Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 30 November 2023 · 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 2 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions focused on topics including economic growth, freeports, and international trade.
  • Jonathan Reynolds questioned the government's handling of business investment and export forecasts, receiving a response highlighting UK's manufacturing and export success.
  • Questions were also raised regarding late payment issues affecting businesses, with the minister acknowledging the seriousness of the issue and ongoing efforts to address it.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlights the success of Teesside's first freeport in creating jobs and attracting investment.

Question

Many people are aware of the incredible story of the Redcar steelworks site being reborn as Teesworks, creating 20,000 jobs and unlocking £2 billion in private investment. Fewer people are aware that Stockton's very own freeport business park is being built at the airport. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Teesside, as the home of the UK's first and biggest freeport, offers a unique opportunity to those investing in the industries of the future?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I do agree, and my hon. Friend is quite right to praise the progress that has been made on delivering Teesside freeport. The freeport has already been successful in securing several landmark investments, including from SeAH Wind, which is investing £650 million in building an offshore wind manufacturing facility. That will create around 750 high-skilled jobs and builds on the measures announced in the autumn statement last week to further strengthen the offer of UK freeports.

Answered
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Q2 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The MP notes the downgrade in growth forecasts and low business investment compared to G7 nations.

Question

This is the Department in charge of growth, investment and exports. In the latest figures, following the autumn statement, growth has been downgraded. Business investment is still forecast to be the lowest in the G7, and goods exports have declined, both to the EU and to non-EU countries. Given that there are so many amazing businesses and sectors in the UK, how do the Government account for their poor performance?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I will not allow the hon. Gentleman to spin his way out of what is actually a very good news story for the Government. The fact is that the UK has overtaken France to become the world's eighth-largest manufacturing nation. We are the world's fifth-largest exporter. We are growing faster than Germany and France, and have received more investment than them combined.

Not addressed: The economic performance figures

How: Spinning, Changing Subject To Unrelated Positive Aspects

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Q3 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Business & Trade
Context

The MP expresses disbelief in the Secretary of State's previous statements.

Question

We follow the Secretary of State's Twitter feed, and quite simply, we do not believe her. I want to ask the Secretary of State about late payment. In the nine years that the Government have spent consulting on late payments, 450,000 businesses have gone under while waiting to be paid. Why do the Government's new plans on late payment apply only to firms contracting with the Government? Why do they not rather follow our proposal to make sure that all public companies disclose their payment practices?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I have been working with the Federation of Small Businesses and others on late payments. The hon. Gentleman will have heard the measures announced in the autumn statement; this is an issue that the Government take very seriously. I disagree that we are implementing our plans in a partial way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The reasons behind the limited scope of government's new late payment plans and their disagreement with the opposition proposal

How: Disagreement, Referencing Previous Announcements

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Q4 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Business & Trade
Context

The MP notes the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Florida, the seventh such agreement.

Question

On 14 November, the Government signed a memorandum of understanding with the US state of Florida. This is the seventh such agreement that the Government have signed with a state in the US, and I understand that there are ongoing discussions with other states. Obviously, that is welcome. Will the Secretary of State give us an assessment of the effect of this approach, and tell us what the next steps are to getting a more general trade agreement with the United States?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We are ready to have a free trade agreement with the US, but it is not undertaking free trade agreements with any country. That is, of course, disappointing, but it knows that we stand ready. That is why we have the state MOU programme. The latest figures show that UK-US trade has reached £310 billion.

Not addressed: The assessment of state-level agreements and specific next steps towards a broader deal

How: Changing Subject To Overall Trade Figures

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Q5 Richard Thomson
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP asks about the status of tariffs on eggs and egg products during ongoing negotiations.

Question

Import tariffs on egg products allow us to recognise the higher cost of UK egg production because of safety, welfare and environmental considerations. Can the Secretary of State give an assurance that eggs and egg products will be afforded sensitive product status by the UK in future free trade agreement negotiations, and that import tariffs will remain in place on those products?

