Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Trade BillI beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillWith the leave of the House, I would like to respond to what has been a wide-ranging and often well-informed debate. This Bill is mainly about continuity, but also about sending a…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI have much more to say, in relation to 50 different amendments, but I appreciate that there are a large number of other speakers, so I will call it a day there in order to allow…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, which allows me to explain the difference. Some of the amendments seek to dynamically align other people’s methods of production with…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI am going to make some progress. Let me address matters related to animal welfare, food standards and food safety. I recognise the strength of feeling that those issues generate…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI absolutely give my hon. Friend those assurances. The Government’s climate change agenda—indeed, the whole country’s agenda—is incredibly important for us at the Department for…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI will not, because I have gone on for long enough.20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI am going to make more progress. For new trade agreements, the Government have already committed to working closely with the relevant scrutiny Committees in both Houses…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI am not going to give way further during this section of my speech. Similarly—this is an important point—if the Committee were to recommend a debate on an agreement prior to…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI will put the hon. Gentleman out of his misery and give way.20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillI thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention, which allows me to say that the National Farmers Union has been incredibly welcoming of this proposal. Minette Batters said that…20 Jul 2020HANSARD Trade BillNo, I will make some progress. The Government are strongly committed to transparency, as demonstrated by the steps we have already taken. New clause 12 proposes a review of free…20 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenMr Speaker, you will know that it is the policy of successive Governments not to comment on calls or conversations between Government Ministers and their opposite numbers, even…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenI have already outlined how, after looking at incidents and the assessment of them, we are confident that there is not a pattern in those previous incidents. I absolutely share…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenMy hon. Friend raises a good question. It is worth noting, again, that the investigation process is principally a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenWe have published the reasons why we are doing the policy that we are doing. We published that in the form of a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons last week,…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenAs I have said before, the incidents that have been assessed as possible violations of international humanitarian law have been looked at, but we are confident that they occurred…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenThat is a good question. Obviously, we operate in an overall policy framework called the consolidated criteria. Each individual licence application is in itself a separate…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenThat is exactly why we have the arms control and export licence regime in place, properly using the consolidated criteria to make those assessments. In terms of what anybody else…13 Jul 2020HANSARDSale of Arms: War in YemenI thank my hon. Friend for that question. Saudi Arabia is an important diplomatic and trading partner for this country. That has been the case for many decades under successive…13 Jul 2020