Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Growth for British Businesses

Thursday 25 February 2021 · 5 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department's trade policies aim to support growth, productivity and jobs for British businesses.
  • We are lowering barriers to Welsh exporters through trade deals and providing various forms of support.
  • The Minister committed to working with the SDLP and Invest Northern Ireland to promote both investment into Northern Ireland and exports from it.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Baynes
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from an ongoing assessment of the government's trade policies and their effects on British business growth.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential effect of her Department's trade policies on growth for British businesses?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The Department's trade policies aim to support growth, productivity and jobs for British businesses. The OECD estimates that 6.6 million UK workers were supported by exports in 2015. In addition, the Department's recently published impact assessment shows that the UK-Japan free trade agreement could increase UK GDP by £1.5 billion in the long run compared with trading under WTO terms.

Answered
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Q2 Simon Baynes
Wales Business & Trade
Context

This question stems from the St David's day debate focusing on promoting Welsh companies such as Ifor Williams Trailers, AE Sewing Machines in Ruabon, and the Rhug Estate's famous Welsh beef and lamb.

Question

Given that the St David's day debate is being held this afternoon, will the Minister comment on his Department's activities in promoting exports by Welsh companies, such as Ifor Williams Trailers, AE Sewing Machines in Ruabon, and the Rhug Estate's famous Welsh beef and lamb in my constituency of Clwyd South?

Answer from Graham Stuart

We are lowering barriers to Welsh exporters through trade deals, supporting them through staff in 119 countries, organising trade missions, providing online resources and championing them at international events. We have a long-standing relationship with the Rhug Estate, and we continue to support Welsh produce in particular.

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Q3 Drew Hendry SNP
Economy Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The question is raised regarding the government's trade policies post-Brexit, particularly in light of the European Commission's estimate showing a 2.25% GDP loss by the end of next year.

Question

As the Government continue to hide the overall effect of their trade policies, the first official estimate from the European Commission shows that this Government's Brexit deal will cost the UK at least 2.25% of GDP by the end of next year. In addition, two out of three supply chain managers report experiencing import delays of two to three days. Is that why the Minister is going so far to remove questions and avoid scrutiny of this disastrous Brexit deal in the Chamber? If he denies that, will he now publish the impact assessments prepared for his Government, which have so far been hidden away from those who deserve to know the real costs to business and families?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are certainly not avoiding scrutiny; all I will say as a final point is that he voted no deal, so it is odd for him to be complaining so much.

Not addressed: Publication of impact assessments

How: Accusing The Opposition

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Q4 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Northern Ireland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The SDLP is concerned about maximizing opportunities for Northern Ireland, particularly with unique access between UK and EU markets.

Question

Northern Ireland opposed Brexit, but it has happened. The protocol is its outworking, and it has to be made to work. The SDLP is determined to maximise the opportunities available to this region from being the crossroads between the UK and EU markets. We have written to the Minister seeking support in promoting Northern Ireland to investors who are seeking access to both the EU and UK markets.

Answer from Graham Stuart

We will absolutely work with her and Invest Northern Ireland, which does a fantastic job in conjunction with DIT to promote both investment into Northern Ireland and exports from it.

Answered
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Q5 Paul Blomfield Lab
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

A company in the questioner's constituency, Moon Climbing, has set up a base in the Netherlands to avoid trade barriers post-Brexit.

Question

Moon Climbing, a specialist rock climbing supplier in my constituency, tells me how, since January, new barriers have damaged its trade with Europe. In line with the advice of DIT officials, it set up a base in the Netherlands to avoid the barriers and it anticipates that that will be their main base from which they service both the EU and the rest of the world. I heard the Minister and the Secretary of State say earlier that it is nothing to do with them, but companies expect the Department for International Trade to take some responsibility for trade, so what are they doing to prevent more UK businesses moving abroad as a result of the damaging Brexit deal—losing UK jobs, GDP and tax revenue?

Answer from Graham Stuart

We work actively and run webinars with thousands attending, giving people tools to overcome frictions from our departure. I am pleased to say they are declining over time, and we overtook France to become the fifth largest exporter in the world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to prevent businesses moving abroad

How: Redirecting Responsibility

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