendly provisions throughout all our Free Trade Agreements. These chapters and provisions signpost SMEs towards the information they need to make informed decisions and take advantage of new opportunities.
In addition, the Department worked across Whitehall to deliver the refreshed Export Strategy, which focuses on barriers faced by UK businesses, particularly SMEs. HM Government supports exporters at every stage of their journey, through the Export Support Service, the UK Export Academy, UK Export Finance, and our International Trade Advisers and global networks.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the impact of handling fees by freight companies following the UK's departure from the EU on small businesses.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
High consumer demand and sustained disruption caused by Covid-19 has put pressure on global freight capacity, which has resulted in demand for shipping containers outstripping supply. This has caused an increase in the cost of freight transport globally. Higher prices have impacted UK trade causing disruption for businesses and individuals. SMEs have been disproportionately affected by higher costs. However, the increased fees are expected to be short in duration with EU trade and services being marginally affected. DIT will continue to engage with businesses and to monitor the impact of rising shipping prices on international trade.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the costs of imports from and exports to the EU and (b) the effects on small businesses of those costs.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
This information is publicly available and can be accessed here: ONS Business insights and impact on the UK economy survey Wave 42.
On 1 October DIT launched the Export Support Service, which gives businesses across the UK one place to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe by using the digital service on GOV.UK or by phoning the helpline.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2017 to Question 70330, on developing countries: overseas trade, if he will publish an interim report of the ongoing review of the UK's future trade policy.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government will bring forward a paper on trade policy ahead of trade legislation in this parliamentary session. It will set out the Government’s emerging approach to developing an independent UK trade policy, including our trade with developing countries. The Department for International Trade and the Department for International Development will continue to work together on trade to maximise the opportunities for countries to trade their way out of poverty.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will guarantee non-reciprocal preferential market access for developing countries when negotiating future trade deals.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is currently reviewing its trade policy as the UK prepares to leave the EU. The UK remains committed to ensuring developing countries can reduce poverty through trading opportunities. We are seeking to achieve continuity in our trade and investment relationships, including those covered by existing EU free trade agreements or EU preferential arrangements. We are exploring with our trading partners ways to achieve this.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many foreign workers 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 my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade 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, details of the staff that the Department employs is being finalised, whilst employee transfers and recruitment are taking place.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the staff employed by his Department are non-UK nationals.
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 my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade 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, details of the staff that the Department employs is being finalised, whilst employee transfers and recruitment are taking place.