:00:00. > :00:00.and use libraries to deliver services to their community so they
:00:00. > :00:07.are sustainable and can thrive in future. Questions to the Secretary
:00:08. > :00:18.of State for International trade. Greg Williams. Number one. Thank
:00:19. > :00:24.you. My department is working globally to attract foreign firms to
:00:25. > :00:29.set up or expand their businesses in the UK to contribute to national
:00:30. > :00:32.wealth creation. We are promoting the UK is a prime destination for
:00:33. > :00:35.inward investment from across the global networked with dedicated
:00:36. > :00:38.support for investors in 50 overseas markets with the support of sector
:00:39. > :00:41.specialists we are ensuring the UK has the best opportunities to
:00:42. > :00:48.attract high-quality foreign direct investment. Thank you. Latest GBA
:00:49. > :00:54.fastest-growing area outside of fastest-growing area outside of
:00:55. > :00:57.London and Cardiff is the engine room of the Welsh economy. Can I
:00:58. > :01:01.asked my honourable friend what positive steps is department is
:01:02. > :01:04.taking to insure Welsh businesses and Cardiff businesses get the help
:01:05. > :01:08.they expect? Can I save my honourable friend is the engine room
:01:09. > :01:14.of the Cardiff economy in this constituency of Cardiff North. The
:01:15. > :01:17.Department for International trade works for the entirety of the UK but
:01:18. > :01:23.I would stress my honourable friend has revisited -- already visited
:01:24. > :01:25.Wales and am working with the Welsh office to see what more we can do
:01:26. > :01:29.but we are also supporting the Welsh Government by offering them support
:01:30. > :01:39.in posts overseas and we see the option that Wales present as very
:01:40. > :01:44.exciting. Today we are told it could take up to ten years to reach a
:01:45. > :01:52.trade agreement with the EU after we leave while research suggests a drop
:01:53. > :01:56.in trade of up to 60% we are outside the customs union. For investors are
:01:57. > :01:59.vital to the British economy, so will he give those investors some of
:02:00. > :02:05.the certainty they so desperately need and that we also need? Will he
:02:06. > :02:09.tell them whether he wants Britain to be inside the customs union and
:02:10. > :02:15.whether he wants tariff free access to the single market or not? It has
:02:16. > :02:19.been very clear the Government is not going to give a running
:02:20. > :02:26.commentary on what we are posing. I would also stress that the comments
:02:27. > :02:32.of either or jurors are -- of Ivan Rogers are taking opinions and this
:02:33. > :02:37.doesn't necessarily define how long it will take to treat -- to create a
:02:38. > :02:42.trade deal fulsomely some trade deals that TPP has taken eight years
:02:43. > :02:45.it's worked well and the Jordan and US trade deal took four months. It's
:02:46. > :02:51.difficult to establish how long any trade deal will take. As the UK
:02:52. > :02:54.becomes a world leader in the fourth Industrial Revolution of new
:02:55. > :02:58.technology can instructed the house on what steps is department is taken
:02:59. > :03:04.to secure FTI in this vital new sector? Can I congratulate my
:03:05. > :03:08.honourable friend on launching the all-party Parliamentary group for
:03:09. > :03:13.the fourth Industrial Revolution, this type of innovative approach by
:03:14. > :03:16.businesses moving forward is incredibly important to the success
:03:17. > :03:20.of the economy of this country and we are working very hard to make
:03:21. > :03:24.sure this innovative approach has been transmitted around the world
:03:25. > :03:29.through our posts overseas and that we can secure for in directive
:03:30. > :03:39.investment to support this. What is the minister's best estimate on when
:03:40. > :03:46.an EU trade Biel will be completed? Kaira first -- can I honourable
