Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that dairy farmers (a) benefit from trade agreements and (b) have standards retained.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that new trade deals support UK farmers and food producers.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
As a result of the recent agreements, businesses will benefit from the elimination of tariffs on all British exports to Australia and New Zealand. These deals are a gateway to joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), where British food and drink exports were worth £1.8 billion in 2020.
In addition to securing trade deals, we continue to support our farmers by knocking down trade barriers across the globe, from securing access to sell British pork in Mexico, to reopening the American market for British lamb.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to increase awareness of the role of Trade Envoys and business opportunities in new and emerging markets.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support British business overseas and help attract investment into the UK. The programme works in collaboration with other trade promotion activities of the Department’s, focusing on emerging and high growth markets where additional senior interactions can be valuable. We engage with key stakeholders, chambers of commerce, trade associations and business organisations to ensure they are aware of Trade Envoys and have access to them.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to help support international collaboration in green growth sectors.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) plays a critical role in delivering the UK’s ambitious domestic and international climate goals. DIT is using its international trade and investment levers to increase green investment, low-carbon supply chains, and clean exports. Our ambitious Free Trade Agreements and bilateral relations are reducing barriers to green trade.
To support the UK’s COP26 presidency, DIT’s global network is working with international businesses, investors, and government partners. This builds on the recent Global Investment Summit where the UK hosted the world’s leading businesses and investors to encourage collaboration and increase investment across green industries.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support and advice his Department provides to small and medium sized businesses to export to (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) non-Commonwealth countries.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade provides a range of support and advice services for SMEs looking to export both to the Commonwealth and beyond. These include a domestic network of International Trade Advisers (ITAs); hubs in Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh and Darlington; sector specialists in our Export & Investment teams; grants from the Internationalisation Fund; in market advice from the Enhanced International Support Service; webinars, workshops and virtual events from the Export Academy; financial exporting support from UKEF’s specialist Export Finance Managers; and local market connections provided by DIT staff in 119 different countries around the world.
DIT is running the export and investment programme for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and uses Commonwealth events to promote closer trading ties among the businesses of member states.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what safeguards are in place to ensure that the (a) price of drugs and (b) NHS including its services and patient data are not compromised in future trade deals.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The NHS, the price it pays for drugs and its services are not for sale. The United Kingdom’s published objectives for negotiations with new trade partners make it clear that we will not agree measures that undermine HM Government’s ability to deliver on our manifesto commitments to the NHS.
The United Kingdom’s trade agreements do not undermine the safeguards that we have in place around health and care data. HM Government is clear that health and care data should only ever be used and/or shared where used lawfully, treated with respect, held securely and where the right safeguards are in place. The United Kingdom’s high standards of data protection will be maintained.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps the Government is taking to support the West Midland's economic recovery from the covid-19 outbreak through exports.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) delivers a range of export services across the West Midlands. These include: providing support in accessing international opportunities; participation in trade missions; providing export credit and insurance through UK Export Finance (UKEF); access to DIT’s international network; and support provided by experienced International Trade Advisers (ITAs). These advisers are also helping West Midlands companies to cope with the impacts of Covid-19 and their preparations for EU transition.
As I announced last month, as part of our response to Covid-19, the Export Growth Plan has additional measures supporting the West Midlands including a new Internationalisation Fund through ESIF providing grants to SMEs, the recruitment of additional ITAs and a new Export Academy providing training and expertise for exporters.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what safeguards are in place to help ensure consumer confidence in food quality standards as part of future trade agreements.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government is proud of its high food safety standards. Having left the EU, and as we leave the transition period, we will take back control of our laws, standards and regulations. Without exception, imports will meet our stringent standards.
The Food Standards Agency will continue to oversee our food standards, for both domestic production and?imports, and provide independent advice to HM Government.