Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Technology Sector Exports

Thursday 8 October 2020 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Technology sector exports to the UK totalled 23 billion in the previous year, with projections reaching up to 31 billion by 2025.
  • The UK-Japan free trade agreement includes provisions that reduce costs for businesses by eliminating the need to set up data servers in Japan.
  • The agreement with Japan and anticipated deal with the United States will provide UK tech firms, including those in the Black Country, opportunities to expand internationally, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marco Longhi
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from the importance of the technology sector in the UK's economy, particularly its export value.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the value of technology sector exports to the UK?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Technology is an important and growing sector. Sales of our digital tech exports totalled £23 billion last year, and Oxford Economics thinks they will be worth up to £31 billion by 2025. Our ambitious approach to digital trade in free trade agreements will boost exports, support economic growth, job creation and prosperity.

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Q2 Andy Carter
Business & Trade
Context

The supplementary question comes after initial discussion on technology sector exports, focusing specifically on how UK businesses can benefit from the UK-Japan free trade agreement.

Question

Will the Minister tell us a little bit more about the UK-Japan free trade agreement, and particularly how it will help businesses in Warrington South and the north-west to do more business with Japan?

Answer from Graham Stuart

There are specific issues including not having to worry about the added cost of setting up data servers in Japan because of the elements that look at data transfer; a guarantee that the trade secrets underpinning innovations of entrepreneurs in my hon. Friend's constituency are protected and do not have to be shared across borders; and a clear commitment that entrepreneurs on both sides of the agreement will be able to operate in an open, secure and trustworthy online environment.

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Q3 Marco Longhi
Business & Trade
Context

The supplementary question builds upon the discussion of UK-Japan and potential US free trade agreements, inquiring about benefits specifically for businesses in the Black Country region.

Question

The deal with Japan includes some very ambitious chapters on digital and data, and a deal with the United States is set to benefit tech firms. Will my hon. Friend advise how Black Country firms can make the best of these future opportunities?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Tech firms in my hon. Friend's constituency and across the UK will benefit from the opening of markets and the minimisation of barriers to trade, which will allow them to expand internationally, not least in the Asia-Pacific region. The joint DIT and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport digital trade network, which was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in June, will significantly improve our support for businesses from my hon. Friend's constituency in that fast-growing part of the world.

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