:03:47. > :03:50.gentleman to Mike previous answer? I've heard a number of constructive
:03:51. > :03:56.disclosure with the director-general -- constructive discussions. We've
:03:57. > :03:59.made clear to the membership the UK's intention to replicate as far
:04:00. > :04:04.as possible are current obligations in order to avoid disrupting our
:04:05. > :04:08.trading relationships or those with our trading partners across the
:04:09. > :04:11.world. The UK will need its own schedules in the WTO regardless of
:04:12. > :04:18.the nature of our future trading relationship with the EU. I thank
:04:19. > :04:21.the sector of state for that answer but given the list of countries are
:04:22. > :04:25.offended by the Foreign Secretary grows longer by the day, can ask the
:04:26. > :04:28.Secretary of State what contingencies are being put in
:04:29. > :04:32.place, should there be some opposition for the renegotiation of
:04:33. > :04:38.eco-schedules? The contingency the honourable gentleman asks for it in
:04:39. > :04:42.place because until new schedules are negotiated and agreed, current
:04:43. > :04:49.schedules will apply and it is worth noting the EU itself, having failed
:04:50. > :04:55.to negotiate EU 28 schedules, is still operating -- operating
:04:56. > :04:59.successfully under EU 15 of 1995. Server TASS have estimated that if
:05:00. > :05:01.we were to go to World Trade Organisation terms with the EU the
:05:02. > :05:06.EU businesses would have to pay ?12 EU businesses would have to pay ?12
:05:07. > :05:10.billion to access the UK market and UK businesses would have to pay ?5
:05:11. > :05:14.billion to access the EU market. Does the Secretary of State accept
:05:15. > :05:17.those figures and of the governors don't accept any tell us what the
:05:18. > :05:24.Government's figures are? Whatever the actual figures are, there was
:05:25. > :05:28.one point that is more important: Introduction of any impediments to
:05:29. > :05:32.trade and investment in intra- European trade would be
:05:33. > :05:36.disadvantageous to producers and consumers alike and Government has
:05:37. > :05:39.made it clear that we will try to get my small access to European
:05:40. > :05:49.markets to avoid disruption of trade. ROV 's schedules aren't these
:05:50. > :05:51.schedule and concessions just one of the results of the mammoth
:05:52. > :05:56.bureaucratic task that must be conducted and should we be thanking
:05:57. > :06:01.our ambassador to the EU for the Reality Check here is given about
:06:02. > :06:04.the decade-long period of time it will take text to get ourselves from
:06:05. > :06:11.this particular process, shouldn't we be doing but rushing so headlong
:06:12. > :06:14.into this timetable? Yes, there are a number of bureaucratic challenges
:06:15. > :06:17.that we face but the people we should be thanking the British
:06:18. > :06:24.people for giving us such clear instructions to leave the European
:06:25. > :06:27.Union. The UK has very high standards in the workplace in its
:06:28. > :06:32.products and animal welfare, does the Secretary of State agree that a
:06:33. > :06:35.free-trade deal with zero tariffs with countries that have much Lara
:06:36. > :06:40.Sanders could have a significant commercial disadvantage on many of
:06:41. > :06:44.our companies. -- who have much lower standards. It is beneficial to
:06:45. > :06:47.both parties to return agreement otherwise it would not be reached
:06:48. > :06:55.and regulator and compliance standards will always be an
:06:56. > :07:01.important part of that. With the current slowdown in the growth of
:07:02. > :07:04.local trade to UK must be a world leader in championing free trade
:07:05. > :07:08.worldwide and buying a drum for British business was our measures to
:07:09. > :07:14.support UK business trading globally include a network of advisers in 109
