Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will ensure that (a) UK legal services and (b) the use of English law are promoted overseas as part of an integrated trade policy.

The UK has a reputation for the rule of law and as a global centre for legal services excellence. To date, the government has ensured the inclusion of commitments which facilitate the provision of legal advisory services in UK and international law by UK lawyers in its Free Trade Agreements with the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, Australia and New Zealand.

Furthermore, the government will seek to support UK service suppliers, including those from the legal sector, via the future Trade Strategy which will reflect the government's ambition to improve UK's trade and investment with international partners.