Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)Sir Graham, first of all, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, and I welcome everyone to the Committee. I think the previous Bill Committee I served on was for the…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman. He is an old sparring partner of mine over different years and different Sessions. It would be impossible for me to commit to that today, because there…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend will know that the Food Standards Agency is extremely well placed on this issue. He will know that the chair, Heather Hancock, sent a letter to all…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for that very good question. I do not have current information about how far down that process China and Russia may be. Of course, both those countries…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)It is a good question, but the assurance I would give is that our intention is to join the GPA with substantially the same arrangements as we currently have as members of the EU.…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I thought, Sir Graham, that as a Manchester MP, you would enjoy that story. The hon. Member for Sefton Central made an impressive oration, and had an impressive memory of our oral…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I accept that, but the additional 4,000 cars a day going over Putney bridge into the hon. Lady’s constituency as a result of the closure of Hammersmith bridge has certainly not…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe engage with the devolved Administrations on a regular basis. Baroness Morgan is my opposite number in the Welsh Government and we have a very good relationship, both on free…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis is very opportune, because last week, I was the guest speaker at the Black Country chamber of commerce, and they were uniformly enthusiastic about the Government’s free trade…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I accept that intervention, but I would say that my three hon. Friends have been here, I think, for six months, six months and about three years so far, and the commitment that…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I do not know whether the Chair of the Committee was aware of that, but he is now and I think he will welcome the change. He is…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)Speaking to amendment 30, which was tabled by the hon. Member for Dundee East, I can assure him that all regulations made under the clause 2 power to implement international trade…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)Yes, I did.18 Jun 2020HANSARDTrade Bill (Fourth sitting)I have already set out for the Committee the benefits of GPA membership. It is an agreement that mutually opens government procurement markets between its parties. Preserving the…18 Jun 2020HANSARDFree Trade Agreements: Freedom of Religion or BeliefMy hon. Friend has done superb work as the Prime Minister’s special envoy on freedom of religion and belief. He references the Truro report, which was set up by the previous…18 Jun 2020HANSARDFree Trade Agreements: Environmental Protection StandardsThe Government are committed to meeting their ambitious environmental objectives. We are exploring all options in the design of future trade and investment agreements, including…18 Jun 2020HANSARDFree Trade Agreements: Environmental Protection StandardsThe hon. Lady raises a good question. The UK is absolutely committed to our international climate change agenda; that is one of our key objectives. We have not included that…18 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, I praise the long-standing work that my hon. Friend has done in local government leadership over many years. Local government and councils will play a key role. This week,…18 Jun 2020HANSARDFree Trade Agreements: Human RightsLet us be absolutely clear: there has been no relaxation or watering down of the UK’s complete commitment to human rights. That is valid right across the Government, including in…18 Jun 2020HANSARDFree Trade Agreements: Human RightsThe UK has commenced trade negotiations with the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The UK has a strong history of safeguarding human rights and promoting our values…18 Jun 2020