:07:15. > :07:18.markets, online advice and support through UK Export Finance. Both
:07:19. > :07:21.myself and zero colleagues have continued meeting with businesses in
:07:22. > :07:27.the UK and abroad including 50 ministerial visits to markets
:07:28. > :07:32.overseas. I thank the Secretary of State for that answer and Professor
:07:33. > :07:36.Patrick Linford debt had estimated UK to opposition would cut consumer
:07:37. > :07:39.prices by 8%, does he agree that forging our own free-trade
:07:40. > :07:41.arrangements outside the EU presents enormous opportunities to ease the
:07:42. > :07:48.cost of living on low income families? I am very grateful to my
:07:49. > :07:51.highlight the potential of free highlight the potential of free
:07:52. > :07:56.trade to reduce the cost of living in this country. Free trade ensures
:07:57. > :08:00.more people can access more goods at better value, making their incomes
:08:01. > :08:06.go further. Protectionism tends to hurt the poorest the most. It has
:08:07. > :08:10.been two years since the then Environment Secretary announced with
:08:11. > :08:16.great fanfare fans to sell pigs trotters to China. Admiration
:08:17. > :08:19.question revealed this week were still no closer to signing the
:08:20. > :08:25.piglets trotters Roddick. If it takes as long to reach an agreement
:08:26. > :08:30.to sell pigs's trotters what does it say about the other trade deals we
:08:31. > :08:35.need in the wake of Brexit? I am intense that our agricultural
:08:36. > :08:44.exports continue apace and I will continue to push pig trotters as
:08:45. > :08:47.fast as they can go. A very alluring prospect. To be covered by the
:08:48. > :08:54.honourable gentleman probably not without sweat or emotion. Many
:08:55. > :08:57.countries are using nontariff barriers to block global trade
:08:58. > :09:01.however in countries like Brazil which the sect just it is well aware
:09:02. > :09:05.of we are now seeing real progress in the removal of local content
:09:06. > :09:11.regulations. What more can be done to encourage other companies to
:09:12. > :09:15.follow this example? , first thank my honourable friend for his work as
:09:16. > :09:18.our trade envoy to Brazil. I was extremely impressed in the meetings
:09:19. > :09:20.I had last week in that country that we are now seeing major attempt not
:09:21. > :09:23.only to open up markets but deal only to open up markets but deal
:09:24. > :09:26.with endemic corruption. That corruption is one of the single
:09:27. > :09:30.biggest barriers to trade that exists and as the World Bank has
:09:31. > :09:36.made clear, improved governance is a major improvement in the potential
:09:37. > :09:40.for trade. Thank you Mr Speaker, the sector of state recently reaffirmed
:09:41. > :09:43.the Government's targets to double exports by 2020. In the Autumn
:09:44. > :09:48.Statement is the OBR contradicted this sitting it affects UK trade to
:09:49. > :09:53.reduce as a result of the UK leaving the EU and the single market. Who is
:09:54. > :10:00.right? Does he accept reassessment of experts at the OBR? Yes or no?
:10:01. > :10:02.I'm tempted to ask the honourable lady if she would like Santa to
:10:03. > :10:11.bring a dictionary because expectations and targets are not the
:10:12. > :10:16.same thing. Would my honourable friend seeks to unblock the global
:10:17. > :10:20.trading system by adopting a new open Andy distortions agreement
:10:21. > :10:23.which can deliver a free-trade, self-government fight crony
:10:24. > :10:26.capitalism and almost defend against predatory practice abroad like the
:10:27. > :10:32.one proposed by the special Trade Commission? I don't think I need to
:10:33. > :10:36.explain to my honourable friend that I have set out, as have my fellow
:10:37. > :10:39.ministers, the case for free trade on a number of occasions. We are
:10:40. > :10:44.seeing a slowdown in the rate of global trade growth at the present
