Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Environmental Protection Standards: Future Trade Agreements

Thursday 3 September 2020 · 1 question

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tony Abbott may play a role as a policy adviser to the Board of Trade.
  • The Government's stance on environmental protection standards in trade negotiations remains unchanged.
  • No official confirmation of Abbott's appointment has been made.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeff Smith Lab Norwich South
Business & Trade Environment
Context

MP Jeff Smith questions the government's commitment to environmental standards amidst potential trade negotiations and concerns over appointments that may undermine these commitments.

Question

The former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, said that he played a major role in ensuring Australia's trade negotiations were not sidetracked by peripheral issues such as environmental standards. Does his potential appointment as a policy adviser to the Board of Trade mean that this is now the Government's new approach? How can the Government reassure us that they do not regard the environment as a peripheral issue?

Answer from Greg Hands (Minister for Asia and the Pacific)

The Government's approach on the environment, and on the environment and trade, is unchanged. No appointments have been confirmed. Personally, I welcome the fact that a former Prime Minister of Australia is willing to help this country out. I think we should welcome his interest and welcome the endeavours he has the potential to make for this country on behalf of us all.

Answered
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