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Written Question
Trade Promotion: Canada
Wednesday 8th March 2023

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Canada was appointed; and how many times they have visited that country since their appointment.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support the UK Government’s overall strategy to drive economic growth, promote UK trade and encourage inward investment. In addition to visiting their respective markets, Trade Envoys undertake a variety of activities including meeting UK companies, hosting inward delegations, and speaking engagements. Due to travel restrictions arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic, many visits to markets were disrupted and Trade Envoys had to work virtually or through other means, strengthening the relationships to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda.

Trade Envoy

Country

Appointment Date

Number of Visits

Lord Popat

Uganda

January 2016

9

Lord Risby

Algeria

November 2012

16

Lord Sarfraz

Singapore

January 2022

2

Lord Walney

Tanzania

August 2021

3

Dame Maria Miller

Canada

May 2022

1


Written Question
Trade Promotion: Tanzania
Wednesday 8th March 2023

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Tanzania was appointed; and how many times they have visited that country since their appointment.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support the UK Government’s overall strategy to drive economic growth, promote UK trade and encourage inward investment. In addition to visiting their respective markets, Trade Envoys undertake a variety of activities including meeting UK companies, hosting inward delegations, and speaking engagements. Due to travel restrictions arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic, many visits to markets were disrupted and Trade Envoys had to work virtually or through other means, strengthening the relationships to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda.

Trade Envoy

Country

Appointment Date

Number of Visits

Lord Popat

Uganda

January 2016

9

Lord Risby

Algeria

November 2012

16

Lord Sarfraz

Singapore

January 2022

2

Lord Walney

Tanzania

August 2021

3

Dame Maria Miller

Canada

May 2022

1


Written Question
Trade Promotion: Singapore
Wednesday 8th March 2023

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Singapore was appointed; and how many times they have visited that country since their appointment.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support the UK Government’s overall strategy to drive economic growth, promote UK trade and encourage inward investment. In addition to visiting their respective markets, Trade Envoys undertake a variety of activities including meeting UK companies, hosting inward delegations, and speaking engagements. Due to travel restrictions arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic, many visits to markets were disrupted and Trade Envoys had to work virtually or through other means, strengthening the relationships to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda.

Trade Envoy

Country

Appointment Date

Number of Visits

Lord Popat

Uganda

January 2016

9

Lord Risby

Algeria

November 2012

16

Lord Sarfraz

Singapore

January 2022

2

Lord Walney

Tanzania

August 2021

3

Dame Maria Miller

Canada

May 2022

1


Written Question
Trade Promotion: Uganda
Wednesday 8th March 2023

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Uganda was appointed; and how many times they have visited that country since their appointment.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support the UK Government’s overall strategy to drive economic growth, promote UK trade and encourage inward investment. In addition to visiting their respective markets, Trade Envoys undertake a variety of activities including meeting UK companies, hosting inward delegations, and speaking engagements. Due to travel restrictions arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic, many visits to markets were disrupted and Trade Envoys had to work virtually or through other means, strengthening the relationships to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda.

Trade Envoy

Country

Appointment Date

Number of Visits

Lord Popat

Uganda

January 2016

9

Lord Risby

Algeria

November 2012

16

Lord Sarfraz

Singapore

January 2022

2

Lord Walney

Tanzania

August 2021

3

Dame Maria Miller

Canada

May 2022

1


Written Question
Trade Promotion: Algeria
Wednesday 8th March 2023

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Algeria was appointed; and how many times they have visited that country since their appointment.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys support the UK Government’s overall strategy to drive economic growth, promote UK trade and encourage inward investment. In addition to visiting their respective markets, Trade Envoys undertake a variety of activities including meeting UK companies, hosting inward delegations, and speaking engagements. Due to travel restrictions arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic, many visits to markets were disrupted and Trade Envoys had to work virtually or through other means, strengthening the relationships to support the Government’s trade and investment agenda.

Trade Envoy

Country

Appointment Date

Number of Visits

Lord Popat

Uganda

January 2016

9

Lord Risby

Algeria

November 2012

16

Lord Sarfraz

Singapore

January 2022

2

Lord Walney

Tanzania

August 2021

3

Dame Maria Miller

Canada

May 2022

1


Written Question
Department for International Trade: Staff
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, in which countries does her Department employ staff based in UK (a) embassies (b) consulates.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

As of 31 January 2023, this department employed UK-based staff in UK embassies in the following countries:

Algeria, Azerbaijan, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Myanmar.

