0:00:00 > 0:00:01Chequers for the important Cabinet meeting, Liam Fox answers questions
0:00:01 > 0:00:09on international trade.Order, order. Questions to the Secretary of
0:00:09 > 0:00:11State for International Development. Chris Davies. Question one, Mr
0:00:11 > 0:00:24Speaker.The Prime Minister's trade envoys do a great job engaging with
0:00:24 > 0:00:30countries. Last year, trade envoys helped contribute to export winds of
0:00:30 > 0:00:35over £15.5 billion and based on an outlay of just under £250,000 for
0:00:35 > 0:00:41the programme over the same period. Each trade envoy on average
0:00:41 > 0:00:48supported £700 million in exports. Does he plan to appoint any further
0:00:48 > 0:00:50trade envoys beyond those already appointed?
0:00:50 > 0:01:01LAUGHTER That was the least disguised job
0:01:01 > 0:01:06application I have heard in some time!There are currently 30 trade
0:01:06 > 0:01:11envoys covering 60 markets, programmes are reviewed regularly in
0:01:11 > 0:01:15consultation with overseas teams and any new suggestions are put to the
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Prime Minister, I will let my honourable friend know as soon as
0:01:19 > 0:01:24possible if any vacancies occur. Before the trade envoys to anything
0:01:24 > 0:01:28else, will he bring them all together and allow them to have the
0:01:28 > 0:01:33same briefing from the CPI that many of the cross-party had from the CPI
0:01:33 > 0:01:40this week because the briefing on the impact of leaving the EU is a
0:01:40 > 0:01:45disaster for working men and women and industry and manufacturing in
0:01:45 > 0:01:49this country?As I often point out, the working men and women of his
0:01:49 > 0:01:53constituency had a very different view about their reasons for leaving
0:01:53 > 0:01:58the EU. I make sure our trade envoys get a much wider range of briefings
0:01:58 > 0:02:11than simply one highly suspect one in that case.Thank you. As the
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Prime Minister's trade envoy to Brazil, I have been immensely
0:02:14 > 0:02:18impressed by the UK companies already operating in Brazil, but
0:02:18 > 0:02:25frankly, there are not enough of them. And I urge him to challenge
0:02:25 > 0:02:28business organisations including the CBI to make sure they put exporting
0:02:28 > 0:02:37at the heart of their work?There is only one...Can I pay tribute to the
0:02:37 > 0:02:43work my honourable friend has done? We have a growing and increasingly
0:02:43 > 0:02:47improving relationship in terms of trade with Brazil, but he is right,
0:02:47 > 0:02:54we require to put business exporting at business heart. We will be
0:02:54 > 0:02:59exporting more than 30% of our GDP this year for the first year in a
0:02:59 > 0:03:05considerable time.What parliamentary scrutiny is there of
0:03:05 > 0:03:14this programme?There is cross-party ability to look at the programme, we
0:03:14 > 0:03:18have a trade committee, questions in this House, I have just reported the
0:03:18 > 0:03:25value we think the programme has.As trade envoy to Ethiopia, I had a
0:03:25 > 0:03:29meeting last week about the Continental free trade area
0:03:29 > 0:03:35agreement, an incredibly important both for the future of all countries
0:03:35 > 0:03:40in Africa and the UK. Would my right honourable friend the roles for the
0:03:40 > 0:03:46trade envoy programme to engage with these free-trade areas covering more
0:03:46 > 0:03:53than one country?I would hope our trade envoys along with the posts in
0:03:53 > 0:03:57the various countries would understand the value increased
0:03:57 > 0:04:01inter-African trade can bring to the countries concerned and bringing
0:04:01 > 0:04:09opportunities for UK exporters. Number two. The Government is
0:04:09 > 0:04:13committed to seeking continuity in trading arrangements to minimise
0:04:13 > 0:04:16disruption to businesses, consumers and trading partners and we will
0:04:16 > 0:04:21ensure that institutional provisions of existing agreements are met as
0:04:21 > 0:04:26the UK begins to operate its independent trade policy.What
0:04:26 > 0:04:31arrangements does the Government have in mind in terms of
0:04:31 > 0:04:33parliamentary shared goals around these new arrangements coming into
0:04:33 > 0:04:41place?To be absolutely clear, Mr Speaker, if she is referring to the
0:04:41 > 0:04:45trade Bill presently, we are looking at the transitioning of existing
0:04:45 > 0:04:49trading arrangements with the EU, all of those agreements have already
