Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential merits of removing the requirement for physical signatures under the (a) Bills of Exchange Act 1882 and (b) Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 to (i) help facilitate paperless trade and (ii) mitigate the effects of covid-19 on international trade; and if she will make a statement.

This Department is closely engaged and working alongside the Ministry of Justice, and a number of other key Government Departments on improving the processes for handling of both customs and maritime documents.

We are committed to the interests of traders in the UK’s future trading arrangements and to ensure the best possible outcome for UK businesses and consumers.