Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade Agreements: SMEs

Thursday 10 June 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kevin Hollinrake asked the Minister about steps to ensure trade agreements provide a level playing field for SMEs, to which the Minister responded that SME chapters and provisions are being sought in all free trade agreements.
  • Emily Thornberry inquired about the concerns of small and medium-sized farms regarding the agreement with Australia and the role of NFUs, to which the Minister affirmed the promise of NFUs' active role and the establishment of the trade and agriculture commission.
  • Drew Hendry questioned the additional support and compensation for Scotch whisky distilleries facing increased costs and delays post-Brexit, but the Minister emphasized the recovery in trade volumes with the EU and the importance of trade deals with key markets like Australia.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Hollinrake Con Thirsk and Malton
Business & Trade
Context

The MP asked about ensuring trade agreements provide a level playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question

What steps she is taking to ensure that trade agreements provide a level playing field for SMEs?

Answer from Greg Hands

Employing 17 million people and generating £2.3 trillion in turnover, small and medium-sized enterprises are vital to increasing UK trade. That is why we are continuing to seek SME chapters and SME-friendly provisions throughout all our free trade agreements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps not detailed, only mentions seeking SME chapters and friendly provisions

How: Seeking Sme Chapters, Sme-Friendly Provisions

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Q2 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of a trade deal with Australia on small and medium-sized farms, referencing promises made by the Minister in November 2020.

Question

Small and medium-sized farms across the country are worried that this weekend's agreement with Australia will undermine their business. Last November, the Minister promised an active role for NFUs to assess trade agreements going forward and advanced protection of farming interests. Does he stand by those statements today?

Answer from Greg Hands

I thank the right hon. Lady for those questions and I absolutely stand by that. We are involving NFUs from all four nations; I have met NFU Scotland's Martin Kennedy twice in recent weeks. We are confident that the new trade and agriculture commission will be up and running in good time for it to conduct its statutory review of the Australia free trade agreement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete timeline or details provided for TAC's operation

How: Confident That Tac Will Operate

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Q3 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP questions the Government's confidence in the trade and agriculture commission's ability to protect farmers' interests as promised.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer but the British farming industry knows the truth: the trade and agriculture commission it was promised is not what they were advertised. The question to the Minister of State is simply this: why? What are the Government so scared of?

Answer from Greg Hands

We—myself, the Secretary of State and the whole of the Department for International Trade—listen very carefully to British farmers. The Secretary of State opened expressions of interest to become members of the trade and agriculture commission just this week. Its role will be as debated and approved during the passage of the Trade Act 2021 and the Agriculture Act 2020.

Not addressed: Did not address why TAC does not match expectations, changed to opening expressions of interest

How: Listening Carefully, Opened Expressions Of Interest

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Q4 Drew Hendry SNP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlights the negative impact of Brexit and a potential deal with Australia on the Scotch whisky industry, citing specific examples.

Question

SMEs make up the backbone of the Scotch whisky industry. Speyside Distillery reports sales are down since Brexit due to increased costs for glass, cardboard, shipping delays, and extra paperwork. What additional support and compensation will the Government pay distilleries like Speyside?

Answer from Greg Hands

I remind SNP Members that Scotch whisky currently faces tariffs going into Australia; it is one of Scotch whisky's most important markets. In terms of trade volumes with the EU, we are continuing to see a recovery in data, with a 46% increase in exports in February and a further 9% increase in March.

Not addressed: Did not address additional support or compensation for distilleries

How: Reminded About Tariffs, Recovered Trade Volumes

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Q5 Drew Hendry SNP
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The MP criticizes the Government for ignoring Scotland's needs in its Brexit and trade policies, highlighting concerns over fishing rights and animal welfare standards.

Question

They just do not care about Scottish businesses. The SNP has never supported Westminster's trade policy because Scotland's needs are always ignored. Is the Minister aware that they are being found out in Scotland?

Answer from Greg Hands

I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman has been listening carefully enough to what I have been saying about the SNP and trade deals. The SNP has rejected all trade deals negotiated by the UK, including those with Canada, South Africa, Japan, and Singapore.

Not addressed: Did not address awareness of sentiment in Scotland

How: Not Listening Carefully, Rejection Of Trade Deals

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