PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Business and Trade - 12 March 2024 (Commons/Written Corrections)

SMEs in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney tell me of their frustrations around exporting goods and now the Government have scrapped the trade show programme, which was set up to support British businesses to attend events and win overseas orders. Will the Minister tell the House and the thousands of businesses that rely on that vital support when there will be a replacement?

UK exports are increasing. Using current prices, they are up by £21 billion compared with 2023.

[Official Report, 7 March 2024, Vol. 746, c. 943.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security, the hon. Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani):

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Gerald Jones). The reply should have been:

UK exports are increasing. Using current prices, they are up by £21 billion compared with 2022.

We are lucky that Enfield North has quite a lot of small and medium-sized businesses, but they are suffering because of the cost of spiralling bills and no Government support. Does the Minister think it is the lack of a Government industrial strategy or the lack of individual support for exporters that is most holding our businesses back?

That is an extraordinary statement, because in the hon. Lady’s constituency the greatest level of exports is from professional and business services, and those exports are increasing not only to the EU but to countries outside the EU.

[Official Report, 7 March 2024, Vol. 746, c. 944.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security, the hon. Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani):

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Enfield North (Feryal Clark). The reply should have been:

That is an extraordinary statement, because in the hon. Lady’s constituency there are exports of professional and business services, and those exports are not only to the EU but to countries outside the EU.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said yesterday that exports, including from SMEs, will fall even more than expected this year; growth in exports will be less than 1% in each of the next three years; and other countries will not be hit the same way. There have been cuts in the funding to help businesses start exporting and there has been no deal with the United States, no Diwali deal with India, and no veterinary agreement with the EU to cut red tape and slash costs. What does the Minister think is the best explanation for the Government’s dismal performance on exports so far?

…When it comes to exports, we are exporting not only into the EU but outside the EU. As I said earlier, professional and business services are increasing outside the EU by 19%.

[Official Report, 7 March 2024, Vol. 746, c. 944.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Industry and Economic Security, the hon. Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani):

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas). The reply should have been:

…When it comes to exports, we are exporting not only into the EU but outside the EU. As I said earlier, professional and business services exports increased outside the EU by 23% in the 12 months to September 2023.