Topical Questions

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The questioner inquires about the recent historic deal struck with the US Administration that ended the 16-year Airbus-Boeing dispute and its impact on UK exports, such as Scotch whisky, cashmere, and machinery.

Question

As co-chair of the all-party group for Fairtrade, may I please ask the Secretary of State what steps her Department is taking to make sure that our trade policies help and support Fairtrade farmers and growers across the world?

Question

The New Zealand Government announced last month their policy towards countries such as the UK seeking to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They said: “New members…will need to comply with the existing…agreement. The text of the Agreement will not change. Current rules and obligations…will not change.” Is the Secretary of State concerned that this sounds very much like we will be rule-takers in the CPTPP, rather than rule-makers?

Question

As we follow the covid-19 road map and move from response to recovery, it is vital that we offer our small and medium-sized businesses the tools and support that they need to find new markets, grow their exports and spur on our economic growth. Will the Minister set out what steps the Department is taking to make sure that our SMEs are supported on the world stage?

Question

Sixty per cent. of Wales's exports have been to the EU and steel is of great importance. Given that the Government's own Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts showed that the Brexit deal would lead to a 4% reduction in our GDP, and given that they are removing the safeguards on steel in June, does the Secretary of State accept that the overall amount and value of exports from Wales in the next five years will be less than it was in the previous five years due to the Government's policies?

Question

In Ipswich, we are fortunate to have an incredibly engaged local Indian community, many of whom run businesses sourcing goods coming from India. Also down the road, let us not forget, is Felixstowe, which takes in most of the goods that come in from India and then go around the rest of the country. Do the Government have any plans to closely engage with local communities, such as the Indian community in Ipswich, and possibly introduce cultural exchanges to bridge any cultural barriers there may be and therefore increase and boost trade between our country and our close friends, India?

Question

May I ask the Secretary of State if she understands the frustration of the Cheshire Cheese Company, whose co-founder, I understand, spoke to officials in her Department before Easter about the problems that they are facing exporting to the EU? Extraordinarily, instead of being given advice on how to fix the problem, they were advised to look for other emerging markets. Given the Secretary of State's infamous passion for cheese, will she tell us whether her departmental officials could not have done better?

Question

Since the announcement that Immingham and the Humber ports have been designated as a freeport, businesses across my constituency welcome the move and see it as part of the Government's global Britain policies. What plans does the Department have to ensure they can benefit from the freeport and explore new markets?

Question

It is now almost six weeks since the Government signed a trade agreement between the UK and Cameroon. Will the Secretary of State explain why the agreement has not yet been laid before Parliament, and will she guarantee a debate when it is?

Question

I have worked with the excellent team at the Department of International Trade on setting up the parliamentary export programme in Wakefield. With more free trade agreements to be ratified, including with blocs such as the CPTPP, can my right hon. Friend outline what benefits these new agreements will bring to businesses in Wakefield and across West Yorkshire?

Question

In its annual report, Amnesty International cited the UK's resumption of arms sales to Saudi Arabia as contributing to a headlong rush into abandoning human rights. Does the Minister agree with this conclusion?

Question

Will my right hon. Friend set out what progress her Department is making on meeting the 2.3% public sector apprenticeship target and when it will meet it, and also say what she is doing to encourage businesses in international trade to employ apprentices?