Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economic and Security Ties with Allies

Tuesday 26 October 2021 · 7 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 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is deepening economic and security ties with allies including the United States, CPTPP members, and India.
  • James Grundy's constituency of Leigh and businesses across the UK could benefit from strengthened economic ties with India.
  • The Foreign Secretary discussed issues with China, including concerns over Xinjiang and Hong Kong, with the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Grundy
Economy Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP asks about diplomatic efforts to secure economic and security benefits with international allies against hostile actors.

Question

What diplomatic steps is her Department taking to strengthen economic and security ties with international allies to help challenge hostile actors?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

We are deepening our economic and security ties with allies, including the United States, members of the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership, and India. We need to win the battle for economic influence through free enterprise and economies based on democracy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or strategies were not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 James Grundy
Business & Trade
Context

The MP seeks assurances on the government's commitment to enhance economic ties with India, highlighting opportunities for his constituency and the UK.

Question

Boosting our economic ties with India could provide opportunities for businesses in my constituency of Leigh and across the UK. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that she will do everything she can to turbo-charge that relationship?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. I was in New Delhi and Mumbai last week doing just that. India is a key strategic partner for the United Kingdom. It is the world's largest democracy. There are huge opportunities. We are shortly about to launch trade talks with India and we are working to increase two-way investment flows.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete actions or specific commitments were not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP raises concerns over the reduction in non-official development aid and questions if funding has been clawed back to support international commitments.

Question

With just days to go until COP26, has she clawed back some of that funding in tomorrow's Budget, or will we see the same story playing out of a Foreign Secretary who is not taken seriously in Beijing because she is not taken seriously around her own Cabinet table?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I thank the hon. Lady for her warm welcome to the Dispatch Box. I look forward to working with her over the coming years—many, many years. I do not think the Chancellor would be very happy if I announced the spending review today—and I am not sure you, Mr Speaker, would be very happy either. However, I assure her that we are absolutely prioritising our humanitarian aid budget. We are prioritising women and girls as part of our development budget, and we are prioritising investing in honest, reliable infrastructure in developing countries, particularly clean, green infrastructure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific funding amounts or inclusion in Budget were not mentioned

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP queries the impact of budget cuts on the Department's ability to influence global policy, particularly in relation to China.

Question

When the Foreign Secretary's budget has been devastated over the past 10 years of Tory Government, can she not see the problem with no new money being announced in the Budget tomorrow?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I completely agree with the hon. Lady about the terrible atrocities that are taking place in Xinjiang, and I raised that with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on the phone last week, as well as our concerns over Hong Kong, which I have also raised publicly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific guarantees were not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Thomas Tugendhat Con Tonbridge
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The MP inquires about the Foreign Secretary's plans to leverage economic ties with allies for global strategic benefits.

Question

Given her past experience, can she tell us how she will build on the economic power of the United Kingdom to develop our strategic influence around the world?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that developing our economic ties with like-minded allies is vital to developing our influence in the world and also the influence of free enterprise, freedom and democracy. That is why we are pursuing trade deals with the likes of the CPTPP, India and the United States, which are all democratic and free enterprise-based.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific strategies or plans were not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 James Gray Con
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP discusses the environmental, economic, and security implications of ice reduction in the Arctic and seeks confirmation on diplomatic efforts.

Question

Does she agree that the sharply reducing ice in the Arctic is producing huge environmental challenges and serious economic and commercial opportunities?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

I agree with my hon. Friend. Following our successful partnership with Australia and the United States on AUKUS, we are looking for similar partnerships that cover regions like the Arctic, working with close allies, such as Canada.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific diplomatic actions were not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 Alyn Smith
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the anticipation of seeing the Foreign Secretary in various international settings as part of her role. The MP suggests that Members look forward to receiving images.

Question

I also welcome the Foreign Secretary to her place. Like many other Members, I look forward to seeing many more glossy pictures of her in exciting places around the world doing her job looking fabulous. Perhaps she should sign them for Members keen to have more images of her.

Answer from James Cleverly

We will get a signed copy for you.

Not addressed: The actual question about the Foreign Secretary's official duties and public image was not addressed, instead focusing on signing photos.

How: Deflected To A Personal Request

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)