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Agreed to on question.
I have one or two constituents in Poole who lost their jobs because they were in companies owned by Russians who were sanctioned, and they have found it difficult to have an orderly wind-up because banks run a mile from loaning those businesses a reasonable amount of money to sort them out. I know of one situation where people have not been able to get P60s as the business cannot get money from any of the banks—they do not want to be involved in anything to do with sanctions—so it cannot pay the accountants who would produce them. May I have a word with the Minister about that? In some cases, we are going over the top, and it is affecting our constituents.
I have one or two constituents in Poole who lost their jobs because they were in companies owned by Russians who were sanctioned, and they have found it difficult to have an orderly wind-up because banks run a mile from loaning those businesses a reasonable amount of money to sort them out. I know of one situation where people have not been able to get P60s as the business cannot get money from any of the banks—they do not want to be involved in anything to do with sanctions—so it cannot pay the accountants who would produce them. May I have a word with the Minister about that? In some cases, we are going over the top, and it is affecting our constituents.
Those points demonstrate how serious and extensive the Government’s actions are, but I recognise that sometimes unfortunate situations arise and I am happy to look at that case and take it back to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.
Although electric cars are important, the EU, under pressure from the German car industry, has put back the date when petrol combustion engines will be banned. What discussions have we had with our industry about whether it might be appropriate to do that here, given that that may give some of our industry difficulty in continuing to manufacture in the future?
Although electric cars are important, the EU, under pressure from the German car industry, has put back the date when petrol combustion engines will be banned. What discussions have we had with our industry about whether it might be appropriate to do that here, given that that may give some of our industry difficulty in continuing to manufacture in the future?
The third round of consultations on the zero-emission vehicle mandate has just closed. We work closely with all the relevant parties, in particular the car manufacturers. My hon. Friend should be aware that not deflecting from our path, as has been done elsewhere, will not just put the UK further ahead in this area but will trigger a substantial amount of private sector investment in charging infrastructure. ChargeUK has announced that some £6 billion will be invested by private means in the charging network over the next few years, which is to be welcomed.
What steps her Department is taking to reduce barriers to global trade for British businesses.
What steps her Department is taking to reduce barriers to global trade for British businesses.
In the past financial year, we have resolved 192 individual trade barriers in over 70 countries. Forty-five of these alone are estimated to be worth around £5 billion to British businesses over the next five years. The Department is working tirelessly to remove the most prominent bilateral trade barriers—work that has the potential to deliver £20 billion-worth of opportunities for businesses across the entire UK.
I commend the Minister of State on all the hard work he is doing—I am an avid follower of his Twitter feed, and it is interesting to find out which country he is in on any individual day. We do a lot of good exports of cars and so on, but one area we need to grow is invisibles—financial and other services. When we do trade agreements, are we putting enough effort into ensuring that our service sector can take full advantage of them?
I commend the Minister of State on all the hard work he is doing—I am an avid follower of his Twitter feed, and it is interesting to find out which country he is in on any individual day. We do a lot of good exports of cars and so on, but one area we need to grow is invisibles—financial and other services. When we do trade agreements, are we putting enough effort into ensuring that our service sector can take full advantage of them?
My hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head—quite apart from the fact that he follows me so closely on Twitter. I would perhaps commend that more widely, and I hope my constituents get a look in from time to time. I thank my hon. Friend for that.
My hon. Friend hits the nail on the head when he talks about the importance of the services sector. Services are 80% of our economy. We are the world’s second largest services exporter. I used to sit at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on trade, and it was often difficult to get the EU to focus as well as it might have done on services possibilities. We now have an independent trade policy, which allows us to give services the focus that UK service companies and service providers deserve, and financial services are very much at the heart of that. We always make sure that our services offer is right at the forefront of our FTA talks and other bilateral trade talks.
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the implications for its policies on the proper use of Church moneis of the case in the ecclesiastical Parish of Longfleet, St Mary's, Poole; what episcopal oversight was there...
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the implications for its policies on the proper use of Church moneis of the case in the ecclesiastical Parish of Longfleet, St Mary's, Poole; what episcopal oversight was there...
