Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 18 June 2020 · 11 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 11 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • British financial institutions backed Brazilian beef companies linked to Amazon deforestation from 2013 to 2019, prompting questions on supply chain transparency and environmental protection.
  • Processes for reviewing arms export licences to Saudi Arabia have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the consolidated criteria following a Court of Appeal ruling.
  • The UK Government is committed to maintaining high animal welfare and import standards while pursuing opportunities from free trade agreements, such as with Japan and the US.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Environment
Context

The UK's trade relationships, particularly with Brazil, have raised concerns over deforestation due to financial backing provided by British institutions.

Question

Between 2013 and 2019, British financial institutions backed Brazilian beef companies linked to Amazon deforestation. How can we ensure greater supply chain transparency to prevent such environmental degradation?

Answer from The Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss

We are doing work on our supply chains, looking at vulnerabilities and resilience and making sure we have more transparency. This includes Project Defend and climate change negotiations leading up to COP26.

Answered
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Q2 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington North
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Court of Appeal ruled that exporting arms to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen is unlawful. British-made tear gas has been used against protesters in the US.

Question

A year after the Court of Appeal ruling, have all existing arms export licences to Saudi Arabia been reviewed? Does she condemn the use of tear gas and riot equipment in the US?

Answer from The Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss

We have reviewed processes to ensure compliance with the consolidated criteria. We condemn George Floyd's killing but maintain one of the strictest arms licensing regimes in the world, always adhering to the consolidated criteria.

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Q3 Shaun Bailey Con West Bromwich West
Business & Trade
Context

The Black Country is showcasing resilience and ingenuity in manufacturing.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that manufacturers in Wednesbury, Oldbury and Tipton can increase their exports?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Trade Policy and Exports)

Last week, I was at the Black Country chamber of commerce where they were enthusiastic about the Government's free trade agenda. A firm named Thomas Dudley expressed concern over Labour's opposition to the Trade Bill which would roll-over EU agreements.

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Q4 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Wales Business & Trade
Context

The Minister mentioned discussions with Welsh sheep farmers.

Question

What discussions has the minister had recently with the Welsh Labour Government about the potential effect of free trade agreements on Wales's economy?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Trade Policy and Exports)

We engage regularly with the devolved Administrations. Baroness Morgan is my opposite number in Wales and we have a good relationship on free trade agreements through the ministerial forum for trade.

Answered
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Q5 Robert Goodwill Con Scarborough and Whitby
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Minister was asked about the opportunities for British agriculture.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that global free trade presents more opportunities than threats to British agriculture, such as North Yorkshire lamb and Wensleydale cheese?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

I completely agree. The first cargoes of British beef will leave UK ports this summer destined for America due to the lifted beef ban, worth £66 million to the industry over five years.

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Q6 Lisa Cameron SNP Preston
Business & Trade
Context

The Minister was asked about the progress of the trade agreement with Chile.

Question

From the continuity agreement, exports to Chile have grown by 16% a year. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Chile, what further progress will be made to ensure that the trading relationship goes from strength to strength?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

Chile is an important trade partner and a key member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership which we want to join.

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Q7 Duncan Baker Con North Norfolk
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Minister was asked about steps to ensure high animal welfare and import standards are kept.

Question

What steps are being taken to ensure that high animal welfare and import standards are maintained, along with the opportunities of free trade agreement for farmers?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

We are committed to maintaining our high animal welfare and import standards while ensuring that farmers do not face unfair competition. There are huge opportunities, such as with malting barley into Japan.

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Q8 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem Solihull
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

A constituent wrote about his concern over high animal welfare and import standards.

Question

Freddie Melville, 10 years old, wants to be a farmer like his dad. His father rears animals to a high standard but fears allowing lower-standard food into the UK would reduce what they are paid for their food. Can the Minister commit to enshrining welfare standards in trade legislation?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

UK farming benefits from the US agreement as people there want high-quality, high-welfare UK produce.

Answered

Not addressed: Enshrining welfare standards in legislation

How: Deflecting

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Q9 Robert Courts Con Oxford West and Abingdon
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Minister was asked about the Food Standards Agency's ability to enforce high import food standards.

Question

How well placed is the Food Standards Agency to enforce our high import food standards?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Trade Policy and Exports)

The Food Standards Agency is extremely well placed on this issue. The chair sent a letter to all parliamentarians about the important work of this non-ministerial Government department.

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Q10 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Business & Trade
Context

The Minister was asked about the export of bullets, tear gas, and batons used on innocent protesters.

Question

Has her Department authorised the export of any of the above in the past 12 months?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

Quarterly, we publish exactly which export licences we issue as a Department. We are completely transparent and operate in line with the consolidated criteria.

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Q11 Roger Gale Con Folkestone and Hythe
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the UK's animal welfare standards post-Brexit, following the Government's rejection of amendments to the Agriculture Bill.

Question

Will the PM give a complete assurance that no goods from countries with less stringent animal welfare conditions will enter the UK after leaving the EU?

Answer from The Prime Minister (Elizabeth Truss)

I can give my right hon Friend an absolute assurance that all current regulations with the EU will be transposed into UK law. However, we do not require other countries to follow our domestic regulations and currently import produce from Canada and developing world without such requirements.

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