Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Goods Exports: UK and G7

Thursday 18 May 2023 · 3 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions addressed concerns over UK export performance relative to G7 countries.
  • The Minister cited a PwC report projecting the UK as the fastest growing G7 economy until 2050.
  • The Minister highlighted increases in UK exports, particularly in business services and whisky.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The MP is questioning the performance of UK goods exports compared to other G7 countries, citing ONS figures showing lagging UK exports despite similar challenges faced by other nations.

Question

I know just what a favourable position Scotland is in, in terms of its trade exports. We do very well, even though we are held back by the constraints of this Union. The Office for National Statistics figures show that UK exports are lagging behind other G7 countries. What discussions has she had to apologise to the Scottish Government and to Scottish businesses for the drag she places on Scottish trade?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

The hon. Gentleman started so positively. If he is against Brexit, then he is against every trade deal, and he is against the most integrated single market in the world, which is Scotland and England. There is fantastic news about whisky and services: in 2022, UK services were up by 24% in current prices, and by 4% when adjusted for inflation.

Not addressed: Discussed positive aspects of trade deals and market integration rather than addressing the request for discussions about apologising or acknowledging negative impacts on Scottish trade.

How: Split, Split, Split

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Q2 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The MP references independent analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility which forecasts a significant fall in UK exports, impacting over 273,000 exporters and potentially making the UK face the worst growth among G7 countries.

Question

I am afraid the independent Office for Budget Responsibility does not share the Minister's optimism about exports. The analysis that accompanied the spring Budget forecast that the UK would face a 6.6% fall in exports this year. That is equivalent to a fall of over £51 billion, and would represent an average hit of over £186,000 to the more than 273,000 UK exporters. It will have a devastating impact, and is it any wonder that the UK is predicted to have the worst growth in the G7? Surely, if Ministers recognised the scale of these projected losses, they would be taking urgent steps to support our exporters now.

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

There will always be data, forecasts, and the evaluation and re-evaluation of those data and forecasts. According to a PwC report, the UK will continue to be the fastest growing G7 economy until 2050. Exports are up, including business services exports, and we are on track to reach our target of £1 trillion by 2030.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Discussed positive forecasts and current export trends without addressing the specific ask about urgent steps to support exporters facing projected losses.

How: Re-Evaluation Of Data

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Q3 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Scotland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP is questioning the performance of UK goods exports compared to other G7 countries, citing ONS figures showing lagging UK exports despite similar challenges faced by other nations.

Question

I know just what a favourable position Scotland is in, in terms of its trade exports. We do very well, even though we are held back by the constraints of this Union. The Office for National Statistics figures show that UK exports are lagging behind other G7 countries. Before the Minister tells us that this is because of the war in Ukraine and covid, let me point out that all our G7 partners have faced those headwinds as well, but only the United Kingdom, sadly including Scotland, faces the English Brexit chaos that is damaging our trade.

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

The hon. Gentleman started so positively. If he is against Brexit, then he is against every trade deal, and he is against the most integrated single market in the world, which is Scotland and England. All he wants to do is to split, split, split. There is also fantastic news about whisky—surely that can raise a smile from the hon. Gentleman—and about services: in 2022, UK services were up by 24% in current prices, and by 4% when the figure was adjusted for inflation.

Not addressed: Discussed positive aspects of trade deals and market integration rather than addressing the request for discussions about apologising or acknowledging negative impacts on Scottish trade.

How: Split, Split, Split

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