The parochial church council is a charitable body subject to the oversight of the Charity Commission. I understand that the Charity Commission is aware of the case following a referral by the Diocese of Salisbury and the office of the Bishop of Salisbury. The National Church Institutions cannot provide guidance to trustees on particular cases, but the Legal Advisory Commission regularly provides updates for PCCs and other trustee bodies on their general duties and obligations.
In the summer, there was a number of stories about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants. I have always believed we need the best and brightest in the civil service to deliver first-class services. Is that Government policy, or have they had any thoughts about this, because the system has served us very well over many years?
In the summer, there was a number of stories about downgrading the fast-track process for recruiting civil servants. I have always believed we need the best and brightest in the civil service to deliver first-class services. Is that Government policy, or have they had any thoughts about this, because the system has served us very well over many years?
The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that there is always a path into the civil service for people who are high quality; we need really
good, high-quality civil servants. That is absolutely our priority. I spoke earlier about apprentices, and my hon. Friend raises an important point regarding fast track. I can assure him we will make certain there are routes into the civil service for the high-quality public servants we all need to deliver high-quality public services.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The UK recently reached a major milestone in the accession process to CPTPP, by moving to market access negotiations with this trading bloc.
These negotiations will see new, beneficial trading relationships agreed with CPTPP members. Tariffs will be reduced on UK goods exports, and services markets will open up further to British business, through advanced provisions that facilitate digital trade and modern rules on data. We aim to conclude negotiations by the end of 2022.
Can we have an update on our joining the trans-Pacific partnership? That is important not only because of the growing markets, but because of the international challenges, stability and defence in the region.
Can we have an update on our joining the trans-Pacific partnership? That is important not only because of the growing markets, but because of the international challenges, stability and defence in the region.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; we have reached a major milestone on that accession process by moving to market access negotiations with that trade bloc. In addition to opening up a new market, this will also help us on such matters as maritime security and meeting the goals of the integrated review. CPTPP has strong rules against the unfair trade practice whereby some countries—China has been mentioned—give unreasonable advantages to state-owned enterprises or discriminate against foreign investors. Our vision for that part of the world has trade at its heart.
That this House notes Government plans to legislate to ban conversion therapy; further notes that any legislation will cover sexual orientation and gender identity but that no definition of conversion therapy has been agreed and that there is already primary legislation which prohibits coercive conversion practices; is concerned that rushed or badly drafted legislation could criminalise private consensual conversations regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, the work of faith communities and counsellors, providers of children's services and others and prevent open and explorative discussions on sexual identity and gender; notes a lack of clarity on what gender identity is and the risk of criminal sanction for people seeking to use legitimate therapies to help children and young people with gender dysphoria as an alternative to pharmaceutical and surgical interventions; further notes that the EHRC highlighted that the proposals demonstrate a lack of clear definitions, have wide ranging implications and potential unintended consequences for new legislation, fail to recognise complexities including new gender dysphoria research, and the need to wait for the findings of the Cass Review of gender identity services for children and young people, due in the summer; notes that there is a lack of evidence to show that new legislation is needed and the possibility that such legislation will breach Articles 8 and 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and urges the Government to delay any new legislation until at least publication of the Cass Report and to commit to pre-legislative scrutiny of any new Bill.
That this House notes Government plans to legislate to ban conversion therapy; further notes that any legislation will cover sexual orientation and gender identity but that no definition of conversion therapy has been agreed and that there is already primary legislation which prohibits coercive conversion practices; is concerned that rushed...
What progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
What progress her Department has made on securing UK membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
What recent steps her Department has taken to increase the export of British financial services.
What recent steps her Department has taken to increase the export of British financial services.
With colleagues in the Treasury, we are committed to championing export opportunities for our world-class financial services sector. We have done this through targeted export campaigns supporting specific UK financial services, as well as through signing ambitious free trade agreements that are reducing market access barriers and opening new doors for great British businesses to sell their services worldwide.
Financial services are so important to our economy, providing high-paid jobs and earning a substantial amount of revenue. We have done really well on our trade deals and it is vital that financial services are an important factor when we secure them. Will the Minister assure me that that is first and foremost in the Government’s mind?