:10:45. > :10:47.time which is a threat to the prosperity of people across the
:10:48. > :10:51.globe. We must have more open trade, fewer tariffs and fewer nontariff
:10:52. > :11:01.barriers of we are to succeed in that task. Of the steps the
:11:02. > :11:05.Government is taking to expand UK trade through on sales particular to
:11:06. > :11:08.the Middle East. In July the comedian Arms export control her
:11:09. > :11:14.evidence there was an imbalance tween promotion of arms sales at the
:11:15. > :11:20.expense of the regulation of arms sales. And I quote such that in the
:11:21. > :11:23.UK practice, these things are at odds. Does the Secretary of State
:11:24. > :11:29.recognise that imbalance. If he does, what does he propose to do
:11:30. > :11:32.about it? And if he does not what representations has he made to the
:11:33. > :11:38.White House to chastise them for their remarks this week that "The
:11:39. > :11:42.systemic endemic problems in Saudi Arabia's targeting of civilians in
:11:43. > :11:46.Yemen drove the US decision to halt a future weapons sale which has left
:11:47. > :11:48.the Secretary of State and British policy in this area looking so
:11:49. > :11:58.callous and threadbare." Can I thank the honourable
:11:59. > :12:05.gentleman, I have been grateful for being colour blind for some of my
:12:06. > :12:11.life. This country has one of the strictest arms controls regimes in
:12:12. > :12:14.the world. It boasts both robust and transparent. The decisions are
:12:15. > :12:19.looked at with a very great scrutiny. I simply don't accept the
:12:20. > :12:24.picture he paints of the UK's attitude. I will play the role of
:12:25. > :12:30.the referee and believe that the honourable gentleman's tie is
:12:31. > :12:33.absolutely beautiful. It is tasteful and interesting, not boring like all
:12:34. > :12:42.too many times. LAUGHTER
:12:43. > :12:47.Let's hear it from Richard Graham. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The UK has an
:12:48. > :12:50.excellent tradition of hosting major international sports events, the
:12:51. > :12:54.Olympics, Commonwealth Games and rugby. Other countries hosting such
:12:55. > :13:00.events can benefit from our expertise. In 2018, Indonesia is
:13:01. > :13:02.hosting the Asian games, a great opportunity to highlight the
:13:03. > :13:09.improvements in infrastructure. Should my right honourable friend
:13:10. > :13:12.have the right -- to visit, would he highlight British expertise and the
:13:13. > :13:19.help we can give in Indonesia to help deliver a bang the percent
:13:20. > :13:23.Asian Games? Able to thank my honourable friend work as our trade
:13:24. > :13:28.envoy to Indonesia. His point is not just specific but general. The UK is
:13:29. > :13:34.able to provide great sector skills to many countries which not only
:13:35. > :13:39.help them mature their own economies but provide further ability for them
:13:40. > :13:44.to grow their market which are an excellent export opportunity for the
:13:45. > :13:47.UK. Newcastle Airport plays a vital role in the north-east economy
:13:48. > :13:53.facilitating over ?300 million of exports every year. Yet like other
:13:54. > :13:56.English regional airports, visas unfair competition on tax as air
:13:57. > :14:01.passenger duty is devolved to Scotland. The Government has failed
:14:02. > :14:05.to mitigate this. What discussions will his department have with the
:14:06. > :14:12.Treasury to make sure your ports like Newcastle can continue to play
:14:13. > :14:16.a vital role in international trade? -- airports. Imbalances such as you
:14:17. > :14:21.mention are an inevitable consequence of devolution. Wichita
:14:22. > :14:24.party campaigned for. Like her, I have a regional airport in my
:14:25. > :14:27.constituency and I can assure the ongoing discussions with the
:14:28. > :14:39.Treasury will not just be general but personal.
