Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 15 July 2021 · 14 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Brendan O'Hara questioned the Minister about the difficulties faced by seafood producers in Argyll and Bute due to Brexit, including bureaucracy and market loss.
  • Andrew Jones welcomed the historic free trade agreement with Australia, highlighting its benefits for UK businesses and consumers.
  • Virendra Sharma inquired about HSBC's role in advising UK trade policy with China while supporting the Hong Kong crackdown, raising concerns about the appropriateness of such meetings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Seafood producers in Argyll and Bute constituency are facing significant issues post-Brexit including paperwork, red tape, falling prices, loss of markets, labour shortages, transport, and logistical problems.

Question

We are six months into Brexit and the sea of opportunity that the seafood producers of my Argyll and Bute constituency were promised has turned out to be swamp of bureaucracy. Alongside a mountain of paperwork and red tape, they all report falling prices, loss of markets, labour shortages and major transport and logistical problems. Six months into Brexit, they are facing an existential crisis. How has the Secretary of State's Department allowed that to happen?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We have seen trade with the EU bounce back after some initial issues. In particular, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has offered support to seafood producers to ensure that they have what they need to be able to deal with those issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address how the department allowed these issues but instead provided a general statement of current trade status and support given.

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Q2 Andrew Jones Con
Business & Trade
Context

The UK has secured a free trade agreement with Australia which presents opportunities for businesses and consumers, including youth mobility provisions.

Question

I welcome the historic free trade agreement that my right hon. Friend has secured with Australia and congratulate her on it. As somebody who has done some exporting to Australia before coming here, I know that this presents significant opportunities for UK businesses and consumers. I was really pleased to see increased opportunities for younger people to travel and work there, which is a very valuable experience and an interesting element for a trade deal.

Answer from Greg Hands

My hon. Friend is correct. The Australia deal is a fundamentally liberalising agreement that removes tariffs and supports millions of jobs. It will strengthen the bonds of friendship—I speak as the parliamentary president of the Conservative Friends of Australia—for example by championing youth mobility, which he referred to. The deal also paves the way for joining the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership and the growing middle-class markets of the Pacific rim. We are realising the vision of a global Britain that looks to one of the most dynamic trading areas in the world.

Answered
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Q3 Virendra Sharma Lab
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

HSBC is meeting Trade Ministers privately to advise on UK trade policy with China, despite supporting the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and freezing activists' bank accounts.

Question

Does the Minister think it is appropriate that HSBC continues to meet Trade Ministers privately and advise on UK trade policy with China while it supports the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and continues to freeze prominent activists' bank accounts?

Answer from Greg Hands

HSBC is an extremely important company and employer in this country. I do not have a problem with Ministers meeting HSBC, let us put that on the record. The hon. Gentleman will also be aware of the very strong action we have taken in relation to China and the measures announced by the Foreign Secretary in this House in January in relation to supply chains in Xinjiang and actions in Hong Kong, which had broad agreement across the House. We will continue to make vigorous representations in relation to China, and we are monitoring the situation very closely.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether it is appropriate for HSBC to meet Trade Ministers given its stance towards Hong Kong and activists' accounts.

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Q4 Tom Randall
Business & Trade
Context

The UK is a major exporter of services, particularly digitally enabled ones. Negotiations have started for a new digital economy agreement with Singapore.

Question

The UK is already one of the world's biggest exporters of services, with remotely delivered service exports worth £207 billion in 2019 alone. I am delighted to see that negotiations have been launched for a new digital economy agreement with Singapore. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that this new advanced high-tech digital trade agreement could remove barriers to digital trade and thereby allow UK exports to expand into high-tech markets?

Answer from Greg Hands

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Services are 80% of the UK economy. We are the world's second largest exporter of services, and a huge number of those are digitally enabled. The digital economy agreement between the UK and Singapore will be a model for global digital trade rules, and I met Singapore Minister Alvin Tan just yesterday to discuss it. Singapore is a global leader in this area. We are looking forward to signing an excellent agreement with Singapore.

Answered
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Q5 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Climate Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The Secretary of State and the Minister for Trade Policy have acknowledged the importance of accounting for the impact of imports on global carbon emissions. The questioner seeks a commitment that proposals for a carbon border tax will be discussed at COP26.

Question

We cannot claim to have reached genuine net zero as a country or even have a plan to do so until we take into account the impact of our imports on global carbon emissions. The Secretary of State and the Minister for Trade Policy have acknowledged the importance of that, but neither has answered this very simple question: will the Government commit to ensuring that proposals for a carbon border tax are on the agenda for COP26 in November, so that meaningful progress can be made on accounting for and reducing carbon emissions from trade? Yes or no?

Answer from Greg Hands

We are following developments on the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism closely. The UK has ambitious carbon pricing through our emissions trading scheme and carbon price support mechanism, and we expect the EU CBAM to take account of that in its implementation. The COP President-designate, my right hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), has said that he does not anticipate carbon border adjustment mechanisms becoming an issue within the COP26 negotiations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not give a clear yes or no answer about ensuring carbon border tax proposals are on the agenda for COP26, instead providing information on EU developments and COP President-designate's stance.

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Q6 Sheryll Murray Con
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in South East Cornwall are facing difficulties due to the amount of paperwork they have. Some might be familiar with Jeremy Clarkson's show about farming.