UK-based staff in UK consulates in the following countries:

Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States, Vietnam.


Written Question
Algeria: Refugees
Thursday 1st December 2022

Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Algeria following reports of the expulsion of more than 60 Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Algeria into a desert region of Niger.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We are aware of reports regarding the deportation of refugees of multiple nationalities to Niger by the Algerian authorities. We hold regular discussions with the Algerian Government on human rights, judicial, and home affairs issues.


Written Question
Dogs: Imports
Tuesday 8th November 2022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 September to Question 48499 on Dogs: Imports, if his Department will publish the number of dogs imported into the UK from each country outlined in that Answer in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.

Answered by Rebecca Pow

Below are tables to show the countries of origin of commercial dog imports. The data for 2020 is for UK, and the data for 2021 and 2022 (up to the 31/08/2022) is Great Britain only. We do not hold data for Northern Ireland for 2021 and 2022.

This information is drawn from external TRACES and IPAFFs systems, which are not directly controlled by the department.

EU imports

2020

Rest of World Imports

2020

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Austria

6

Antigua and Barbuda

1

Belgium

13

Argentina

30

Bulgaria

222

Australia

118

Croatia

153

Bahrain

95

Cyprus

4246

Barbados

8

Czech Republic

135

Belarus

50

Denmark

2

Bermuda

4

Estonia

21

Bosnia and Herzegovina

1636

Finland

7

Brazil

120

France

33

Canada

76

Germany

103

Cayman Islands

6

Greece

563

Colombia

12

Hungary

5065

Costa Rica

9

Ireland (Rep. of)

5814

Egypt

26

Italy

243

Ethiopia

3

Latvia

5

French Polynesia

1

Lithuania

99

Hong Kong

69

Malta

5

India

29

Netherlands

38

Indonesia

2

Poland

3945

Israel

13

Portugal

343

Japan

8

Romania

32525

Jordan

3

Slovakia

106

Kenya

26

Slovenia

5

Korea (South)

29

Spain

6475

Kuwait

12

Sweden

15

Lebanon

10

Switzerland

1

Macao

2

Total

60188

Malawi

1

Malaysia

25

Mauritius

85

Mexico

51

Namibia

3

New Zealand

40

North Macedonia

566

Nigeria

3

Oman

8

Peru

5

Philippines

1

Qatar

43

Russia

713

Saudi Arabia

9

Serbia

40

Singapore

58

South Africa

519

Sri Lanka

2

Taiwan

7

Tajikistan

1

Thailand

18

Turkey

375

Turks and Caicos

1

UAE

164

Uganda

2

Ukraine

3

Uruguay

5

USA

1592

Viet Nam

15

Zimbabwe

11

Total

6764

EU Imports

2021

Rest of World Imports

2021

Country

Dogs

Country of origin

Dogs

Austria

22

Argentina

17

Belgium

78

Australia

345

Bulgaria

1093

Bahamas

1

Croatia

2003

Bahrain

55

Cyprus

3758

Barbados

22

Czechia

221

Belarus

1

Denmark

719

Bermuda

12

England

72

Brazil

125

Estonia

23

Canada

167

Finland

8

Cayman Islands

15

France

411

China

174

Germany

76

Colombia

12

Greece

1017

Costa Rica

13

Hungary

4517

Ecuador

2

Iceland

1

Egypt

41

Italy

296

Ethiopia

4

Latvia

512

Guam

3

Lithuania

678

Hong Kong

161

Luxembourg

2

India

96

Malta

3

Indonesia

2

Netherlands

152

Israel

12

Northern Ireland

2

Jamaica

2

Norway

3

Japan

12

Poland

5593

Jordan

13

Portugal

500

Kenya

43

Republic of Ireland

6658

Kuwait

30

Romania

38081

Lebanon

36

Scotland

1

Macao

1

Slovakia

291

Malawi

2

Slovenia

7

Malaysia

71

Spain

5909

Mauritius

3

Sweden

49

Mexico

11

Switzerland

8

Mozambique

2

Wales

1

Namibia

3

(blank)

1

Nepal

1

Grand Total

72766

New Zealand

92

Nigeria

2

Oman

14

Panama

2

Peru

25

Philippines

1

Qatar

179

Russian Federation

261

Saudi Arabia

27

Serbia

2

Singapore

141

South Africa

1522

South Korea

60

Taiwan

4

Thailand

48

Turkey

148

Ukraine

6

United Arab Emirates

499

United States of America

966

Vietnam

2

Zimbabwe

22

Grand Total

5533

EU Imports to 31/08/2022

2022

Rest of World Imports to 31/08/2022

2022

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Country Of Origin

Dogs

Austria

5

Albania

1

Belgium

25

Algeria

1

Bulgaria

1248

Australia

295

Croatia

1742

Bahrain

84

Cyprus

1982

Barbados

13

Czech Republic

108

Bermuda

10

Denmark

216

Brazil

65

England?

