Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many businesses her Department has supported to increase exports in Bolton South East constituency since July 2016.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are unable to publish a breakdown of the number of companies The Department for International Trade has helped by constituency. Export support for businesses in Bolton is provided through our Northern Powerhouse regional team. Of the £38m Internationalisation Fund, £16.5m is allocated to the Northern Powerhouse alone, with the target of providing co-investment to over 3,300 companies. We provide a range of support mechanisms, and for instance, this June, the Northern Powerhouse team brought an inward delegation of international buyers to the Global Offshore Wind Summit in Manchester, highlighting to the world the North’s capability in this sector.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure the participation of (a) women and (b) marginalised groups in the development of trade agreements.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Department for International Trade works for people across the country. We speak to businesses, trades unions, think tanks and other organisations on a regular basis, and our public consultations have provided the opportunity for everyone to share their views.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK Government’s trade policy is aligned to its international commitments on women’s rights.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government is committed to equality of opportunity for men and women, including through our trade policy. We want the World Trade Organisation’s work to take this issue into account routinely, building on progress already made in implementing the Buenos Aires Declaration. Further, we have sought commitments in our bilateral free trade agreements to date, securing stand-alone chapters on this with Australia and New Zealand.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of widespread forced labour in the Xinjiang cotton industry on the global cotton industry; and what steps she plans to take to raise that matter at the (a) upcoming discussion on trade on trade-related matters affecting cotton and (b) other relevant forums of the World Trade Organization.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 26th May (UIN: 5177).
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the UK Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the effect of widespread forced labour in the Xinjiang cotton industry on the global cotton industry; and what steps he plans to take to raise that matter at the upcoming discussion on trade-related matters affecting cotton at the WTO.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The United Kingdom has taken a leading international role in holding China to account for its violations of rights and responsibilities in Xinjiang.
The Secretary of State for International Trade was in Geneva on 29th and 30th March where she met the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and they spoke about a range of International issues.
The United Kingdom is committed to ongoing discussions on cotton and trade related matters at the WTO. We recognise the importance of reform to the global cotton market, which will benefit the most vulnerable in particular.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2021 to Question 171559, what steps she has taken to provide export opportunities for tuna fishermen in the Maldives through an Economic Partnership Agreement.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Maldives is an important partner for the United Kingdom and my officials are exploring pragmatic options to promote increased trade and investment at present.
We are exploring opportunities to enhance bilateral trade with The Maldives in areas of mutual interest, such as food and drink, defence, education, health and fitness, environmental science, and sustainable development.
HM Government is exploring a range of options for collaboration in financial services and infrastructure development too, including securing green financing to aid Maldivian efforts towards cleaner, renewable energy generation.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what support she has provided to countries in the Global South that have seen their supply chains adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
HM Government is working hard to keep supply chains open to ensure essential goods and services reach consumers and vulnerable livelihoods are protected. Last year, HM Government launched the Vulnerable Supply Chains Facility, which has helped over 200,000 vulnerable people working in the agriculture and garments sectors in developing countries to recover from, and remain resilient to, the impacts of Covid-19.
Moreover, we are providing opportunities for exporters from developing countries through our Economic Partnership Agreements and our Generalised Scheme of Preferences.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 63293 on Department for International Trade: Overseas Aid, if she will publish the programmes managed by her Department that are (a) recorded as Official Development Assistance and (b) prioritise support for women and girls.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department’s only Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme is the Investment Promotion Programme (IPP). In line with the Government’s transparency commitments, we will publish the full business case once finalised. This ODA programme is expected to support increased job opportunities and incomes for women and men in selected countries.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department allocates Official Development Assistance to programmes that are targeted at supporting women and girls.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s Gender Equality Act 2014 (an amendment to 2002 International Development Act (IDA)) legally requires all overseas development funding to meaningfully consider the impact of how it will contribute to reducing gender inequality.