0:04:49 > 0:04:53been through parliamentary scrutiny in this House. If she is referring
0:04:53 > 0:04:57to future trade agreements, that will be something we bring back to
0:04:57 > 0:05:02this House in due course.What of the new institutions you will need
0:05:02 > 0:05:12to set up if we leave the EU? I recently travelled to the Canada and
0:05:12 > 0:05:16the US, their impartiality can be critical in reaching economically
0:05:16 > 0:05:19sound judgments, what assurances can the Minister fact that the UK
0:05:19 > 0:05:26Government is similar committed to an independent free from undue
0:05:26 > 0:05:28political interference?I congratulate her on the committee on
0:05:28 > 0:05:32the recent visits to the US and Canada because those are two of the
0:05:32 > 0:05:37examples of trade remedy systems we have studied, alongside Australia
0:05:37 > 0:05:42and the EU itself. She is right it is common but not universal to have
0:05:42 > 0:05:46the investigation process independent of government but still
0:05:46 > 0:05:50a political decision at the end of the process by ministers accountable
0:05:50 > 0:05:53to Parliament and it is worth pointing out the opposition parties
0:05:53 > 0:05:56all voted against the creation of this trade remedy authority in the
0:05:56 > 0:06:05first place.I do not know if a bridge counts as an institution, a
0:06:05 > 0:06:08new fixed link between Britain and France, is it required to continue
0:06:08 > 0:06:13to improve trade after Brexit?We have been absolutely clear right the
0:06:13 > 0:06:17way through that the importance of maintaining our trading relations
0:06:17 > 0:06:22with the EU, which is why we are seeking trade to be as friction free
0:06:22 > 0:06:26as possible and we are seeking a comprehensive free-trade agreement
0:06:26 > 0:06:31with the EU.The EU does not have comprehensive free-trade agreements
0:06:31 > 0:06:35with some of the world's major economies, does the Minister believe
0:06:35 > 0:06:40the UK is likely to strike such deals quicker than the EU?We remain
0:06:40 > 0:06:47supportive of the EU's negotiations with some of these trade partners,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51whilst we are still members of the EU, because we are strong believers
0:06:51 > 0:06:56in free trade, we also have set up 14 trade working groups with many of
0:06:56 > 0:07:00the leading economies including China, India, and the US, and we
0:07:00 > 0:07:03look forward to making further progress with those arrangements in
0:07:03 > 0:07:12due course.Thank you. Our current trading relationships with partners
0:07:12 > 0:07:16ranging from Switzerland to Mexico and many others are currently
0:07:16 > 0:07:20overseen by joint committees of the EU and other states. Can the
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Minister told the House how many of these committees will be replaced by
0:07:24 > 0:07:28UK equivalents after Brexit, what progress his department has made in
0:07:28 > 0:07:31establishing these institutions, where the staffing expertise will be
0:07:31 > 0:07:37sourced from and at what cost to the taxpayer?I think I should tell her
0:07:37 > 0:07:42first of all the UK has played a leading role in establishing these
0:07:42 > 0:07:46European union arrangements in the first place, with countries like
0:07:46 > 0:07:51Mexico, Switzerland. In terms of where we go from here, the priority
0:07:51 > 0:07:53is to make sure there is continuity in trading relations with all of the
0:07:53 > 0:08:0040 plus trading agreements we have with the 70 plus countries making
0:08:00 > 0:08:05sure those become UK arrangements as we leave the EU, the precise format
0:08:05 > 0:08:08of the further discussions we will have with those partners will be
0:08:08 > 0:08:16something for future arrangements. Question three, Mr Speaker.As we
0:08:16 > 0:08:19leave the EU, the government intends as far as possible to maintain the
0:08:19 > 0:08:24effects of existing EU free trade agreements and other EU preferential
0:08:24 > 0:08:28arrangements including agreements with Switzerland, Norway and Turkey.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33Thank you. I will pursue the question is not answered by the
0:08:33 > 0:08:39Minister, the questions from my honourable friend, in 2016, the
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Secretary of State of the international trade committee he
0:08:42 > 0:08:45would prioritise securing an agreement with Switzerland, the
