Contributions
348 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman’s comments, and early on he mentioned a trade deal to reduce tariffs; that is exactly the deal we have sought to secure and have secured…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI fully appreciate my hon. Friend’s observations. I was unaware on arriving in the Chamber that a successor to Pope Francis, who is greatly grieved and missed on both sides of the…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsThe hon. Lady is entirely right to raise the importance of the Scotch whisky industry, and I say that as a Member with a constituency interest: I have the Glenkinchie distillery…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsAs a mere Minister of Trade, I am not sure the Treasury would look kindly on me telling the OBR when to update its forecasts. I am a Trade Minister, not a Treasury Minister, but I…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI thank my hon. Friend for his generous roll-call of honour. It would probably do my career prospects in the Department for Business and Trade some benefit if I added the…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsFirst, I am grateful for the catch-all congratulations to the whole Government; it is a sentiment I heartily endorse, and I will ensure it is heard by other colleagues. In…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI can do no better than refer to the Prime Minister’s Mansion House speech towards the end of last year, when he said clearly that we do not want to have to choose between our…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsIt has been a feature of the last few months, since the President was elected, that people have thought that trade policy and tariffs are synonymous. My hon. Friend is exactly…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsLet me first pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his tireless efforts in promoting the economic development of and opportunities for his constituency. I last spoke with Richard…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsOnly in recent days I have been involved in discussions, notwithstanding the work we have been doing on India and the United States, in relation to the defence component of the…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsLet me pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman. I noticed his tweet—I am not sure if one calls it that or X—earlier this afternoon, which reflected his question and which spoke to…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsAs a former Secretary of State for Transport, I am always nervous as to whether buses turn up or not, but I appreciate the analogy. It has been a busy week for the Government and…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI hope I can give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that he seeks. The SPS arrangements were, as I said, an absolute red line for the United Kingdom. We were keen, both in…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsAs so often in the past, the Government will always act in the national interest in protecting Britain’s farmers and our food security. I would rehearse the numbers that I shared.…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsMr Speaker, the responsibility was ours, and for that I apologise. I hope that through my officials we will be able to furnish the House with the statement that is requested. In…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his questions. On the case he makes for seeing trade as not simply a bilateral issue but a multilateral issue, I think there is a broad consensus…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsLet me begin by paying tribute to my right hon. Friend’s long-standing interest in Jaguar Land Rover and the wider west midlands economy and to the diligent and demanding work he…08 May 2025HANSARD Brain Tumours: Research and TreatmentI am grateful to you, Mr Speaker, and I of course defer to your judgment and will issue the statement—08 May 2025HANSARD Brain Tumours: Research and TreatmentOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. It had been the intention of the Government to make a statement to the House this afternoon immediately following the scheduled press conference…08 May 2025HANSARD Trade NegotiationsMr Speaker, on your point, I apologise again for the statement not being available. As was clear from my initial remarks, there was some confusion within Government as to the best…08 May 2025