Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what (a) advice or (b) role has Tony Abbott played in the UK's discussions with Australia on a possible free trade deal.
Tony Abbott does not negotiate trade deals on behalf of the UK. He is a voluntary, unpaid advisor to the Board of Trade. Advisers to the Board of Trade have been appointed because of their expertise in trade and economic matters and to help inform our future thinking on international trade. Our ambitious trade deal with Australia will include a substantive article which reaffirms both parties’ commitments to address climate change. Both Australia and the UK make clear their commitment to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement and achieving all of its goals, which includes the temperature goals.