Topical Questions 2022-12-15
2022-12-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP returns from Delhi after holding trade talks with his Indian counterpart.
Yesterday, I returned from Delhi after holding trade talks with my counterpart, Minister Piyush Goyal. We agreed that an ambitious, balanced deal can be reached at the earliest opportunity. Meeting key UK and Indian businesses made clearer still the opportunities that the FTA would create for businesses in Orpington and across the UK.
Yesterday, I returned from Delhi after holding trade talks with my counterpart, Minister Piyush Goyal. We agreed that an ambitious, balanced deal can be reached at the earliest opportunity. Meeting key UK and Indian businesses made clearer still the opportunities that the FTA would create for businesses in Orpington and across the UK.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP notes the 2019 trade figures with CPTPP countries.
In 2019, our trade with CPTPP countries reached £110.7 billion, so does my right hon. Friend share my optimism that joining the bloc will increase our national prosperity? Does he agree that free trade and helping businesses such as those in Orpington to export are how we will create genuine, long-term, sustainable wealth?
I share my hon. Friend's enthusiasm for CPTPP. Joining CPTPP will offer new opportunities for businesses in Orpington and across the UK. The potential increase to UK GDP is projected to be £1.8 billion. More than 99% of British goods exported will be eligible for tariff-free trade, including in new markets such as Malaysia.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP references the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs's statements about the Australia trade deal.
May I wish all hon. Members a very happy Christmas? In the spirit of Christmas cheer, I will offer the Minister for Trade Policy some help after his struggles in the Christmas quiz from my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth earlier: it was, of course, the Prime Minister who said that the Australia deal is “one-sided”. There is more: “The first step is to recognise that the Australia trade deal is not actually a very good deal for the UK”.—[Official Report, 14 November 2022; Vol. 722, c. 424.] Those are not my words, but the words of the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for Camborne and Redruth (George Eustice). Quite simply, why should anyone have confidence in the Conservatives' trade policy when they do not have confidence in it themselves?
I am afraid the right hon. Gentleman is talking nonsense. The Australia free trade agreement is a great deal. It will boost the household wages going into our pockets by an estimated £900 million. It will grow the UK economy to be an estimated £2.3 billion bigger in 2035.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP questions the government's target of achieving an FTA percentage by the end of the year.
If the Secretary of State thinks that those views are nonsense, I suggest she takes them up with the Prime Minister and the former Secretary of State. It was their judgment that I put to her, not my words. On trade, the reality is that the Conservatives are delivering either bad deals or no deals at all. That is what happens when we have a Government who are high on rhetoric and devoid of strategy, with workers and businesses paying the price. Let me ask a simple question. If the Government will not hit their target of 80% of our trade being under FTAs by the end of the year—and they won't—when will they hit it?
As Secretary of State, I have been very clear that what is important is the substance of trade deals, not the timing. It is about the deals, not the day. I am negotiating quality trade deals for the UK that will last for generations to come.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or target date was not provided
As Secretary Of State, I Have Been Very Clear That What Is Important Is The Substance Of Trade Deals, Not The Timing
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights Medtrade's contributions in his constituency.
Medtrade in my constituency has not only been supplying battlefield bleed control packs to Ukraine, but recently received approval for a new treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, which affects 14 million women globally and causes 80,000 deaths a year. Will the Secretary of State join me in meeting Medtrade in Crewe to understand how we can better help such innovative life sciences companies in our constituencies?
I thank my hon. Friend and Medtrade for their support in sending supplies to Ukraine. My Department is committed to supporting innovative life sciences companies; he will have seen the Board of Trade's recent report on life sciences.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific meeting was not confirmed, only general commitment mentioned
My Department Is Committed To Supporting Innovative Life Sciences Companies
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the benefits for Newcastle businesses from a US memorandum.
The Secretary of State recently announced signing a memorandum of understanding with the US state of South Carolina focusing on life sciences and automotive—areas that are very important to the north-east. Could she set out exactly how businesses in Newcastle can benefit from that memorandum of understanding and whether it is supposed to compensate for the lack of any trade agreement with the United States?
It was me who signed the deal with South Carolina last Wednesday, and the hon. Lady can see the deal for herself on gov.uk. We have done deals with Indiana and North Carolina.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific benefits to Newcastle businesses were not detailed
The Hon. Lady Can See The Deal For Herself On Gov.Uk
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP suggests negotiating trade in tomatoes from Morocco.
As was rightly pointed out earlier, food price inflation is a huge problem for British consumers. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should look at negotiating trade in tomatoes from Morocco, which has the potential of saving about £180 million a year? That would be a big improvement for the British consumer, as every little helps each individual.
I am delighted that my hon. Friend raised Morocco, because although they were defeated in the end, their performance was marvellous in the World cup last night.
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Assessment & feedback
Discussion of football instead of tomato trade agreement
I Am Delighted That My Hon. Friend Raised Morocco, Because Although They Were Defeated In The End, Their Performance Was Marvellous In The World Cup Last Night.
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Concern over the adequacy of anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports affecting British jobs.
Will the Government accept that if the anti-dumping duties placed on Chinese imported aluminium extrusions are too low, the result could be the loss of thousands upon thousands of British jobs?
A report will be coming out very soon, and we will be able to comment further at that point. We have had many representations, and the Trade Remedies Authority has worked very carefully on these issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific acknowledgement of potential job losses if duties are inadequate
Report Will Be Coming Out
We Will Comment Further
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern for the UK's renewable energy sector's export potential.
The UK has a highly developed renewable energy sector, which includes many businesses based in my constituency. Across the world there are many countries eager to remove fossil fuel generation. Can the Minister give an assurance that the Department will do more to encourage our renewable energy sector to get more into the export market?
At the green trade and investment expo in Gateshead last month, I saw many companies from around the UK that are engaged in exporting renewable energies technology around the world. Indeed, the UK is home to world-leading companies in the design and development of renewable energy, and the Department for International Trade has already supported over £5 billion of exports across the energy and infrastructure sectors in the past.
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Assessment & feedback
Concrete assurances or commitments on future export support
Already Supported Over £5 Billion Of Exports
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Q10
Partial Answer
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Concern about the Centre for Business Prosperity's estimates of British exports disappearing from European shelves since Brexit.
The Centre for Business Prosperity at Aston University has estimated that 42% of British exports have disappeared from European shelves since Brexit. Is the Secretary of State proud of her party's 12-year record in charge of export policy?
Trade with the EU is actually up 18%. Instead of coming here and talking down Scottish and British businesses that are exporting to the continent and around the world, he should join us—he should be here championing Scotch whisky exports, which are up; he should be here championing Scotch beef exports, which are up; and he should be here championing the great Scottish financial services exports, which are up around the world and transforming lives for the better.
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Assessment & feedback
Acknowledge Centre for Business Prosperity's estimates or impact on British exports
Talk Down Businesses
Championing Exports
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Concern about specific trade envoy position for the Commonwealth family of nations.
Can my right hon. Friend update the House on trade envoy positions? Following my recent Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office report on the Commonwealth, which I am sure he has read, will there be a specific trade envoy position for the Commonwealth family of nations?
We already have a trade envoy appointed to 15 Commonwealth nations. We have no plans to add a dedicated Commonwealth trade envoy to the programme. We have trade agreements with 33 Commonwealth members, with a further 16 benefiting from reduced tariffs, and six of the 11 trans-Pacific partnership countries are Commonwealth members.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plans for dedicated Commonwealth trade envoy position
No Plans To Add
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Concern about protecting Northern Ireland's food and drink exports worth £5.4 billion.
Northern Ireland's food and drink exports are worth some £5.4 billion, and we export 65% of the sector's manufacturing to the UK, the EU and the rest of the world. What discussions has the Minister had with the Ulster Farmers' Union, in which I declare an interest, to commit to protecting Northern Ireland's agriculture industry in any future trade deal?