Answer from Greg Hands

It is difficult to comment on tariffs in live negotiations, but I would say two things to the hon. Gentleman: first, this country imports very few eggs from abroad, and secondly, anything that happens with imported eggs would not change our standards on food imports, food safety and animal welfare in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assurances about tariffs during free trade negotiations

How: Difficulty Commenting Due To Live Nature Of Negotiations

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Q6 John Penrose Con
Science & Technology
Context

The MP notes Ministers' reluctance during the previous day's debate on providing a clear date for publishing a roadmap.

Question

In yesterday's data Bill debate, Ministers gave clear and positive replies about the importance of interoperable data standards, and the need for an investable timetable of which sectors will get smart data and when. However, they were much less clear—one might even call it bashful—about giving a date for when that timetable will be published. Is my hon. Friend the Minister willing to be a little less coy this morning?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I am not known for my coyness. My hon. Friend has done very important work in this space, and we share his ambition: I chair the Smart Data Council, and we are planning to open up databases right across our economy to allow for more competition in the worlds of energy, telecoms, and buying and selling houses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Providing a clear timeline or date for the publication of the roadmap

How: Not Being Known For Coyness

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Q7 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Business & Trade
Context

British cheese exporters are concerned about losses due to delays in reaching a deal with Canada for market access. The deadline is December 31, and companies like Snowdonia Cheese Company face contract losses.

Question

At their busiest time of year, British cheese exporters are warning of damaging losses as the Government continue to fail to reach a deal that ensures access to the Canadian market. Every day that the Government fail, companies such as the Snowdonia Cheese Company in north Wales lose contracts, and they cannot make plans with the looming deadline of 31 December a matter of weeks away. Can the Minister update the House on the negotiations to extend the deadline for cheese tariff quotas between the UK and Canada?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

We are aware of the situation, and are working on it—negotiations to resolve it are actively ongoing. UK cheese is in increasing demand in Canada, and exports of UK cheese benefit businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. The UK has made continued and repeated efforts to find a solution since negotiations began, including by seeking an extension to the current arrangements, and we are clear that the UK is rightly entitled to ongoing access to Canada's World Trade Organisation cheese tariff quota under our rights and obligations at the WTO.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific update on negotiations or deadline extension status

How: Working On It

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Q8 Marco Longhi
Taxation Business & Trade
Context

There are complications in ratifying the UK-Brazil double taxation agreement through Brazil's Congress, despite it being ratified by the UK Parliament. The deal is worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the UK.

Question

As the Prime Minister's trade envoy to Brazil, I know that the best way of supporting exports from my Dudley businesses is to remove barriers to trade. That is why I was absolutely delighted when both our countries signed a double taxation agreement, in good faith and to the highest possible standards. There appear to be complications in Brazil at the moment with ratifying that agreement through Congress, as we have ratified it through our Parliament. What more can Ministers—the Chancellor of the Exchequer, perhaps—do to try to persuade Brazil that it is indeed a very good deal for itself as well?

Answer from Greg Hands

First, I praise my hon. Friend for the amazing job he does as the Prime Minister's trade envoy to Brazil. Partly due to his efforts, UK-Brazil trade has increased by 33% in the past year alone, so we are doing a very good job there. The UK-Brazil double taxation agreement was passed into UK law in June, and is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the UK. I hope that Brazil ratifies the agreement soon: it is very much in its own interests as well. As my hon. Friend knows, the Chancellor has made very strong representations to that effect, and we look forward to strengthening our trade relationship at the next UK-Brazil joint economic and trade committee next year.

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Q9 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Employment
Context

Unions are required to use electronic means for communication but are not allowed to use the same methods when balloting their members for industrial action.

Question

Under current laws, unions are required to use electronic means to communicate with their members about matters relating to work, yet are prevented from using the very same electronic methods when balloting their members for industrial action. Does the Minister accept that it should be possible to ballot trade union members on industrial action electronically?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

The hon. Lady raises an important point. That is something we are looking at; we have been looking at it for some time, and are keen to bring forward the results of our deliberations very shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a definitive commitment or timeline on allowing electronic balloting

How: Looking At It

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Q10 Laurence Robertson Con
Business & Trade
Context

The UK's developing countries trading scheme offers duty-free or nearly duty-free access to goods from African countries.