Question

Many of my farmers in South East Cornwall already find it difficult to deal with the amount of paperwork they have. Some will have seen the entertaining but very informative show by Jeremy Clarkson, as he worked his farm. How is the Department proactively going to help our farmers achieve global sales?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her championing of her constituency and Cornwall's farmers. We are opening markets, as we have discussed. We are activating farmers with our “Open Doors” campaign, and we are grateful for the support of the National Farmers Union and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. We have a mentoring scheme, which I was delighted to launch in the south-west, and we are leading trade missions such as “Spring into Japan”, to make sure that on a greater scale than ever before we are engaging more farmers' produce with global markets, leading to jobs and prosperity in her constituency and beyond.

Answered
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Q7 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The national food strategy was published recently, and there are concerns about the government's commitment to protecting UK food standards in trade negotiations.

Question

In the national food strategy, I note that despite the manifesto pledge in 2019, the Government have still not said what standards they propose to protect or what mechanism they will use to defend those standards in trade negotiations. Is the Minister prepared to do that now?

Answer from Greg Hands

We have been absolutely categorical in our commitment on food standards and food safety standards. There will be no compromise on UK standards in relation to any trade agreement. If the hon. Member were to take a look at all the trade agreements we have done with 67 countries—such as the Australia trade deal agreement in principle and the Japan deal—she would see no diminution in our food safety and animal welfare standards so far.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify what specific standards or mechanisms will be used to protect UK food standards in trade negotiations as requested.

How: Under Review

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Q8 Ian Levy
Business & Trade
Context

Enshore Subsea, a subsea trenching company based at the port of Blyth, has been operating for over 25 years and is an example of UK business excellence.

Question

Will my hon. Friend come with me to the port of Blyth to visit Enshore Subsea and discuss how we can best enable businesses like it to compete across the globe?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I would be delighted.

Answered
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Q9 Rob Roberts
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Secretary of State has completed numerous trade deals around the world, including agreements that impact agriculture, a significant sector in Rob's constituency.

Question

What assurances can the Minister give to the people of Delyn that maintaining the highest level of food and agriculture standards in our global trading is at the forefront of all our negotiations?

Answer from Greg Hands

I can absolutely give that commitment to the people of Delyn. The Government have been very clear that any trade deals must work for UK consumers and businesses, upholding our high regulatory standards. We have manifesto commitments to no compromise on standards in animal welfare, food safety and the environment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assurances or mechanisms regarding maintaining high-level food and agriculture standards as requested.

How: Under Review

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Q10 Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The UK has a £5 billion continuity trade relationship with Israel, and there are opportunities to upgrade this relationship.

Question

What progress has been made on an advanced high-tech free trade agreement with Israel, and what help can she offer the likes of the Northern Health Science Alliance in conjunction with Israel?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

The Secretary of State had a successful visit to Israel in June, where she discussed ambitions for upgrading our current trade relationship. I am very keen personally to strengthen our £5 billion trade relationship even further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify progress or provide concrete support details as requested.

How: Under Review

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Q11 Mary Foy Lab City of Durham
Business & Trade
Context

TC Energy, a Canadian fossil fuel company, is seeking $15 billion through an investor-state dispute settlement challenge following the cancellation of the Keystone tar sands pipeline by President Biden.

Question

What responses has the Secretary of State received on ISDS in the recent consultation on UK-Canada trading arrangements, and will she commit to dropping ISDS in the UK-Canada trade deal?

Answer from Greg Hands

We will be responding in due course to the call for input on going further on a trade deal with Canada. I would remind the hon. Member that there are no ISDS provisions in the UK-Australia deal, but the UK has never lost an ISDS case. We do have ISDS provisions in quite a number of our existing agreements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to dropping ISDS as requested and provided only general reminders about past deals without specifics for Canada.

How: Under Review

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Q12 Henry Smith Con
Business & Trade
Context

UK Export Finance responded quickly to the economic challenges of the covid-19 pandemic, helping numerous companies and suppliers sell to countries around the world.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that UK Export Finance's quick response to the pandemic with the full backing of the Treasury helped some 549 companies and all their suppliers sell to 77 countries last year?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent question. I am tremendously proud of UK Export Finance and its staff for their innovative response to the pandemic, providing over £12 billion to UK businesses supporting more than 100,000 jobs.

Answered
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Q13 James Davies Con
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The UK has left the EU, and now there are opportunities as an independent sovereign trading nation.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that the deals we have already secured herald a new era for British businesses exporting around the globe and can assist Airbus in ensuring more airlines fly on Welsh wings?

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena

My Department continues to defend the interests of British industries in all parts of the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State is currently in the US building on the historic arrangement secured in the Airbus-Boeing dispute, ensuring that the British aerospace sector can take off again after covid-19.

Answered
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Q14 Edward Timpson Con
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the Government's export strategy not adequately supporting UK farmers and food companies.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government's ambitious strategy for growing exports needs to include more agricultural councils in our embassies, a UK export council to help co-ordinate that strategy, and better promotion and marketing of brand Britain abroad so that we can ensure that farming and food companies in Eddisbury and right across the country can embrace the undoubted benefits and opportunities that UK free trade deals can deliver?

Answer from Graham Stuart

My hon. Friend cleverly tempts me to list the recommendations of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, which constructively seeks to improve our support for UK farmers. We look forward to responding to that as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask regarding agricultural councils in embassies, a UK export council, and better promotion of brand Britain was not directly addressed.

How: Looking Forward To Responding

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