:14:40. > :14:46.Mr Speaker, the United States is our single largest export market,
:14:47. > :14:51.accounting for ?100 billion worth the UK exports. As the Prime
:14:52. > :14:55.Minister said, the UK and US are and will remain strong and close
:14:56. > :15:00.partners on trade, security and defence. While we are EU members, we
:15:01. > :15:03.cannot negotiate and conclude trade deals that we can discuss our
:15:04. > :15:08.current and future trading relationships. The Secretary of
:15:09. > :15:12.State for trade and I have visited the US taking office and we look
:15:13. > :15:14.forward to working with President elect Donald Trump to ensure the
:15:15. > :15:23.continuing prosperity of our nations. The excellent minister is
:15:24. > :15:28.quite correct, the USA is our biggest single export market that we
:15:29. > :15:32.have no trade deals with. The current president, President Obama,
:15:33. > :15:37.said we would be at the back of the queue, I think he said, when it
:15:38. > :15:41.comes to a trade deal. The discussions the excellent minister
:15:42. > :15:45.has in the United States, does he think that President elect Trump
:15:46. > :15:49.will put us at the back of the line on the front of the line? Mr
:15:50. > :15:54.Speaker, I thank my honourable friend that question, he is rightly
:15:55. > :15:58.stressed the importance of the bilateral trading relationship also
:15:59. > :16:02.the investment relationship, everyday, 1 million Britons go to
:16:03. > :16:06.work here for American companies and in the US, 1 million Americans go to
:16:07. > :16:11.work for British companies. Our exports to the US are not only very
:16:12. > :16:15.strong but have grown by 19% in the most recent year from which data is
:16:16. > :16:19.available. We look forward to developing a stronger and more open
:16:20. > :16:25.trading relationship with the new president and the new Congress. Mr
:16:26. > :16:34.Speaker, one of the main proponents of a future UK US trade dealing and
:16:35. > :16:40.Congress... When the President elect was elected on a mandate, and I'm
:16:41. > :16:43.mandate, why does he think the new president will put UK US trade deals
:16:44. > :16:52.in a post-Brexit environment at the front of his agenda? I thank him for
:16:53. > :16:56.that question. I met the Senator from the Senate who is one of the
:16:57. > :17:00.co-authors of the Congress resolution, a calling for a future
:17:01. > :17:04.US UK FTA and we strongly welcome the support right the way across
:17:05. > :17:09.Congress in terms of our future relationship with the US on trade.
:17:10. > :17:15.In terms of the President elect, I would suggest we wait and see his
:17:16. > :17:19.actions. He did say in the course of the campaign, he said trade has big
:17:20. > :17:24.benefits and I am in favour, totally in favour of trade. Isolation is not
:17:25. > :17:29.an option, only great and well crafted trade deals we look forward
:17:30. > :17:32.to working with him in the future. What consideration has the
:17:33. > :17:39.department is given to President elect's views on the transpacific
:17:40. > :17:44.partnership? In a very general sense, the UK remains supportive of
:17:45. > :17:49.trade deals right the way across the globe that reduce or remove trade
:17:50. > :17:51.barriers, tariff barriers or nontariff barriers to help
:17:52. > :17:58.facilitate the flow of international trade. The TPP has just been
:17:59. > :18:01.mentioned and Q-Tip have been fraught with difficulties and
:18:02. > :18:06.concerns from the public, businesses and sectors. What will the Minister
:18:07. > :18:13.do when negotiating a trade deal with the US to make sure that these
:18:14. > :18:19.issues don't derail? The first thing I would say is that Peter is still
:18:20. > :18:23.on the table. We've always been clear that the rights of governments
:18:24. > :18:29.to regulate and the public interest will still be there in all of these
:18:30. > :18:33.different trade deals. It has been debated in the comments on at least
:18:34. > :18:36.five occasions. The views of parliamentarians have been made
:18:37. > :18:39.clear. We will make sure they will be no reduction in regulatory
:18:40. > :18:47.standards if it were to come to pass. With your progression, Mr
:18:48. > :18:51.Speaker, I will ask question six and question it together. The department
:18:52. > :18:55.is working across the UK as well as in current and future export markets
:18:56. > :18:59.overseas to help British businesses. We are helping them to export their
:19:00. > :19:06.goods and businesses by end of my tying new export sales. We are doing
:19:07. > :19:12.this through the international trade advisers across the UK and through
:19:13. > :19:16.our overseas staff in 109 countries. Businesses in my constituency don't
:19:17. > :19:22.always have the resources to explore export markets but are keen to
:19:23. > :19:24.maximise opportunities. What is the Department for International trade
:19:25. > :19:30.going to do to help these businesses so we can find more opportunities
:19:31. > :19:33.abroad? Can I refer my honourable friend who is a champion of
:19:34. > :19:39.businesses in her constituency to the great gulf .co .uk website. It's
:19:40. > :19:44.all been going for one month but we've already seen 100,000 users and
:19:45. > :19:48.visitors, more than 6000 users have made use of online overseas service
:19:49. > :19:53.and a thousand businesses have greeted a profile on our servers.
