Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he has taken to support progress towards doubling British exports by 2020.

In 2016, UK exports were £544.5 billion; an increase of 5.2% from 2015 and 22.6% from 2010. In order to sustain and improve this trend, the Department prioritises export promotion by identifying the sector and market combinations around the world with the most opportunity to deliver the largest increase in export value. Informed by this, we ensure that our staff working overseas are embedded in the right markets and are equipped with the sector skills required to drive demand for British goods and services.

The Government is also committed to ensuring that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance from the private sector and has therefore doubled UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) total risk appetite to £5 billion, is increasing capacity for support in individual markets by up to 100%, and has increased the number of pre-approved local currencies in which UKEF can offer support from 10 to 40, enabling more overseas buyers of UK exports to pay in their own currency.