Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make it her Department's policy to protect the Protected Geographical Indicative Status of Scotch Whisky in future trade negotiations.

The UK government recognises the economic and cultural importance of Geographical Indications (GIs), including Scotch Whisky, and remains committed to ensuring consistent protection.

Work is on-going with global trading partners to transition EU free trade agreements and other sectoral agreements including obligations on the recognition and protection of GIs. Department for International Trade officials have been working very closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which leads on geographical indications, to ensure that trade negotiations reflect the importance of GIs to the UK.