Extract from Commons
statement on the EU Council
Dr (East Kilbride, Strathaven
and Lesmahagow) (SNP): The Prime Minister has welcomed
the completion of the free trade agreements between the EU and
Canada, and the pending free trade agreement between the EU and
Japan. When it comes to the benefits of the single market and
free trade, will the EU not be getting the full jammy doughnut
while the UK will be left behind with nothing but an empty hole?
The Prime Minister: No. We will be negotiating
free trade agreements with not just the EU, but other countries
around the world. Crucially, other countries around the world are
eager to work with us to negotiate free trade agreements. There
are discussions with countries such as America, Australia, Mexico
and India. We are already looking at the agreements that we can
have as a United Kingdom outside the European Union.
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Extract from ten minute
rule motion on Diplomatic Service (United Kingdom Wines and
Sparkling Wines)
(Wealden)
(Con):...However, the lack of consistency in embassy
policies on hosting and serving British products means that we are
missing opportunities to show those products off in new markets
that should be fertile territory for exports, such as China, Japan,
Singapore and even India, where wine consumption among the
professional classes is growing exponentially. Last week, I was
told that our Rome embassy asked the UK wine industry to sponsor a
wine tasting for Tuscan wines. That just is not good enough. I
doubt that Italy’s outposts here in London serve anything other
than Italian wine...
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Extracts from Lords
debate on the Budget
(CB):...The Budget
did not mention exports once. We are meant to be encouraging
exports. India has a GDP growth rate of 7% and
overtook the UK as the sixth-largest economy in the world, thanks
to the devaluation of the pound after Brexit. We need to generate
growth. We have done relatively well, but to grow as a business you
have to invest. You cannot cut your way to growth. The Minister
spoke about productivity and how we lag in it. The Budget is right
on investment in skills such as T-levels, but what about real
investment in R&D and innovation? We invest 1.7% of GDP in
R&D and innovation; Germany and the United States of America
invest 2.7% and 2.8%. If we were to catch up with them, we would
have to spend £20 billion more per year just to start off with, let
alone to catch up with the lag...
...Brexit, the elephant in the room, got one mention by the
Chancellor. It got barely a mention. Leaving the single market.
Then the Prime Minister talked about “going global”. said “going global”. Which dream
world is living in? Free trade agreements
are not just about tariffs but about goods and services and
people. The Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley, was here and made it very
clear that a free trade agreement with India would be all very well, but it
would be not just about goods but about people. In November, when
our Prime Minister went to India, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said very
clearly that it was about Indian students being able to study
abroad...
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Baroness
Neville-Rolfe) (Con):...I should add that within the EU
we have always been the strongest advocate for free trade. As the
noble Lord, , said, we need to continue
to invest in exports. He will be glad to know that I shall be
speaking at the UK India Business Council this week.
As he knows, we will continue to attract the brightest and the
best to work or study in the UK, but there must be control. I can
confirm that agreement on the future of EU nationals is an early
priority for the Brexit negotiations...
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