35

Brunei

2

Estonia

13

Canada

90

Finland

5

Cayman Islands

11

France

68

Chile

5

Germany

90

China

101

Greece

254

Colombia

7

Hungary

1766

Costa Rica

5

Isle of Man

2

Dominican Republic

1

Ireland (Rep. of)

4528

Ecuador

1

Italy

184

Egypt

13

Latvia

309

Fiji

1

Lithuania

297

Hong Kong

25

Luxembourg

1

India

108

Malta

0

Indonesia

1

Netherlands

84

Israel

5

Northern Ireland

13

Japan

6

Norway

7

Jordan

4

Poland

1242

Kenya

24

Portugal

237

Korea (South)

44

Romania

8698

Kuwait

10

Slovakia

127

Lebanon

16

Slovenia

1

Malaysia

32

Spain

3348

Mauritius

13

Sweden

10

Mexico

16

Switzerland

2

Namibia

2

UK

4

New Zealand

82

Total

26651

Nigeria

1

Oman

1

Panama

2

Peru

4

Philippines

7

Qatar

56

Russia

21

Saint Lucia

1

Saudi Arabia

17

Singapore

66

South Africa

557

Sri Lanka

3

Taiwan

1

Thailand

30

Turkey

57

UAE

233

Uganda

5

Ukraine

2

USA

416

Vietnam

1

Zimbabwe

9

Total

2584


Written Question
Food: Africa
Monday 7th November 2022

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to reduce tariffs on food from African countries.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The UK currently grants preferential tariff access to food imports from 51 African countries through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) or one of the nine Free Trade Agreements the UK has secured with African regions and countries.

These arrangements offer tariff-free access for all food products from 43 African countries and preferential rates on many products from the other 8 countries.

In early 2023, the GSP will be replaced by the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which will offer more generous tariff preferences to Algeria, the Republic of the Congo and Nigeria including on more than 1,000 additional food products.


Written Question
Agriculture: Nitrogen
Friday 28th October 2022

Asked by: David Jones (Conservative - Clwyd West)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the current capacity of the European nitrogen production industry to meet the needs of British agriculture.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Due to the increase in cost of natural gas across the globe, the cost of production of nitrogen-based fertiliser types has increased significantly. It has also affected Europe and the global market with some fertiliser companies halting or reducing production due to high input costs.

Fertiliser supply in Britain is resilient. Britain sources both nitrogen-based and non-nitrogen fertiliser from a wide range of countries and produces ammonium nitrate fertiliser domestically, although prices are volatile caused by fluctuating gas prices. Domestic and imported nitrogen-based fertiliser prices dropped from May after their peak in March, coinciding with annual lower summer gas prices.

The fertiliser market has been flexible in continuing to source nitrogen-based fertiliser from the global market, and we understand from continued engagement with the sector that many farmers have switched their preferred nitrogen-based fertiliser from ammonium nitrate to urea and inhibited urea, reflecting the lower cost per tonne of nitrogen for crops. Although we have historically sourced most ammonium nitrate from Europe, other countries such as Algeria and Egypt are major sources of other nitrogen-based fertiliser such as urea.

Defra hosts Fertiliser Taskforce meetings with key industry figures including the National Farmers Union, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. We are continuing to monitor the security and stability of fertiliser and other supply chains, and work closely with colleagues across HM Government and devolved administrations as well as industry figures through the Taskforce.

To support farmers the Basic Payment Scheme payment will be made in 2 instalments to give farmers greater financial fluidity. Other actions taken include changes to guidance on farmers using manures, increased grants for farmers and growers, boosting research and development, and a delay to changes to the use of urea by at least a year. When the urea restrictions are introduced, they will be related to the use of ammonia inhibitors rather than a complete ban.

Defra is committed to promoting the use of less environmentally damaging fertilisers and better nutrient use efficiency. The efficient use of organic fertilisers can complement the use of mineral fertilisers, whilst reducing input costs. We know many farmers already use organic fertiliser to complement their nutrient management planning.