Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, on (a) how many occasions and (b) what dates the Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser has met (i) the Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser and (ii) the Prime Minister in the last 12 months.

The Chief Negotiation Adviser’s role is to lead on trade negotiation and strategy, at the Department for International Trade. He advises my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade on trade agreements and market access deals with the UK’s global trading partners. The negotiation with the EU regarding the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration is the responsibility of the Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser.

The Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser has had one 1:1 meeting with the Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser in the last 12 months. He has had no 1:1 meetings with the Prime Minister in the last 12 months, but has had two meetings with her accompanied by the Secretary of State for International Trade and others in the last 12 months.