Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to Answer of 7 December to Question 118220 on trade agreements; arbitration, which which counterparts in other government departments and existing arms-length bodies his Department held discussions with on the appropriate number of staff needed for the trade remedies authority.

The organisation design process to determine the precise capacity and capability requirements for the Trade Remedies Authority is ongoing. To inform the process we have held discussions with: the Competition & Markets Authority; the Department for Education, regarding the Office for Students; and the Department for Work and Pensions, regarding the upcoming Single Financial Guidance Body.