Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart to help secure the import of essential medical supplies to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade spoke with her Indian counterpart, Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, on the 23 March, 30 March and 17 April. They also both attended an extraordinary virtual G20 Trade ministerial meeting on the 30 March. The Secretary of State highlighted the importance of ensuring supply chains remain open and any trade restrictive measures introduced in response to Covid-19 are proportionate, transparent and time limited. They also discussed export approval for essential shipments of medical supplies and medicines bound for the UK from India, including 2.8 million packets of over-the-counter Paracetamol tablets.