Thursday Volume 670 23 January 2020 No. 15 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 23 January 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 393 23 JANUARY 2020 394 Elizabeth Truss: Lowering barriers will mean lower House of Commons costs for businesses and more choice for consumers. In Wolverhampton and the west midlands overall, we send Thursday 23 January 2020 one in five of all exports to the United States. Getting a trade deal with the US would mean a removal of tariffs on products such as cars, textiles and steel, so there are The House met at half-past Nine o’clock huge opportunities there for those businesses to grow. Stewart Hosie (Dundee East) (SNP): I am glad that PRAYERS the Secretary of State expects us to cut lots of free trade deals, but they do not happen by chance; they happen [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] by detailed analysis and tough negotiations. How does she believe we can succeed in those negotiations when the number of expert trade negotiators she has is a fraction of the 600 the EU has? More importantly, is Oral Answers to Questions she not setting herself up for a fall by rather foolishly, in my opinion, embarking on parallel trade negotiations with such limited resources with both the European Union and the USA? INTERNATIONAL TRADE Elizabeth Truss: I am afraid I am not surprised to The Secretary of State was asked— hear the SNP talking our country down. The fact is that we have scaled up our trade negotiation expertise. We Global Free Trade now have approximately the same number as the US Trade Representative, which is one of the leading trade 1. Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): negotiators in the world. Our trade negotiators have What steps her Department is taking to promote global already secured £110 billion of trade continuity deals, free trade. [900346] even though people such as the hon. Gentleman said it could not be done. Those negotiators have a wide 10. Stuart Anderson (Wolverhampton South West) experience in trade law from the private sector, and we (Con): What steps her Department is taking to promote have also recruited people from other Commonwealth global free trade. [900356] nations with experience from the WTO. We have an excellent team at the Department for International Trade, The Secretary of State for International Trade (Elizabeth and we have the staff in place ready to conduct the Truss): As we leave the European Union, we have a negotiations with the US, Australia, New Zealand and huge opportunity to be a liberalising force for trade in Japan. the world. We aim to secure agreements with countries accounting for 80% of UK trade within three years of Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): leaving the EU, and as we take up our independent seat The statement from the Trump Administration that we at the World Trade Organisation we will be a champion will be subject to retaliatory tariffs if we proceed with of global free trade. the digital services tax that is set to come in in April seems an early test of how we will fare in independent Anthony Browne: The farmers in my constituency of trade talks. Could the Secretary of State tell us if the South Cambridgeshire are some of the most productive Government intend to concede to American pressure? in the country and they are very keen to increase exports. They also want to make sure that they are not Elizabeth Truss: Let me be clear: UK tax policy is a undermined in the marketplace by competing with farmers matter for the UK Chancellor—it is not a matter for the from countries that follow lower environmental standards US; it is not a matter for the EU; it is not a matter for or animal welfare standards. As my right hon. Friend anybody else—and we will make the decisions that are starts the negotiations with other countries to increase right for Britain whether they are on our regulatory trade, what is she doing to make sure that farmers from standards, our tax policy or anything else. Britain can compete on a level playing field? Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con): Graham Harvey is a Elizabeth Truss: We remain absolutely committed to constituent of mine who runs an excellent little composites upholding our high environmental, food safety and business on the Isle of Wight. He has just won a big animal welfare standards post Brexit. As my hon. Friend order to sell to Taiwan. That is exactly the sort of points out, there are huge opportunities for farmers for business that I know the Secretary of State will want to trade—for example, getting lamb into the US market. cheer on, but he is finding it extremely difficult to get The US is the second biggest importer of lamb by value export finance and banking finance. I have written to in the world. Currently, UK lamb cannot get into the the Secretary of State. Does she share my concern that US market, and that is a huge opportunity for our our small and medium-sized businesses are not being farmers. given the support that they need to export successfully? Stuart Anderson: I thank the Secretary of State for Elizabeth Truss: I am very proud of the work that that answer. I am keen to know whether these steps UK Export Finance does. It has just celebrated its will make a visible difference to the businesses in 100th birthday of supplying export finance for British Wolverhampton that trade globally. business. I am very keen, and I have laid this out to the 395 Oral Answers 23 JANUARY 2020 Oral Answers 396 team, that we do more to support small and medium-sized Graham Stuart: My right hon. Friend is right. That enterprises. I would be very happy to look at the case blue wave was also a cleansing wave that is allowing new for my hon. Friend’s constituent, and make sure that he thinking. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is getting the support that he needs. Wedo have additional announced our free port policy in Teesport in August. available finance, and there is also an exporting toolkit We recognise that more free ports, not least in the for MPs to help them get in touch with export finance. Teesport area, can create jobs, rejuvenate communities and boost local economies. We will continue the job Industrial Strategy: Steel Industry creation miracle that has gone on under this Government and, with my right hon. Friend’s help, free ports will be an important part of that. 2. Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab): What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business,Energy and Industrial Strategy on the effectiveness Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Could of the Government’s Industrial Strategy in attracting we rise above party politics on this? [Laughter.] Mr Speaker, inward investment to the steel industry. [900347] they don’t blame me, do they? I understand that free ports are fashionable at the moment. If the Minister The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for can persuade me that there will be no disadvantage to International Trade (Graham Stuart): I thank the hon. businesses in Huddersfield and Yorkshire—I have a Lady for her question and for her continued championing long history of co-chairing the Yorkshire group of of the UK steel industry.We work closely with colleagues MPs—we could be persuaded that free ports are a good in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial thing. Will he give us a bit more detail? Strategy to promote steel. Since 2013, the Government have provided more than £600 million of support, including Graham Stuart: A day when the hon. Gentleman rises £300 million for energy cost relief, £250 million for above party politics is one when we know a significant innovation and £66 million for new technologies. shift has occurred in the body politic, but I will try to take the question in the spirit in which it was intended. Stephanie Peacock: The Government claim to be We are consulting and engaging widely, including with supportive of British steel makers, yet only 50% of steel devolved areas of the country, to ensure we come up purchased by the Government comes from Britain. Is it with exactly the right package to be able to assure even not time that the Government actually backed our steel the most sceptical, albeit now non-party political people industry, bought British and introduced a sector deal like the hon. Member, that free ports really can galvanise for steel? further job development and prosperity. Graham Stuart: With our colleagues at UK Export Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): It is Finance, we established a steel export taskforce and we important that this policy does not lead to market are very keen to promote steel exports. The hon. Lady is distortions and displacement of activity around ports. right that we should do everything we can to ensure that Does my hon. Friend agree that the key to making this a British steel is used in the UK. I am happy to work, success is to build on the unique competencies and both here and abroad, to make sure we support the steel excellence of individual ports, such as the port of industry going forward. Milford Haven in my constituency, with its unique energy expertise? Free Ports Graham Stuart: My right hon.