:19:54. > :19:57.This was highlighted amongst all honourable members when we sent out
:19:58. > :20:01.from this department our MPs to locate in order that all MPs in this
:20:02. > :20:09.place can help their constituents to find new markets and raise their
:20:10. > :20:13.ayes to horizon. With only 5% of businesses trading directly with the
:20:14. > :20:18.EU, surely leaving the internal market will allow us to relieve the
:20:19. > :20:23.other 95% from the shackles of overregulation? While my honourable
:20:24. > :20:28.friend see a bit about the balance his party is going to strike with a
:20:29. > :20:33.model word investment? Can I thank him for his very wise question. It
:20:34. > :20:43.is a new approach by this department. This is incredibly
:20:44. > :20:46.important because it provides opportunities for many businesses to
:20:47. > :20:50.be able to create new opportunities and new markets overseas. It is
:20:51. > :20:55.worth bearing in mind that British businesses invest overseas antique
:20:56. > :20:58.skills and expertise work with them. That can only help the developing
:20:59. > :21:05.economies to grow and create more opportunities for British businesses
:21:06. > :21:08.in further develop markets. Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State said
:21:09. > :21:12.yesterday he is considering for options for the customs union.
:21:13. > :21:19.Completely inside, completely outside, the Turkish model, or the
:21:20. > :21:23.Swiss model, outside but with customs arrangements, are there and
:21:24. > :21:27.not staff in the international trade Department and Brexit department to
:21:28. > :21:32.assess the concerns of UK businesses that leaving the customs union will
:21:33. > :21:40.devastate their supply chains by exposing new paperwork tariffs? The
:21:41. > :21:44.Department for International trade is recruiting some of the finest no
:21:45. > :21:47.one in this country in order to help us to develop this but I would
:21:48. > :21:53.stress to the honourable lady that this whole exercise is not just
:21:54. > :21:58.defined by one department. Every department within the Government is
:21:59. > :22:00.working in order to help maximise the assistance we can give to both
:22:01. > :22:08.the British businesses and the entire economy. Expanding the UK
:22:09. > :22:11.global trade, with that in mind, with the Minister agree with me that
:22:12. > :22:14.expanding key through adding more flights from Northern Ireland will
:22:15. > :22:20.allow more of our exporters in Northern Ireland to reach for
:22:21. > :22:23.clients particularly those outside the EU? I would agree with the
:22:24. > :22:25.honourable member that great economical activities three airports
:22:26. > :22:30.is important that all of this country. However, I would stress the
:22:31. > :22:36.details of such arrangements would be for the Department for Transport.
:22:37. > :22:38.Perhaps I could refer him to them. And very conscious the honourable
:22:39. > :22:42.member for Bishop Auckland had her question transferred to another
:22:43. > :22:46.department and I'm sensitive to her plight. If the honourable lady
:22:47. > :22:57.wishes to give the Has the benefit of her thoughts. Topical questions.
:22:58. > :23:02.The Department for International trade has three tasks. Promoting UK
:23:03. > :23:05.exports to serve a growing economy, maximising opportunities for wealth
:23:06. > :23:09.creation through overseas direct investment to support the current
:23:10. > :23:12.account and negotiating the best international trading framework for
:23:13. > :23:20.the UK outside the EU. Like the UK, my department is open for business.
