Key Facts

• Hansard colleagues request speaking notes via email at hansardnotes@parliament.uk.
• Decisions on amendments do not take place in the order debated but rather in the order they appear on the amendment paper.
• Members who have put their name to the leading amendment are called first when debating a group of amendments.
• Amendment 19 aims to remove specific procurement provisions in the UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand agreements.
• The Australia deal has over 2,500 pages with only 30-odd on Government procurement.
• Under current rules, contracts without a fixed term are advertised if their estimated cost exceeds £213,000 over 48 months.
• Concerns raised over the possibility that UK-based SMEs may face reduced chances of winning contracts due to advertising in English and extending opportunities to all GPA countries.
• The Minister is asked about consultations with SMEs regarding the clause.
• Questions are raised about the assessment of the impact on 'buy British' campaigns.
• The Federation of Small Businesses was consulted widely by the Government.
• Procurement procedures aim to drive best value for the United Kingdom.
• The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill is focused on necessary legislative changes for procurement transparency.
• Essex County Council faces greater competition due to online contract advertising.
• Competition is seen as beneficial for improving service procurement with taxpayers' money.
• The CPTPP will not render existing agreements with Australia and New Zealand obsolete; provisions in the FTAs may be better than those in CPTPP.
• Amendment 4 requires consultation with Scottish Ministers regarding matters affecting farming in Scotland.
• Amendment 5 mandates public consultations with various regional authorities before regulations can be made.
• Amendment 7 calls for a review by the Trade and Agriculture Commission on the impact of procurement chapters on UK industry.
• Amendment 20 proposes an impact assessment focusing on employment rights, human rights, and climate change.
• Amendment 22 requires an impact assessment covering Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and English Regions.
• Over 60% of people in Scotland voted to remain in the EU.
• The red meat sector is particularly vulnerable in Scotland.
• Concerns have been raised by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes, and the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee.
• The Government's impact assessment highlights losses in agriculture, food processing due to the trade deals: £94 million loss from Australia deal, £48 million from New Zealand deal; £225 million and £97 million respectively for food processing.
• In Wales, 70% of agricultural output is beef, sheep meat or dairy products, with 70% farmland dedicated to beef and sheep livestock farming in Cumbria, an additional 16% for dairy.
• The FUW estimates a £29 million loss in gross output for Wales's beef and sheep sectors.
• The Welsh Government notes improvements between the Australia and New Zealand deals.
• Vaughan Gething expresses hope for continued engagement and benefits in future deals.
• Tariffs on beef and lamb could be unilaterally accelerated under the New Zealand treaty, affecting Welsh farmers.
• The statement highlights the overlap of the Bill with areas of devolved competence, such as procurement policy, agriculture, and economic development.
• The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is mentioned as a key piece of legislation affecting public policy in Wales.
• There are concerns about the lack of detail in the Government’s impact assessment regarding the FTAs.
• The Trade and Agriculture Commission produces reports only after trade deals are signed.
• Other countries involve Parliaments and trade commissions at the beginning of negotiations.
• France has a social pact involving trade unions, businesses, and NGOs during agreement creation.
• The statement addresses the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill.
• Mark Pritchard intervenes to maintain the focus on UK internal issues.
• There is a discussion about the consultation process with devolved administrations.
• Amendments 5, 7, 20, and 22 seek to ensure consultation with devolved Administrations.
• The Australia free trade agreement is over 2,500 pages long.
• Amendment 5 aims to lock in the opportunity for more consultation about procurement regulations before they are implemented.
• Amendment 7 would build on the work of the Trade and Agriculture Commission by giving it additional responsibility to consider procurement chapters.
• The speaker suggests that amendments 5 and 22 might be pushed to a vote.
• Amendment 5 refers to representatives of the English regions.
• Essex County Council was mentioned earlier by the Minister without reference to Southend-on-Sea City Council where he is an MP.
• The procurement objectives of Southend-on-Sea City Council are: Maximising opportunities for Social Value, Economic Sustainability and benefits for the local community.