Financial services are so important to our economy, providing high-paid jobs and earning a substantial amount of revenue. We have done really well on our trade deals and it is vital that financial services are an important factor when we secure them. Will the Minister assure me that that is first and foremost in the Government’s mind?
We share my hon. Friend’s ambition to ensure that the UK remains a global hub for services and digital trade, which is why we are striking a series of advanced, high-standard FTAs with leading nations around the world. We have already made progress: our FTA with Japan provides greater benefits for financial services than the EU-Japan FTA, and includes provisions to ban unjustified data localisation and to support regulatory co-operation. Our recently signed FTA with Australia also includes an ambitious financial services chapter that will enable businesses to build on the £800 million-worth of financial services exported to Australia in 2020. So, Mr Speaker, the answer is yes.
I congratulate the defence team on all the work that they are putting in to get more defence exports: not only is it good for British defence, but it is good for jobs. I have one concern, though: the licensing system seems to have slowed down, not only because of covid, but because it is very bureaucratic. Could the Minister take that up with the Department for International Trade, which deals with the matter, and have a word with it to try to speed this up? I fear that some of my local companies are losing business.
I congratulate the defence team on all the work that they are putting in to get more defence exports: not only is it good for British defence, but it is good for jobs. I have one concern, though: the licensing system seems to have slowed down, not only because of covid, but because it is very bureaucratic. Could the Minister take that up with the Department for International Trade, which deals with the matter, and have a word with it to try to speed this up? I fear that some of my local companies are losing business.
I think that 11,000 licences were granted during the covid period, but I note my hon. Friend’s concern, which I know is a real concern shared elsewhere in the House. DIT attempts to say that 70% of cases will be dealt with within 20 days and 99% within 60 days, but as we set out in DSIS, we need to get better both in transparency and in speed. We will be taking the matter up. I thank him for the question.
What steps his Department is taking to help support defence exports.
What steps his Department is taking to help support defence exports.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with multinational companies based in the UK on relocation regulations for employees being relocated into the UK by firms in the EU after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with multinational companies based in the UK on relocation regulations for employees being relocated into the UK by firms in the EU after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.
Employees of EU firms who are not UK nationals being relocated into the UK can apply under the intra-company transfer route that our immigration system provides for. Under the UKâs domestic immigration rules, intra-company transferees may be admitted for up to 5 years (and for up to 9 years in the case of high earners) to all successful applications, regardless of where they come from, including from the EU. The UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement commits to 90-day processing times for intra-corporate transfer applications. In addition, both parties have agreed to provisions for accompanying family members of such intra-company transferees.
The provisions for intra-company transferees were informed through detailed conversations with hundreds of stakeholders across UK business sectors, including multinational companies who benefit from the intra-company transfer route.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much income tax revenue was generated from people holding a work visa in the category of skilled work visa in the 2018-19 financial year; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much income tax revenue was generated from people holding a work visa in the category of skilled work visa in the 2018-19 financial year; and if he will make a statement.
HMRC do not hold information on the visa status of workers paying income tax.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much has the relocation allowance been updated in line with inflation since its introduction in 1994.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by how much has the relocation allowance been updated in line with inflation since its introduction in 1994.
The tax exempt relocation allowance has remained at £8,000 since it was introduced in 1994. The Government keeps all reliefs and allowances under review to ensure that they continue to meet policy objectives.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were relocated into the UK using the intra-company visa system in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were relocated into the UK using the intra-company visa system in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.
The available published data shows the numbers of visas granted in each work route but does not provide any information on where the applicant resided (inside / outside the EU) or if the individual was ârelocatingâ. There is also no guarantee these visas are used.
Data on visas granted by category can be found in Vis_D02 at:
entry-clearance-visa-outcomes-datasets-sep-2020.xlsx
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU were relocated for work purposes into the UK in 2019 by each of the visa categories prescribed by the Government; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU were relocated for work purposes into the UK in 2019 by each of the visa categories prescribed by the Government; and if she will make a statement.
The available published data shows the numbers of visas granted in each work route but does not provide any information on where the applicant resided (inside / outside the EU) or if the individual was ârelocatingâ. There is also no guarantee these visas are used once issued.
Data on visas granted by category can be found in Vis_D02 at:
entry-clearance-visa-outcomes-datasets-sep-2020.xlsx