:23:21. > :23:24.Will he shed some light on the difference between our trade deficit
:23:25. > :23:29.with the EU and our trade deficit with the USA? I'm pleased to say we
:23:30. > :23:34.don't have a trade deficit with the USA, we have a trade surplus with
:23:35. > :23:40.the USA. We send ?100 billion worth of exports to the US each year, 20%
:23:41. > :23:45.of our total of the 40 billion surplus, not only that but the US is
:23:46. > :23:49.responsible for 26% of all our inward investment and we are
:23:50. > :23:56.responsible for 23% of our investment to the US. It is a very
:23:57. > :24:01.interdependent relationship. By insulting my wife's taste in ties,
:24:02. > :24:05.the Secretary of State has to wait for her reprimand but she must wait
:24:06. > :24:10.in line because there are others who wish to reprimand him. The European
:24:11. > :24:12.scrutiny committee told of the Secretary of State for going to
:24:13. > :24:16.Brussels and agreeing the comprehensive economic trade
:24:17. > :24:20.agreement between the EU and Canada without first bringing it to the UK
:24:21. > :24:25.Parliament for scrutiny. He undertook to the scrutiny committee
:24:26. > :24:29.that he would bring forward the debate in this House by the end of
:24:30. > :24:33.November, a deadline which he messed. The European scrutiny
:24:34. > :24:37.committee is set a more generous deadline, but Mr Speaker, that
:24:38. > :24:42.deadline expired two days ago on the 13th of this month. Can he tell us,
:24:43. > :24:47.does he actually believes in taking back sovereignty from Brussels or
:24:48. > :24:53.doesn't he? Because if he does, repeatedly denying the UK Parliament
:24:54. > :24:56.the right to properly scrutinise such an important trade agreement is
:24:57. > :25:01.a very odd way of going about it. Will he now commit to bring a debate
:25:02. > :25:05.and a vote to the floor of this House before the European Parliament
:25:06. > :25:18.finally votes on the 2nd of February? Can I say, in due course,
:25:19. > :25:25.his Ph.D. Thesis will be published. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm grateful
:25:26. > :25:29.forgiving way before Christmas. We did not go against procedure due to
:25:30. > :25:33.Parliamentary timetable constraints, we could not offer a debate in the
:25:34. > :25:36.house before signalling political agreement on the 18th of October. We
:25:37. > :25:39.are committed and continued to commit to holding a full
:25:40. > :25:43.parliamentary debate as soon as possible and we are working with
:25:44. > :25:45.business managers to arrange this. The European Parliament has no
:25:46. > :25:52.change the date of the expected vote on the agreement to the 2nd of
:25:53. > :25:57.February 2017 and we hope to have a debate well with that timetable.
:25:58. > :26:00.Over the last five years, South Korea has been our second
:26:01. > :26:03.fastest-growing trading partner. Does my right honourable friend
:26:04. > :26:07.agree we should seek to boost trade with South Korea further still until
:26:08. > :26:11.we leave the EU and after we leave the EU enter a prompt bilateral
:26:12. > :26:16.trade deal with South Korea that their Government would welcome? Mr
:26:17. > :26:20.Speaker, I know my honourable friend Dixie huge interest in Korea and his
:26:21. > :26:27.Korean community in Kingston. He knows that I visited in September
:26:28. > :26:31.and saw for myself what natural allies we will be in the global
:26:32. > :26:35.future of free trade. I had excellent meetings with other
:26:36. > :26:39.interlocutors, we look forward to working very closely with South
:26:40. > :26:42.Korea in the future in developing free trading relationships and I
:26:43. > :26:47.will make sure my honourable friend is very involved.
