Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Laura Sandys (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 January 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 January 2012. It was answered by Mark Prisk (Conservative) on Monday, 23 January 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Overseas Trade

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the Third Special Report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, HC 1545, paragraph 14, if he will publish the stock-take of international market access undertaken jointly by his Department, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Trade and Investment.
Answer

Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), officials met on 13 September for a stock take of how market access issues are handled across Government, with the aim of ensuring an integrated Whitehall-wide approach to addressing market access barriers.The Departments are keen to ensure any overhaul of the current mechanisms does not add a layer of bureaucracy; any changes must result in direct benefits for business or improve Government efficiency. A light touch approach has been agreed to include the identification of areas where Departments need to work together and ensure information is shared appropriately. Accordingly, a stock-take report was not produced.Good progress has been made in delivering the UKTI strategy and implementing the FCO Charter for Business. HMG recognises the importance of fully utilising the UK's diplomatic network overseas and ministerial visits to assist in delivering value to UK business. Ministerial visits briefings have a strong focus on UK's top commercial priorities including key market access issues, ensuring Ministers, and our diplomatic network overseas, are lobbying host Governments on the commercial and trade issues of most importance to British business interests.Further close working across Government, and in consultation with business, is also being taken forward on a number of other fronts. For instance, we have consulted with business on our top market access issues in regards to China, building our joint understanding of the issues with a view to addressing these through a combination of our commercial diplomacy work and in influencing the European Commission to address UK priorities in bilateral trade discussions.In addition, DEFRA, as part of a joint Government/industry agri-food export action plan to be published later this month, will be working with industry experts and colleagues in BIS, UKTI and FCO to build up the HMG assessment of barriers to trade facing UK agri-food companies in key markets. This will raise cross-Government awareness of the obstacles facing this sector, and help build a co-ordinated lobbying effort.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
90246; 539 c112-3W
Session
2010-12
Related items
Subjects
Overseas trade
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk