Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when Government (a) Ministers and (b) Officials last held discussions with representatives of (i) the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCR) and (ii) the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on inclusion of (A) labour clauses or chapters and (B) the protection and promotion of human rights in trade agreements.

The Government has high regard for workers' rights, and we are clear that there will be no reduction in UK labour protections in signing up to new Free Trade Agreements. The UK takes our commitments to the International Labour Organization very seriously and encourage our partners to do the same.

Furthermore, the UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. This is usually undertaken separately to negotiations on free trade agreements.