Topical Questions

Question

Every mile that every product travels grows its carbon footprint, and the Secretary of State has not denied her Department's leaked document that states that it prioritises economic growth over climate protection. How will she make representation at COP26 when we hear that we are way off our 1.5 °C target, and place the climate emergency—and it is an emergency—at the top of her priorities, as opposed to being something she does not really believe in?

Question

I have a number of livestock, cattle and sheep farmers in my beautiful Hastings and Rye constituency in East Sussex, of which I am very proud. On global export opportunities for my farmers, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to differentiate UK lamb or beef from that from other parts of the world, for example by establishing a UK brand? Is she developing an export strategy specifically for that purpose?

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State to her place and the two new Ministers to the team. I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment yesterday to bringing forward the long-overdue online harms Bill. The Secretary of State will know that I have spent many years campaigning on that Bill and trying to ensure that it is brought forward in better time. I know that Ministers will agree that there can be no loopholes in our trade agreements when it comes to the liability of online service providers. Have Ministers commissioned legal advice on the compatibility of the draft online safety legislation with chapter 14 of the provisions of the trans-Pacific partnership in relation to electronic commerce? We really cannot allow platforms to get away from culpability for not tackling the abuses that everyone receives through their platforms.

Question

One of the UK's greatest exports is Stoke-on-Trent's world-leading ceramics, which I am sure my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has heard much about from her newly appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Jack Brereton). Ceramics manufacturers in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke are delighted that our new free trade agreement with Australia will bring opportunities to export more of our outstanding products. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is a fantastic boost for this iconic British industry and the world capital of ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent?

Question

During recess, I visited a constituent on his farm. We discussed how farmers want a level playing field when it comes to trade, and their concerns about the Government's trade agreements undercutting UK food standards. Will the proposed deal with Australia reduce tariffs on meat produced using growth-promoting antibiotics, which UK farmers are banned from using? If so, how is it consistent with the repeated promises made to our farmers that they would not be undermined by food produced to lower standards than they are required to meet?

Question

I am concerned that since we are now free to negotiate trade deals independently, will my right hon. Friend update the House on what progress she has made securing deals with countries in the far east and how it will help ensure the port of Southampton thrives into the future?

Question

I am concerned that without extending the safeguards, we risk becoming a magnet for imported steel, putting at risk thousands of high-paid, high-skilled jobs and millions of pounds of economic value. Do current Ministers share these concerns?

Question

May I thank my right hon. Friend for securing the free trade agreement with New Zealand? How does her Department engage with the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man during FTA development?

Question

Ministers have stated that trade does not need to come at the expense of human rights. Given the serious abuses in Colombia, including 43 people killed by police during protests and over 100 social leaders murdered, should we suspend Colombia's membership under the UK-Andean trade agreement based on its human rights clause?

Question

What progress has my right hon. Friend made on increasing trade with Israel, particularly in tech and pharmaceutical sectors?

Question

Due to poorly negotiated ideology-driven free trade deals, farmers will have no choice but to resort to intensive farming to compete. Has DEFRA analysed how this shift impacts pollution levels and greenhouse gas emissions?

Question

I welcome the announcement today of an agreement in principle on the free trade deal with New Zealand. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that these deals are good for consumers and open up export markets for our farmers?

Question

Why are we requiring 20% import tariffs on tuna from the Maldives? It is a highly sustainable sector and other SIDS do not have the same tariffs. What progress is being made on negotiating an economic partnership agreement or finding some other way to remove this unfair barrier?

Question

With nearly 70 free trade deals now signed and the fact that the British people voted to leave political union with the European Union, does the Secretary of State agree that Opposition Members would have kept us in the single market and customs union, and we would not have been able to negotiate the free trade deals that we now have around the country, including the one announced with New Zealand? This now puts us in pole position to be the global leader that we are.

Question

As we have heard, human rights are too often forgotten in our trade deals. I believe that the Foreign Secretary is now courting Saudi Arabia even more, to name just one of the countries that has a dubious record. When will the Government start getting serious about human rights and make it clear to countries around the world that until they get their human rights records sorted out, they are not going to get trade deals with the UK?

Question

The UK is already one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world and this investment is vital to levelling up the country, particularly investment in new technologies and green innovation. Will the Secretary of State confirm that she is working to encourage this type of investment to help us to progress to net zero emissions and deliver on the Prime Minister's excellent 10-point plan?

Question

Will the Department agree to consider evidence gathered by the Environmental Audit Committee's inquiry into carbon border taxes or, better still, initiate an inquiry of its own?

Question

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the news that she has begun discussions on a new export and investment partnership between the UK and Italy. Does she agree that enhancing our bilateral relationship with Italy will boost export opportunities and investment promotion for our businesses?