Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to include protections for (a) public health and safety, (b) environment, (c) public morals and (d) cultural diversity in future trade deals.

The criteria listed are protected in UK FTAs by provisions in the General Exceptions chapter, most notably via the incorporation of GATT XX and GATS XIV and environmental clarifications related to them. These exceptions protect domestic policy space and allow the UK to introduce and maintain measures necessary to govern; for example, in order to protect public morals or protect human, animal or plant life and health. These Exceptions are included in all of the UK’s existing free trade agreements and will continue to be included in all future deals.