Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the UK joining the pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) convention.

We are looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade and to reset the relationship with our European friends to help drive investment and growth - within our clear manifesto red lines. We are in regular dialogue with industry about the best options for doing this and are open to looking at PEM if that reflects business sentiment and the national interest.