The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patricia Gibson on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will estimate the potential cost to the economy of trade barriers between the UK and EU countries after the UK has left the EU.
Greg Hands
We are going to make a success of Brexit. As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister made clear ahead of the G20 summit, the UK will continue to be a powerful advocate for free and fair trade.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys in increasing future levels of UK exports.
Dr Liam Fox
The Trade Envoy programme has been in operation since 2012 and continues to go from strength to strength.
There are currently 21 Trade Envoys covering around 50 markets. Trade Envoys support the drive for economic growth by building on the UK’s existing relations with these markets and maximising bilateral trade.
It is crucial that we use all tools at our disposal to promote British trade across the world and Trade Envoys will be a key part of our Departmental strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when he plans to meet with UK automotive sector representatives to discuss that sector’s role in future trade deals.
Mark Garnier
The UK has a highly successful automotive industry. I and the government are determined to ensure that success continues.
Ministers will be seeking input on future trade deals from the UK automotive sector through regular dialogue with individual companies and the Automotive Council.
The Government will engage fully with a wide range of stakeholders over the coming weeks and months as we prepare for the negotiation with the EU and beyond.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to secure a trade agreement with Israel after the UK ceases to be party to the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Greg Hands
In due course, Britain will be leaving the EU. This offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate, in time, our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade.
Whilst it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions at this stage, the UK will want to continue our strong trade and investment relationship with Israel.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to have targets for BAME representation in the Senior Civil Service.
Ben Gummer
The use of stretching goals for BAME representation as well as other protected characteristics are being considered as a way to support and facilitate the increase of senior representation of underrepresented groups within the Civil Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 25 July 2016 to Questions 43380 and 43381, for what reasons his Department does not hold information on the number of public sector contracts won by small businesses or on the number of companies bidding; and if he will take steps to collate that information.
Ben Gummer
The Government has a target of awarding one third of direct and indirect central government spend to SMEs by the end of this Parliament. Consequently, we track the value of spend with SMEs through information supplied by departments, but not the number of contracts or the number of bids they have made.
We have no plans to collect information on the number of public sector contracts won by small businesses or on the number of companies bidding, as the cost of collecting such information would be disproportionate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2016 to Question 43378, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people by (i) region, (ii) county and (iii) parliamentary constituency are paid less than the Living Wage Foundation’s living wage.
Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 25 July 2016 to Questions 43380 and 43381, what proportion of that £12 billion was spent on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) winning contracts directly from government and (b) large companies winning contracts directly from government and then outsourcing parts of those contracts to SMEs.
Ben Gummer
In 2014-15, Central Government spent over £12 billion with small and medium sized businesses, of which £4.88 billion was direct spend and £7.27 billion through our supply chains.
A full breakdown of the data can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/central-government-spend-with-smes-2014-to-2015
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions his Department has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on Operation Lydd.
Ben Gummer
No discussions were had between the Cabinet Office and the CPS concerning Operation Lydd. The CPS is an independent organisation, superintended by the Attorney General. Operational decisions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to review progress towards commitments made at the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit in London; and what the timetable is for further periodic reviews of that progress.
Ben Gummer
The Government remains committed to tackling corruption in all its forms. The new administration is currently considering the approach and the governance structures that will oversee this work. Such details will be confirmed in due course. In the meantime, departments are working to progress the anti-corruption agenda, including work that was set out at the London Anti-Corruption Summit on May 12.