0:08:45 > 0:08:49current relationship between the EU one Switzerland is overseen by some
0:08:49 > 0:08:5520 joint committees, very specifically, how many of these
0:08:55 > 0:08:59committees will be replaced with UK Swiss committees and how far along
0:08:59 > 0:09:04the process of setting these institutions up is his department?I
0:09:04 > 0:09:09actually met with Swiss ministers in Geneva recently and we discussed
0:09:09 > 0:09:14what the future arrangement would be, how we would oversee the
0:09:14 > 0:09:16arrangement is dependent on the arrangement itself which is
0:09:16 > 0:09:21currently under negotiation.We do not need trade agreements to trade,
0:09:21 > 0:09:35do we?No.Thank you. The Secretary of State told us he plans to
0:09:35 > 0:09:40replicate all of the provisions of the trade agreements the UK has as a
0:09:40 > 0:09:44member of the EU with Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, these
0:09:44 > 0:09:49provisions include free movement of people in the cases of Norway and
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Switzerland under customs union with Turkey. Can he confirm, is at the
0:09:53 > 0:10:00Government's policy to replicate all of these provisions?In the
0:10:00 > 0:10:04transitional arrangements we have, we made it very clear that key
0:10:04 > 0:10:08element is continuity so until we create bespoke arrangements with
0:10:08 > 0:10:14these countries, we will continue the provisions that exist today.
0:10:14 > 0:10:21Question number four, Mr Speaker.We have the opportunity to enhance our
0:10:21 > 0:10:23global trading relationships including with those countries with
0:10:23 > 0:10:28whom we share bombs of history and friendship, my right honourable
0:10:28 > 0:10:32friend travelled to Australia and New Zealand in November to promote
0:10:32 > 0:10:38free trade and deepen the trading relationships -- the bonds of
0:10:38 > 0:10:42history and friendship. We have an opportunity to continue this work
0:10:42 > 0:10:47with all member states.Has he considered how UK agriculture will
0:10:47 > 0:10:50compete with the Commonwealth cousins when we agreed a free-trade
0:10:50 > 0:10:56deal after leaving the customs union?I praise my honourable friend
0:10:56 > 0:11:00for his distinguished business career in this sector, before coming
0:11:00 > 0:11:04to this House, something which brings real expertise. He will know
0:11:04 > 0:11:10we have established trade working groups with both Australia and New
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Zealand to explore possibilities in trade and investment. These will
0:11:12 > 0:11:16include agriculture but it is too early to be sure how they will be
0:11:16 > 0:11:21covered in these and other future trading arrangements. I would just
0:11:21 > 0:11:25add the New Zealanders for example are interested in this, the High
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Commission recently wrote to the international trade select committee
0:11:28 > 0:11:33saying, given the compliments of the two economies, they want to be doing
0:11:33 > 0:11:39something with us, and we very much agree.
0:11:39 > 0:11:46The Minister will be aware clearly Wales has a large industry, one of
0:11:46 > 0:11:51the price of the United Kingdom, could be Prime Minister give his
0:11:51 > 0:11:54assurances with negotiations with the New Zealand that he doesn't risk
0:11:54 > 0:12:04a Welsh farm industries?We are all keenly aware of the importance of a
0:12:04 > 0:12:09British agriculture in all parts of the United Kingdom, making sure that
0:12:09 > 0:12:13we have not only the necessary protections in place on things like
0:12:13 > 0:12:19animal welfare standards, but also promoting their opportunity to
0:12:19 > 0:12:24export to those excellent British goods. Food and rig is one of our
0:12:24 > 0:12:28biggest growing exports and we want people to take advantage of those
0:12:28 > 0:12:34opportunities across the UK -- food and drink.What importance will the
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Minister attached to deepening and broadening our trade relationships
0:12:38 > 0:12:42with four example India, with a widening middle-class amongst its
0:12:42 > 0:12:49population of 1.25 alien.Indeed, the Prime Minister's first bilateral
0:12:49 > 0:12:55trade visit in November 2016 was actually to India accompanied by the
0:12:55 > 0:13:00secretary of state and myself -- 1.2 private pavilion -- 1.2
