Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many hours have been spent on training for trade negotiators since the creation of his Department.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is building on its existing strong core of trade policy expertise. At this stage our primary focus is on developing policy positions, international relationships and our approach to future trade negotiations.

DIT, in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has established the Trade Policy and Negotiations Faculty, dedicated to building trade policy and negotiations capability across HM Government.

The Faculty and DIT have already offered a range of training on trade policy:

• Eight 3-hour Trade Foundation Training Programmes, and e-learning modules;
• Nineteen 90-minute trade policy practitioner level masterclasses; and
• 42 hours of trade policy practitioner level training, with 21 more hours scheduled for mid-March 2017.

These training sessions have been attended by over 800 officials from 19 Government departments and agencies.