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Subject: News Bulletin from Greg Hands MP #488
Date: 22 January 2018 at 12:26
To: news@greghands.com
Photo news:
Boris visits Fulham
Hands in Parliament:
Trade Bill
9th January 2018
When we considered the Ways and Means motions for the Taxation
(Cross-border Trade) Bill just before Christmas, 28 Labour Members
rebelled by backing an amendment in favour of staying in the customs
union. Last night, 219 Labour Members voted against the Second
Reading of that same Bill, which means that they are opposed to the
UK’s having, post Brexit, any scheme of trade preferences for
developing countries.
Before I respond to the individual points that have been made in the
debate, I want to be very clear, because there is still a great deal of
confusion on the Opposition Benches, about what is not in the Bill. It
does not include a power to implement future free trade agreements
negotiated with new countries. It is very much about providing
continuity and stability by enabling the UK to implement the effects of
the trading arrangements that already exist between the European
Union and other countries at the point when the UK leaves the EU.
Let me deal briefly with some of the points raised by Opposition Front
Benchers. First, there was an allegation of an exchange of letters with
the US trade representative, suggesting that the Department for
International Trade had given some kind of assurance of secrecy. The
opposite is true: the letters to which the hon. Member for Brent North
(Barry Gardiner) referred do nothing more than set out a proposal for
the proper handling of confidential information, and are not an attempt
to avoid scrutiny. In fact, the letters reaffirm our commitment to a
transparent and inclusive process with specific reference to
Parliament.
The hon. Gentleman also talked, as did the hon. Member for Glasgow
East (David Linden), about the trade White Paper with reference to
when the Bill was published. The White Paper was just one way of
getting the shape of our future UK trade policy correct. Since then, we
have also issued a call for evidence on specific EU trade remedies,
which is still open. My door is open, and the Secretary of State and I
have meetings coming up with the ceramics and steel industries and
other important industry groups.
The hon. Member for Brent North asserted that transitioning deals
would not be subject to any parliamentary scrutiny, as did many of his
colleagues. We have every intention of ratifying all the EU free trade
agreements currently in force before we leave the EU, including the
EU-Canada CETA agreement, the South Korea agreement that was
mentioned by the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray) and
others, and the economic partnership with the South African
Development Community. Those have already been subject to
parliamentary scrutiny here, and there is of course a process for them
to have further scrutiny as well.
The hon. Member for Brent North also raised the question of whether
Parliament can vote on the terms of UK membership of the GPA. The
Bill creates the power to have stand-alone UK membership of the
GPA, but the approval for ratifying the UK independent membership
will be sought separately from Parliament.
The hon. Member for Livingston (Hannah Bardell) made various points
in a thoughtful contribution. She said the Bill does not define what a
free trade agreement is, but it does define that in clause 2(7) as
particular provisions
The hon. Member for Edinburgh South made some points about
Scotch whisky. There have already been two meetings of the trade
working group with South Korea and there is absolutely no evidence
that the South Koreans want to do anything at all against Scotch
whisky. It would be against their interests and ours to do so. I, the
Secretary of State and the whole International Trade team work
tirelessly to promote Scotch whisky. I did that personally in Peru when
lobbying about particular metal rules, and it has happened during
discussions about rules in Taiwan.
Photo news:
Hands welcomes local pupils to
Westminster
Hands in Parliament:
International Trade Questions
11th January 2018
SMEs: Exports
The Minister for Trade Policy (Greg Hands): We have three main
ways to support exports by SMEs. First, the great.gov.uk website
offers digital tools, and has had more than 2.7 million visitors;
secondly, international trade advisers based across England are
supporting businesses; and thirdly, UK Export Finance has provided
£3 billion in support. Last year it helped 221 UK companies, 79% of
which were SMEs.
Greg Hands: My hon. Friend asks a good and pertinent question, and
that is why UK Export Finance is working to ensure that SMEs can
access the insurance that they need to export and invest overseas
with confidence. Last year we launched an enhanced overseas
investment insurance product to protect UK businesses against
political risk when investing abroad, and I strongly recommend that
product to companies in my hon. Friend’s Milton Keynes constituency.
Greg Hands: The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, and that is
certainly very much part of the export strategy. I remind him and the
whole House of some of the work we have been doing to ensure that
finance is more accessible. We signed agreements in July 2016 and
July 2017 with the leading UK banks to ensure that their SME
customers can access finance more easily and that UK Export
Finance assistance in particular is directly available.
Greg Hands: The Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill, which had its
Second Reading on Monday, provides exactly for the scheme of
preferences to be taken across into UK law. I find it extraordinary that
the Opposition parties voted against it. They voted against the UK
having its own trade preferences scheme for developing countries.
That is a disgrace. I very much hope that they will reconsider their
position as the Bill passes through the House of Commons.
Topical Questions
Greg Hands: Last month, I chaired the second of our joint economic
and trade committee talks with Taiwan, and I can tell my hon. Friend
that renewable energy was right at the heart of those talks. The UK
has the highest capacity market anywhere in the world for offshore
wind, and that is of strong interest to the Taiwanese authorities. Those
discussions are ongoing.
Photo news:
Hands meets with Sir Oswald Stoll
Foundation Chief Executive
Greg Hands MP with the Chief Executive of the Sir Oswald Stoll
Foundation, Ed Tytherleigh, to discuss proposals for the
redevelopment of flats for retired and disabled ex-servicemen
and women.
“The level of the fly tipping fixed penalty notice has been set at £200,
reduced to £150 for early payment. The £400 Maximum limit is not
being used.”
But it turns out that is rather irrelevant – as the Council doesn’t issue
any penalties anyway. The number of Fixed Penalty fines paid to the
Council for fly-tipping for 2016/17 was nil.
I’m afraid the Council is simply not rising to the challenge. Fly-tipping
makes going for a walk a dreary, depressing experience. Combating it
is important for the quality of life we enjoy. I will keep pressing the
Council to take this issue more seriously.
Photo news:
Hands addresses the Ludwig Erhard Gipfel
conference in Bavaria
A total of 23 ‘hot spot’ construction sites in the south west area of the
Royal Borough will be actively monitored by a hand-picked pilot team,
consisting of officers from across the Council’s Environmental
Services.
The Chelsea Pilot will be tested and reviewed over the next three
months. Depending on its success it may be rolled out across other
areas of the borough later in the year.
To raise an enforcement issue with the Chelsea Pilot Team call 020
7361 3650 or email enfpilot@rbkc.gov.uk Alternatively residents can
visit Chelsea Old Town Hall in King’s Road on Monday 1pm to 4pm,
Wednesday 8am to 12pm and Thursday 1pm to 4pm.
Photo news:
Campaigning in Kensington & Chelsea
The Council has commissioned the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS)
to look at what’s currently happening and whether this can be
improved. CfPS will be reporting its recommendations in the Spring.
For more information, go to http://bit.ly/2kbysvu.
Photo news:
Hands on German TV
Dear Resident,
As you may know, the Board of the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant
Management Organisation (KCTMO) have unanimously agreed to
hand back management of housing to Kensington and Chelsea
Council.
This means the Council will be taking over repairs, looking after your
estates and running the day to day services.
Doug Goldring
Director of Housing Management
www.greghands.com
www.greghands.com
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