0:13:02 > 0:13:09-- 1.25 billion. The Indian market is difficult to crack the many
0:13:09 > 0:13:13exporters, we have advantages in doing business there and I think the
0:13:13 > 0:13:17recent talks are led by the secretary of State last month is
0:13:17 > 0:13:22putting as in the right direction. By leaving the customs union and
0:13:22 > 0:13:28establishing a new ambitious arrangement with the EU, we will
0:13:28 > 0:13:32establish a frictionless trade as possible and the freedom to forge
0:13:32 > 0:13:38partnerships around the world.The Norwegians have a saying, nothing is
0:13:38 > 0:13:46in as much of a hurry as a dead fish on the back of a lorry. Like
0:13:46 > 0:13:54Norway... Takes a minute! Like Norway, Scotland exports most of the
0:13:54 > 0:13:57fish it catches to the European Union and that's why Norway has
0:13:57 > 0:14:03chosen to be a member of the single market, to avoid nontariff barriers
0:14:03 > 0:14:08so fish can cross borders quickly. What assessment has he made of the
0:14:08 > 0:14:13impact of leaving the single market on the Scottish fishing industry?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16First thing to point out, the majority of Scotland's exports go to
0:14:16 > 0:14:25the rest of the UK, not the EU. And before the Right Honourable Lady
0:14:25 > 0:14:30talks about the value of the single market, it's worth pointing out that
0:14:30 > 0:14:33despite our membership of the single market, we've had a growing trade
0:14:33 > 0:14:38deficit with the European Union at the same time has a surplus with the
0:14:38 > 0:14:46rest of the world. We want to establish conditions where all our
0:14:46 > 0:14:50exports have access to the rest of the world, and as experts point out,
0:14:50 > 0:14:5790% of global growth in the next 50 years will be outside Europe.What
0:14:57 > 0:15:01is the preferred method of the Secretary of State of insuring
0:15:01 > 0:15:06frictionless trade between the Republic and North of Ireland?
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Through widespread and Liberal agreement in trade with the European
0:15:09 > 0:15:17Union as set out in the government memorandum in December. Mr Speaker,
0:15:17 > 0:15:26the great festival will be held in Hong Kong in 2018 with over 70
0:15:26 > 0:15:29confirmed speakers, showcasing the best of British innovation and the
0:15:29 > 0:15:31potential of the UK economy and the strength of our world-class service
0:15:31 > 0:15:39sector.Britain is becoming a world litter in artificial intelligence,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42big data and the fourth Industrial Revolution technologies that will
0:15:42 > 0:15:50power export growth, can he ensure these will be widely promoted at the
0:15:50 > 0:15:55first festival?Yes, for example an AI based infrastructure technology
0:15:55 > 0:16:03which has been used for projects in this country as Crossrail will be
0:16:03 > 0:16:06showcased but it will be an opportunity for us to show the best
0:16:06 > 0:16:16of British innovation in general. Thank you, we are making great
0:16:16 > 0:16:20progress in supporting UK businesses to invest overseas as this will have
0:16:20 > 0:16:25a substantial positive affect on the UK economy. The DIC has addressed a
0:16:25 > 0:16:30market failures to support British businesses.What update is the
0:16:30 > 0:16:39Minister able to provide the House on pilots, and could he explain the
0:16:39 > 0:16:47opportunities overseas direct assessment could present?My
0:16:47 > 0:16:50department's ODI support pilots have successfully demonstrated the impact
0:16:50 > 0:16:55of the government can have in supporting UK businesses to overcome
0:16:55 > 0:16:59barriers to market access and to expand overseas. By harnessing the
0:16:59 > 0:17:04private sector wherever possible and focusing government intervention is
0:17:04 > 0:17:07only on market failures, my department has successfully
0:17:07 > 0:17:12supported overseas developers for a range of UK businesses in six global
0:17:12 > 0:17:14markets.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Mr Speaker, in 2016, the UK had a trade deficit with the EU and a
0:17:23 > 0:17:34trade surplus with non-EU countries, up from 2015. Latest figures show in
0:17:34 > 0:17:422017, the UK trade deficit in goods and services and narrowed.Balance
0:17:42 > 0:17:46of trade figures were once regarded as pivotal, thought to win or lose
0:17:46 > 0:17:51elections even. Given we are now going to escape the constraining
0:17:51 > 0:17:57clutches of the European Union, will my Right Honourable friend it
0:17:57 > 0:18:00investigate in old friends, rejuvenate our relationships in the
0:18:00 > 0:18:06realm with allies like Australia and New Zealand? What steps as he taken
0:18:06 > 0:18:12to ensure preferential arrangements with such old allies?I think he
0:18:12 > 0:18:16asks a good question. Can I put on record my thanks to him for leading
0:18:16 > 0:18:20very as governments trade delegations recently, including two
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Columbia, I know he takes an interest in the subject -- including
0:18:24 > 0:18:30two Columbia. We have set up groups with Canada, the United States and
0:18:30 > 0:18:39New Zealand, we also voted for the EU free-trade agreement with Canada.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42The Secretary of State has been in all four of these markets are
0:18:42 > 0:18:45leading efforts to break down trade barriers and seek new trade
0:18:45 > 0:18:55agreements.Quite what Colombia made of the Right Honourable Gentleman is
0:18:55 > 0:19:02not recorded!In Bristol, the music industry is important and trade is a
0:19:02 > 0:19:06service, what steps is the government is taking to ensure the
0:19:06 > 0:19:11creative industries are supported as we leave the EU?She's quite right
0:19:11 > 0:19:16to point out the importance of services to our trade. They
0:19:16 > 0:19:22represent overall 80% of our economy, 79% of jobs. The Secretary
0:19:22 > 0:19:26of State and the whole team are working closely with the DC MS to
0:19:26 > 0:19:30make sure we continue to grow exports from our creative sector to
0:19:30 > 0:19:34make sure that investment from abroad continues to come into our
0:19:34 > 0:19:41creative sector. We visit quite often places like text city, Tech UK
0:19:41 > 0:19:46and make sure we work closely with them to ensure we continue to
0:19:46 > 0:19:52flourishing future for our creative industries.Last week as co-chair of
0:19:52 > 0:19:59the all-party Kosovo group, I visited a British company who have a
0:19:59 > 0:20:04£20 million investment there. What opportunities does the Minister for
0:20:04 > 0:20:07CF or widening our trade in both goods and services with both Kosovo
0:20:07 > 0:20:13and neighbouring Balkan countries? It's a good opportunity and a part
0:20:13 > 0:20:19of the world I know well. The company he is referring to is called
0:20:19 > 0:20:27Fox and marble which is a highly appropriate name for this question.
0:20:27 > 0:20:32They find top-quality marble in Kosovo for export. In terms of the
0:20:32 > 0:20:36wider region, we work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
0:20:36 > 0:20:38promoting opportunities throughout the region.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46My department has a responsibility for export promotion, forward and
0:20:46 > 0:20:51outward direct trade policy. I'm delighted to inform the House my
0:20:51 > 0:20:56department has appointed the first three of our network of trade
0:20:56 > 0:21:00commissioners. They will service trade commissions were China, North
0:21:00 > 0:21:03America and South Asia respectively. They will develop and deliver
0:21:03 > 0:21:08strategies to make sure we can take full advantage of leaving the
0:21:08 > 0:21:12European Union, the single market and the customs union.I thank him
0:21:12 > 0:21:16for that answer. What evidence is the Minister seeing for growth in UK
0:21:16 > 0:21:20manufacturing exports to the wider world? Having returned from Pakistan
0:21:20 > 0:21:24as a trade envoy with a leading British companies, will the
0:21:24 > 0:21:30Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to our trade experts in
0:21:30 > 0:21:40Pakistan?Indeed I do to all of those. We're seeing a big rise in
0:21:40 > 0:21:43our manufacturing order books, not least on the back of our strong
0:21:43 > 0:21:49export performance. We have seen the biggest growth in manufacturing in
0:21:49 > 0:21:53terms of monthly consistent numbers for 30 years and the figures
0:21:53 > 0:21:59produced by the ONS this morning suggest exports and now represents
0:21:59 > 0:22:0433% of our GDP exports, the second-highest figure on record.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09Given the government front bench's uncharacteristic failure to welcome
0:22:09 > 0:22:15my Right Honourable friend the member for Bradford South to the
0:22:15 > 0:22:19bench, I know you would wish me to do so. Is the secretary of State to
0:22:19 > 0:22:23whether Food Standards Agency recently did Saint large quantities
0:22:23 > 0:22:31of outdated meet. -- recently detained. It is believed to come
0:22:31 > 0:22:36from Ireland and south America, giving it is the parent company for
0:22:36 > 0:22:41town of you feuds, one of its directors Matthew Plunkett was also
0:22:41 > 0:22:45a director of a company implication it in the Irish horse meat scandal
0:22:45 > 0:22:50of 2013 and found guilty of meat labelling fraud, will the Secretary
0:22:50 > 0:22:53of State and liaise urgently with ministers in the Republic, with the
0:22:53 > 0:22:59FSA here and the Irish food safety authority to ensure the supply chain
0:22:59 > 0:23:04for this illegal meat is identified, that our sanitary and fight to
0:23:04 > 0:23:07sanitary regulations are properly enforced and those behind illegal
0:23:07 > 0:23:12trade...?If the meat was previously hot, it would certainly be freezing
0:23:12 > 0:23:17cold by now!I wasn't aware of that particular allegation, clearly it's
0:23:17 > 0:23:22a cross government issued. I'll ensure other ministers are aware of
0:23:22 > 0:23:28it.There is immense potential for growth in bilateral trade and
0:23:28 > 0:23:33investment between the UK and Israel after we leave the EU. Does the
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Minister share my home with yet greater levels of trade with the
0:23:37 > 0:23:40start of the nation and will he update on progress made by the UK
0:23:40 > 0:23:46Israel working group?Thank you, Britain's relationship with Israel
0:23:46 > 0:23:50is stronger than ever with record levels of bilateral cooperation and
0:23:50 > 0:23:55trade investment science and technology. As he says, the UK
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Israel trade working group is making good progress in ensuring continuity
0:23:59 > 0:24:05in our trading relationships as we leave the EU.Bearing in mind the
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Israel Apartheid week that is upcoming in universities in which a
0:24:09 > 0:24:13boycott of Israel is a big component, can the Minister outline
0:24:13 > 0:24:17how he intends to enhance trade with Israel for our benefit and offset
0:24:17 > 0:24:23this destructive campaign by the anti-Israel movement?We strongly
0:24:23 > 0:24:29welcome our ties with Israel as I know the Gentleman does. As has been
0:24:29 > 0:24:32said, that Hartmann for international trade has established
0:24:32 > 0:24:37a joint trade working group and we continue to liaise closely with the
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Israeli government to strengthen trade and investment ties and others
0:24:40 > 0:24:48between this country and them.Next Friday I'll be attending the
0:24:48 > 0:24:50business event which showcases the
0:24:50 > 0:24:53brilliant small and medium-sized enterprises in the North Devon. Will
0:24:53 > 0:24:57he say what his department is doing to attract international investments
0:24:57 > 0:25:03to these businesses which formed the bedrock of the south-west economy?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Thank you, we work in collaboration with the heart of the south-west of
0:25:06 > 0:25:10local enterprise partnership to attract foreign direct investment
0:25:10 > 0:25:15into Devon. More widely, the department works with local
0:25:15 > 0:25:19enterprise partnerships and local authorities across the whole
0:25:19 > 0:25:20south-west to promote inward investment opportunities to
0:25:20 > 0:25:25foreign-owned countries. Di I too recorded 101 inward investment
0:25:25 > 0:25:37projects in the south-west last year creating 3402 new jobs.A properly
0:25:37 > 0:25:42managed to transition to period was always top of the agenda for
0:25:42 > 0:25:44businesses across Scotland, particularly for thriving food and
0:25:44 > 0:25:49drink sector. Does he agree with his own government that a sensible
0:25:49 > 0:25:52transition period is required or is he sticking to his cliff edge
0:25:52 > 0:25:55position which will have a devastating impact for businesses
0:25:55 > 0:26:03across Scotland and the UK?I believe that as we do across
0:26:03 > 0:26:07government, that the simplest way to get to the position that we will be
0:26:07 > 0:26:11able to enjoy of leaving the single market and Customs union is a
0:26:11 > 0:26:14transition period which is carefully planned and gives predictability to
0:26:14 > 0:26:23business.Single sentencing choir is now required.