Question

May I ask the Trade Minister, whom I welcome back to his position, what efforts the Government are making to raise awareness of the developing countries trading scheme, particularly among African countries? What encouragement is he giving those countries to take advantage of that scheme, which would benefit them and us?

Answer from Greg Hands

Again, we have almost a full turnout of the Prime Minister's trade envoys in the House this morning, and I commend my hon. Friend for the work he does as the Prime Minister's trade envoy not just to one country, but to three—Angola, Zambia and Ethiopia. He rightly takes a strong interest in the UK's forward-leaning and exemplary developing countries trading scheme. The scheme was launched on 19 June by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Nigel Huddleston), who is now the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and provides duty-free or nearly duty-free access to goods to 37 African countries. The scheme was launched to significant media attention in Ethiopia, and there was a series of events in more than 10 countries.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on efforts to raise awareness or encourage take-up among African countries

How: Launching The Scheme With Media Attention

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Q11 Joanna Cherry SNP
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The questioner is seeking detailed information about arms export licences issued to Israel, including classification and description of goods, end use, and licence type.

Question

Could I revisit my earlier question to the Secretary of State about arms export licences to Israel? I and many others do not agree with her secrecy approach, and I and many others believe that Members of Parliament are entitled to this information, so I will try another approach. Could she detail the classification and description of the goods, the stated end use and the licence type, including direct transfers and those via third countries, and could she place that information in the Library for Members of Parliament?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

I believe there is a quarterly register that may contain some of the information the hon. and learned Member is asking for, but I am not able or going to list every single export decision that has been made by the export control joint unit. I will see what I can do to get her a fuller answer, but she will know that this is a very sensitive issue. I have a quasi-judicial role, and I must be seen to be impartial at all times. I will do what I can to provide the information she wants, but I do not have a list to provide her with this morning, and certainly not on the Floor of the House.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly commit to providing detailed information about arms export licences

How: Quasi-Judicial Role, Sensitive Issue

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Q12 Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The question is about Scunthorpe's blast furnace capabilities in relation to virgin steel production compared to other major economies.

Question

On Scunthorpe, what major economy does not have a blast furnace and the ability to make virgin steel?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

Almost all the G20 countries have operational blast furnaces, and a number of those are transitioning to electric arc furnaces as well. We know the importance of Scunthorpe, which is a key driver of economic growth. British Steel provides a third of all domestic production supplied to the construction and rail industries. We continue to be in negotiations to make sure that we secure the best deal, and one that is good value for taxpayers, when it comes to Scunthorpe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify which major economy lacks a blast furnace or virgin steel production capability

How: G20 Countries Have Operational Blast Furnaces

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Q13 Liam Byrne Lab Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Economy Taxation Employment
Context

The collapse of a firm led to significant issues with the company's pension fund, which now has a £50 million deficit. Profits were largely paid out in dividends over four years.

Question

Why have 70% of profits been paid out as dividends while the pension fund deficit is £50 million? Will regulators explore options to claw back those dividends for Wilko pensioners?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

The Insolvency Service is looking at the directors' conduct report from PricewaterhouseCoopers. There is currently no evidence of director misconduct, but further work is ongoing. The Insolvency Service will meet PwC in January to look into the situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request to explore and claw back dividends was not addressed directly.

How: Under Review

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Q14 Simon Fell
Standards & Ethics
Context

This week is Whistleblowing Awareness Week, and there has been a long-standing proposal for an office of the whistleblower to strengthen corporate governance.

Question

Could Ministers bring forward proposals to support the creation of an office of the whistleblower to empower those who see wrongdoing and protect them from intimidation?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

A review of whistleblowing is currently underway, and the results will be reported to the House very shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for proposals was not addressed directly.

How: Under Review

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