COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMITTEE

April 2020

COMMITTEE PRIORITIES Continuing under the leadership of Angus MacNeil, the same chair from the last two parliaments, the International Trade committee is likely to continue in much the same fashion as it has since its creation in 2016. The committee has at times acted as a secondary committee on , scrutinising future trade negotiations and conducting inquiries into different international markets. The committee has already launched a general inquiry into UK trade negotiations, scrutinising negotiations being led by the Department for International Trade until the end of the year. A more focused inquiry will take place into the potential impact of introducing freeports into the UK, and where they might best be located. The impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on international trade by UK companies will also be the subject of an inquiry in 2020. The pandemic itself may limit the scope for negotiations this year but the committee is likely to look more closely at EU trade negotiations if an extension is sought.

Chair profile Angus MacNeil MP [email protected] SNP / Na h-Eileanan an Iar – Intake 2005

A relative veteran of the SNP group in Westminster, Angus MacNeil has held a varied range of frontbench roles. With the SNP group’s expansion in 2015 he took a senior role as select committee chair on the Energy and Climate Change committee and, since 2016, as chair of the International Trade committee. He continues to act as a member of the SNP’s frontbench trade team.

Member profiles

Robert Courts MP [email protected] Conservative / Witney – Intake 2016 (by-election)

Robert Courts won the former seat of at a by-election in 2016. He first joined the Backbench Business committee shortly after his election and prior to the last general election he also had short stints on the Transport and Justice committees. He has been a member of this committee since March and was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Transport Secretary in April.

Mark Garnier MP [email protected] Conservative / Wyre Forest – Intake 2010

A former minister in the Department for International Trade before his ministerial career was cut short, had previously been a member of the Treasury committee for six years from his election in 2010. He also holds positions on the European Statutory Instruments and Regulatory Reform committees.

Mark Menzies MP [email protected] Conservative / Fylde – Intake 2010

A Scot representing a seat, Mark Menzies first served on the Scottish Affairs committee before a spell as Parliamentary Private Secretary during the Coalition government. He has since served (again) on the Scottish Affairs, Transport, Regulatory Reform and International Development committees.

Craig Williams MP [email protected] Conservative / Montgomeryshire – Intake 2015 & 2019

Formerly the MP for Cardiff North for just two years, Craig Williams returned to parliament in 2019 in the safer, rural seat of Montgomeryshire. During his last spell in parliament, Mr Williams served on the Work and Pensions, Scottish Affairs and Welsh Affairs committees. Martin Vickers MP [email protected] Conservative / – Intake 2010

A committed member of the eurosceptic , Martin Vickers was a stalwart of local government before entering parliament. He served on the Transport committee for five years and briefly on the Health and Social Care committee before joining the International Trade committee in March.

Sir MP [email protected] Labour (Co-op) / Preston – Intake 2000 (by-election)

A former MEP, first elected to Westminster at a by-election, Sir Mark Hendrick spent the years of the last Labour government on select committees and acting as Parliamentary Private Secretary to a number of Cabinet Ministers, most notably as . He also sat on the International Development and Foreign Affairs committees and served as an Opposition Whip.

Gareth Thomas MP [email protected] Labour (Co-op) / Harrow West – Intake 1997

Gareth Thomas was appointed Shadow Minister for International Trade by Labour leader Sir in April 2020. He is therefore expected to step down from this select committee.

Matt Western MP [email protected] Labour / and Leamington – Intake 2017

Matt Western joined the International Trade committee shortly after his election in 2017. Prior to the 2019 election he also sat on the Housing, Communities and Local Government committee and since February 2020 he has been an Opposition Whip, a position he retained under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer.

Mick Whitley MP [email protected] Labour / – Intake 2019

A new MP, defeated the incumbent former Labour MP Frank Field at last year’s general election. Mr Whitley worked for Vauxhall Motors before becoming a trade union official with Unite. His selection as the Labour candidate in Birkenhead was endorsed by and Unite.

Paul Girvan MP [email protected] DUP / South – Intake 2017

A new member of this committee since March, Paul Girvan previously sat on the Transport committee. He also acts as the DUP’s frontbench spokesperson on Transport and Education. Mr Girvan has previously served in the Assembly and in local government in Antrim.

Committee email address: [email protected] Phone: 020 7219 5113 Joanna Welham, Clerk: [email protected] Sean Kinsey, Second Clerk: [email protected] Hannah Barlow, Committee Assistant: [email protected]

The Investment Association Camomile Court, 23 Camomile Street, , EC3A 7LL www.theia.org @InvAssoc