0:26:23 > 0:26:29Last week I visited the US and I was very encouraged by the positive
0:26:29 > 0:26:31response from stakeholders, what assessment have you made about the
0:26:31 > 0:26:36potential of the UK has in respect of the future trade deal with the
0:26:36 > 0:26:41US?We have four working groups with the US at the present time and the
0:26:41 > 0:26:46last one we announced the UK US dialogue in my humble friend will be
0:26:46 > 0:26:49pleased to know the first dialogue will take place next month on a
0:26:49 > 0:26:53semi-plu-mac involving 100 businesses, part of a very
0:26:53 > 0:27:02constructive business -- SMEs.Can I tempt the Secretary of State to come
0:27:02 > 0:27:09and visit a whiskey distillery and will play do everything to ensure
0:27:09 > 0:27:13future prosperity in my constituency?I have several
0:27:13 > 0:27:17invitations to visit distilleries and I will take a close personal
0:27:17 > 0:27:22interest in this particular sector. Further to the answer some moments
0:27:22 > 0:27:27ago, does my right honourable friend agree with me the prospects for
0:27:27 > 0:27:32future trade with our close friend and economic partner, India, remain
0:27:32 > 0:27:37very bright?Yes, he is quite right, I mentioned that India trade audit,
0:27:37 > 0:27:43just published, and the Secretary of State met with his Indian
0:27:43 > 0:27:48counterpart in January in our meetings agreeing bilateral work
0:27:48 > 0:27:54will now explore addressing barriers in food and drink, life sciences, IT
0:27:54 > 0:28:03and services.The UK remains a major transit hub for illegal wildlife
0:28:03 > 0:28:06traffickers and reliant on the board. Prevent the trade, can the
0:28:06 > 0:28:16Minister tell colleagues at the Home Office to ditch their plan to staff
0:28:16 > 0:28:21it with volunteers?This government has taken enormous efforts on
0:28:21 > 0:28:25stopping wildlife trafficking, my right honourable friend for foreign
0:28:25 > 0:28:29and Commonwealth affairs made this a major part of his visit to Southeast
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Asia last week, particularly with reference to an animal which is most
0:28:33 > 0:28:39trafficked across the world at the moment, pangolin, and this
0:28:39 > 0:28:45government is leading global efforts in combating this horrendous trade.
0:28:45 > 0:28:51Does my right honourable friend agreed free-trade helps consumers by
0:28:51 > 0:28:54lowering prices and it has been one of the biggest contributors to
0:28:54 > 0:29:00combating global poverty over the last 100 years? Will he embrace the
0:29:00 > 0:29:03opportunities created by Brexit to do free-trade deals helping
0:29:03 > 0:29:10consumers and British businesses?At the WTO this week, I was making the
0:29:10 > 0:29:14case again for free trade and the UK is a global champion of free trade,
0:29:14 > 0:29:19we tend to discuss trade very often in terms of producers, but we must
0:29:19 > 0:29:23also remember free-trade has an enormous benefit to consumers in
0:29:23 > 0:29:26terms of lowering prices, improving choice and increasing quality. It
0:29:26 > 0:29:30has been the route by which we have taken more than 1 billion people on
0:29:30 > 0:29:35this planet out of abject property in the last generation, something we
0:29:35 > 0:29:39should celebrate.No prosecutions leading to convictions with no
0:29:39 > 0:29:43register for arms brokers like the USA, Canada, Germany and France,
0:29:43 > 0:29:49with the Government selling weapons answered buy equipment to human
0:29:49 > 0:29:57rights abusers, are the Government not implementing the rules?They
0:29:57 > 0:30:04rather revealing questions when they try to -- they rather ruin questions
0:30:04 > 0:30:10when they tried to get too much in. It is better when shorter and more
0:30:10 > 0:30:15pithy. Such an obvious point, the honourable gentleman must be
0:30:15 > 0:30:20extraordinary clever not to be able to grasp it.All export licence
0:30:20 > 0:30:25applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the
0:30:25 > 0:30:31Consolidated EU and national export arms criteria. I would be happy to
0:30:31 > 0:30:35meet with the honourable gentleman to discuss these issues further.How
0:30:35 > 0:30:40can the many excellent businesses in the Black Country benefit when we
0:30:40 > 0:30:46leave the customs union?My honourable friend is a fine and
0:30:46 > 0:30:52upstanding voice for the Black Country. He will know manufacturing
0:30:52 > 0:30:56experienced a 2.0% growth rate over the last year leaving the customs
0:30:56 > 0:30:58union provides an opportunity to