Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), what is the period of office for which Trade Envoys are appointed; and what performance reviews they conduct into the (1) work, and (2) effectiveness, of such Envoys.

Trade Envoys are appointed for the term of the Government and the Prime Minister decides when to make changes.

Trade Envoys’ day-to-day activities are managed through the Department for International Trade (DIT). Each Trade Envoy is allocated a Relationship Manager whom they meet on a regular basis to discuss engagements, objectives, goals they wish to achieve, and ensure they are aligned to the Department’s objectives.

DIT’s ministerial team regularly meets with the Trade Envoys, providing an opportunity to update on progress in their respective markets, and give feedback on their role. Officials are also in the process of establishing a mechanism which will help capture the value Trade Envoys bring to our trade and investment efforts more effectively.