Exports Small and Medium-sized Businesses 2023-11-30
2023-11-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP asks about steps to help small and medium-sized businesses export, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives.
What steps she is taking to help small and medium-sized businesses to export. The Government's export support for SMEs includes the export support service; the export academy; more than 400 export champions; our network of nearly 200 trade advisers; and support provided around the world through the international market service.
The Government's export support for SMEs includes the export support service; the export academy; more than 400 export champions; our network of nearly 200 trade advisers; and support provided around the world through the international market service. Just last week, my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for exports announced that UK Export Finance is introducing more flexible fast-track financing for SMEs, making it easier than ever for UK firms to sell into international markets.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the export growth of Britain, noting that it is among the worst in G7 economies.
How can such businesses have confidence in the Government's support for SMEs when Britain's export growth is among the worst of the G7 economies and is forecast to be falling? The hon. Lady had a royal visit in her constituency; however, I think she is off on the data. We see that we had £877 billion-worth of exports in the 12 months to the end of September 2023.
I certainly welcome the royal visit that the hon. Lady had in her constituency; it is always fantastic to see that support, particularly for exporters. However, I think she is a bit off on the data. When we look at export data, we see that we had £877 billion-worth of exports in the 12 months to the end of September 2023. We are heading towards the £1 trillion export target, and that figure is up by almost £200 billion—or 29%—on the figure from five years ago.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provided data on current export figures but did not directly address why businesses might lack confidence in government support or how the government plans to improve export growth.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about a rebranded trade show programme pilot launched by the government but later shelved.
In 2021, the Government launched a rebranded trade show programme pilot to great fanfare, but between November 2021 and March 2022 only two businesses in the UK were funded under the programme. We now hear that the scheme has been shelved. Will the Minister explain what has happened to that initiative?
The last Labour Government were, of course, in office rather a long time ago. It is not always incumbent on successive Governments more than a decade later to keep previous Labour Government schemes going. The scheme to which the hon. Gentleman refers was a pilot, which did not yield the successes that we might have hoped.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer shifts focus from addressing why the programme was shelved to discussing past government policies and does not provide specific details about the shelving of the current scheme.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the Africa investment summit next year and seeks confirmation of ongoing support for British businesses to export to Kenya.
As the Prime Minister's trade envoy to Kenya, may I welcome the fact that this week the Government held the successful global investment summit and are taking steps to help British businesses to export? Will the Minister provide an update on the Africa investment summit next year?
First, let me commend my hon. Friend for winning “Speech of the Year” at last night's The Spectator parliamentary awards. She has continued her fine form today. She does an amazing job for the country as the Prime Minister's trade envoy to Kenya, and her recent visit in September was a big success.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer focuses on praising the MP's work rather than providing specific updates about the Africa investment summit or support measures.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about progress on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council and potential bilateral deals.
I welcome my right hon. Friend back to his post. I pay tribute to him and to the Secretary of State for the international trade deals that they have struck during their period in office. What progress is being made on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council?
I am excited by the prospect of the deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, with which the Secretary of State is very much engaged, and I am looking forward to being re-engaged with it. It is a huge opportunity for us, as the latest figures show that total trade between the UK and the Gulf is worth more than £60 billion.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer provides enthusiasm and general sentiments about the deal but lacks specific progress updates or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about low growth rates of British food and drink exports over the past decade.
According to the International Monetary Fund, over the past decade British food and drink exports, including from SMEs, rose by just 3%, which was the lowest growth of any G7 country. Why will Ministers not share our ambitions for Britain to have the fastest export growth rate of any G7 country?
Of course, the hon. Gentleman and I have been around in these jobs for a while. He was possibly the last Trade Minister under the last Labour Government, so I will not be taking lectures from him on how to improve UK exports. We have been financing dozens of global trade missions and we are spending £200 million over the spending review period on exports in general.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer criticizes the MP's past role rather than addressing specific concerns about export growth or government actions to improve it.
Response accuracy