Contributions
550 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeaving the EU: UK Trade PolicyThe hon. Gentleman may be slightly confusing the Board of Trade with the Department for International Trade. They have slightly different functions. When the Board of Trade met in…11 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: UK Trade PolicyThere are a number of ways in which we can do that. The traditional trade agreements are one of them, but market access is another. For example, countries such as China are huge…11 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: UK Trade PolicyRe-establishing the Board of Trade has been one of this Department’s major achievements over the past three years, and it will continue to meet in all UK nations and regions.…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformI absolutely agree that we need an international rules-based system based on the WTO. It does require reform, but the fact that it needs reform is not an excuse to leave—it is an…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformFor Britain to be able to sell abroad, we need to be able to do two things simultaneously: understand what Britain has to sell abroad and understand the markets we are selling…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformThis Government have been very consistent in our approach to this matter. In fact, next week I will be setting out, at a slightly lesser level, moves that the Department for…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformWell, 10.7% of our trade is done under EU trade agreements with third countries. In fact, the largest of those, with Switzerland, and some of the other largest—for example, with…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformI would go further than my hon. Friend and say that free trade is beneficial for prosperity, stability and security, in the United Kingdom and beyond. The creation of Her…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformContinuity of existing trade terms is in everybody’s interests. I have to say that when the House of Commons gives mixed signals about the possibility of a no-deal exit, quite…11 Jul 2019HANSARDFree Trade and WTO ReformThis weekend, it will be three years since my Department was formed, and in that time the UK has worked with partners to ensure that the World Trade Organisation is equipped with…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentThe hon. Gentleman asks an important key question on the specifics. Of course, criterion 2c is a predictive element. We have to look at what we think the future risk is in…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentI agree with my right hon. Friend about the humanitarian costs involved in the conflict, and I also agree that there can be no military solution to this particular conflict. There…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentI disagree with the premise of the question itself. The right hon. Gentleman says that the Government’s position is inexplicable, but it is not. We are following the EU and…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentThe divisional court’s judgment set out in terms why we operate a robust system, and I explained in my statement that we have gone well beyond what I think is naturally expected…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentThe hon. Lady asks a good question. We discuss matters with our European colleagues, including our German colleagues, at the highest level, and it is our policy to continue to…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentI do wish that more countries shared the criteria that we and our European partners operate in this particular field. However, I also believe that countries are entitled to defend…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentI have made it clear on a number of occasions how we come to decisions and the process of ministerial accountability in that. The Court of Appeal judged that the process needs to…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentThe House has grown accustomed to the outraged tone of the hon. Gentleman, but it does not actually reflect the balanced tone of the judgment. He said in his questions that this…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentThe Foreign Secretary and I have answered numerous questions on this issue in the House of Commons, and we have certainly cited some of those incidents and been questioned on…20 Jun 2019HANSARD Export Licences: High Court JudgmentWith permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement about the High Court judgment on military export licences to Saudi Arabia. Today, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment…20 Jun 2019