Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on whether the proposed Trade in Services Agreement treaty is likely to contain provisions that would deny governments the right to require that data is held onshore.

As with other trade agreements currently in place, such as the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services, we expect agreements under negotiation, such as the Trade in Services Agreement, to contain provisions regarding data transfer and provisions regarding data protection. As with other agreements, we will want to see these provisions provide robust safeguards for the protection of EU citizens’ data while at the same time allowing for legitimate data transfers to third countries.