I have not personally had any meetings with the Ulster Farmers' Union, but one of my Ministers has. I want to emphasise that our export strategy is focused on such issues. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me with more specifics, I would be very happy to take them up on his behalf.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment from government following discussions with Ulster Farmers' Union
Not Personally Had Meetings
Write To Me For Specifics
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Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern about attracting private sector investment in offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture on the north East Anglian coast.
The road to net zero provides many local job-creation opportunities on the north East Anglian coast in technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. The Government are backing these industries, but significant private sector investment is required. I would be grateful if my right hon. Friend outlined what her Department is doing to attract inward investment to these exciting emerging sectors.
DIT and the Office for Investment work directly with project leads, investors and financial institutions, and we are seeing excellent progress. For example, ScottishPower is investing £2.5 billion in its East Anglia ONE project, the first of four in the region, including a £25 million state-of-the-art operations and maintenance facility in Lowestoft.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions to attract private sector investment
Excellent Progress
Examples Of Investments
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Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Concern for the trading relationship support for overseas territories and Crown dependencies.
Exports such as squid from the Falklands are an enormously important part of the economies of our overseas territories and Crown dependencies. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that everything possible is being done to support the trading relationships of this important part of the British family?
We work closely with the Crown dependencies and overseas territories to ensure their interests are actively represented in our FTA programme and trade negotiations. DIT officials have fortnightly contact with them, and the Minister for Trade Policy has recently engaged with them and will continue to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assurance that everything possible is being done
Actively Represented
Fortnightly Contact
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Q15
Partial Answer
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Interest in details of the India Free Trade Agreement.
I was interested to hear the Secretary of State's update on India. Can she go into more detail on how many chapters have closed and on the big opportunities in this trading relationship?
Sixteen chapters have closed. I returned from India just yesterday, and I am still a bit jetlagged. We had two days of invigorating trade talks. Minister Goyal and I had face-to-face discussions on the priority areas within the FTA, including goods, services and investment.
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Assessment & feedback
Detailed progress updates beyond chapters closed
Still Jetlagged
Two Days Of Invigorating Trade Talks
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Q16
Partial Answer
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The MP asked about the impact of a recent North Carolina trade agreement on local businesses in West Oxfordshire.
I am concerned about how the North Carolina trade agreement will help businesses in places such as West Oxfordshire to export to every corner of the United States, our largest trading partner?
We have now signed three deals. We had an offshore wind delegation meet Governor Cooper of North Carolina. The first meeting of the working group on Indiana discussed state procurement markets in the US. Companies across the UK, including in Oxfordshire, can benefit from these opportunities.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific mechanisms or commitments to facilitate exports for companies in West Oxfordshire were not provided.
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Q17
Partial Answer
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The MP asked about the follow-up to recent trade agreements with Indonesia.
I ask my right hon. Friend to confirm first that the next round of Joint Economic and Trade Committee talks will happen here in London in the first quarter of next year, secondly that the new Government-to-Government framework has Indonesia as a priority, and thirdly if we can move to negotiations on an FTA as soon as possible?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his efforts in championing Indonesia. We want to have a JETCO early next year, and I would like him to assist us in engagements with Indonesia.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timelines for FTA negotiations were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
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The MP asked about the mood and plans for deepening ties between France and the UK following a meeting with the French Trade Minister.
I thank Mr Speaker for leading us in the one-minute silence commemorating 80 years since this House recognised that the holocaust was taking place. I ask if there is a new mood of optimism around the Franco-British bilateral relationship, and if the planned summit provides an opportunity to deepen ties on trade and energy security?
I join my right hon. Friend in commending Mr Speaker for today's commemoration. I had a good meeting with Olivier Becht, covering various issues including preparations for the UK-France summit coming up early next year.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific opportunities or commitments to deepen cooperation were not provided.
Response accuracy