:26:48. > :26:52.if the recently, the member for North East Somerset said in relation
:26:53. > :26:56.to emission standards, what's good enough I, is good enough for us. Can
:26:57. > :27:02.we have the assurance that no emission standards will be watered
:27:03. > :27:06.down as part of any free trade deal? The government takes very seriously
:27:07. > :27:11.its environmental obligations and will continue to do so. On Monday, I
:27:12. > :27:14.was delighted to hear the Prime Minister announced that she wanted
:27:15. > :27:18.to take the trade relationship with Israel to the next level. Our key
:27:19. > :27:24.ally in the middle east and strong trading partner. Can he set out what
:27:25. > :27:30.steps he is taking to make sure we put in place a new trade deal with
:27:31. > :27:35.Israel, so we can submit this commitment by the Prime Minister. He
:27:36. > :27:38.is right. We have an extraordinarily good relationship with Israel and we
:27:39. > :27:44.are the second biggest export market for Israel. Currently, we are
:27:45. > :27:47.governed by the association agreement that the EU has with
:27:48. > :27:53.Israel and we are keen to engage with Israel, to make sure there is
:27:54. > :28:05.no disruption to the trade we have any post Brexit world. I am sure the
:28:06. > :28:10.Secretary of State is delighted to be back in the Cabinet, but will he
:28:11. > :28:15.agreed that the 1 million jobs which will be put at risk if we believe
:28:16. > :28:23.the customs union matter more than his own career? I repeat that the
:28:24. > :28:27.government has made no decision yet in relation to the actual
:28:28. > :28:33.discussions we will have and negotiations with the EU. We have
:28:34. > :28:37.that no decision yet on the customs union and Apple be part of the
:28:38. > :28:43.ongoing discussions government will make based on evidence. Can he tell
:28:44. > :28:47.the house what action he is taking to promote our world-class science
:28:48. > :28:49.based around the globe, and will he confirm that he recognises that
:28:50. > :28:54.face-to-face collaboration is an important part of that continued
:28:55. > :28:59.success, and that we need to attract the best and brightest to do their
:29:00. > :29:03.research? I commend him on his work as chairman of the science and
:29:04. > :29:06.technology committee. As you will know, I was in his constituency on
:29:07. > :29:17.Friday, having a at some technological innovation, with their
:29:18. > :29:20.fantastic port facilities at the London Gateway. It's a
:29:21. > :29:24.long-established system that attract the brightest minds at all stages of
:29:25. > :29:31.their career. We will make sure Britain is the global nation for
:29:32. > :29:36.scientists, innovators as well as tech investors. What steps is he
:29:37. > :29:46.taking to it includes human rights expertise on UK trade delegations? I
:29:47. > :29:50.am not sure that I can answer, in terms of protecting human rights,
:29:51. > :29:54.the party to all of the EU the party to all of the EU
:29:55. > :30:00.agreements and human rights elements that are attached to that. In terms
:30:01. > :30:05.of the future, the UK has as strong a history as any in the EU of
:30:06. > :30:10.protecting human rights around the world, and this includes in relation
:30:11. > :30:15.to trade. In prioritising a post Brexit free-trade deal with Israel,
:30:16. > :30:19.will he ensure that as far as possible, the Palestinian Authority
:30:20. > :30:27.is also included, because it enhances trades, and enhanced trade
:30:28. > :30:38.between these places will be a key part of the future. We support
:30:39. > :30:45.negotiation towards a secure Israel and it is absolutely the case we
:30:46. > :30:54.should continue to negotiate. I visited Israel recently and also
:30:55. > :31:00.visited ministers and Palestine. The involvement of Scottish companies in
:31:01. > :31:10.the Prime Minister's visit to India was limited. What reassurance can he
:31:11. > :31:14.give on this? We have repeatedly said that this is a department that
:31:15. > :31:20.is open to all businesses in the UK when it comes to seeking our support
:31:21. > :31:24.for exports, and I hope that the Scottish Government will encourage
:31:25. > :31:27.businesses in Scotland to work with the Department for International
:31:28. > :31:32.trade, so we can maximise that. We have made that offer and we hope
:31:33. > :31:41.been able to get up. What steps is he taking to promote a global free
:31:42. > :31:45.trade agenda? We have repeatedly set out our worries about the slowdown
:31:46. > :31:49.in the growth of global trade. That has implications across the globe,
:31:50. > :31:55.and it's worth making the general point that we need more free trade,
:31:56. > :31:59.because it increases global prosperity. Increasing global spread
:32:00. > :32:07.prosperity leads to greater political stability, which leads to
:32:08. > :32:15.greater global security. Those elements, it's not possible to
:32:16. > :32:17.disaggregate them. When he lobbying firm foreign inward investment,
:32:18. > :32:22.which he agreed with the Foreign Secretary, who said at a pound spent
:32:23. > :32:31.in Croydon has more value to this country than a pound spent in sharp
:32:32. > :32:34.eyed? I bow to no one in the size for my credentials as a Unionist,
:32:35. > :32:39.and I want to see prosperity spread to every part of the United Kingdom.
:32:40. > :32:40.I thought the Scottish Government economic policies will also help
:32:41. > :32:42.contribute