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Overview

The Free Trade (Education and Reporting) Bill mandates public education campaigns on the benefits of free trade and requires the government to regularly report on its trade agreements with other nations. The bill aims to increase transparency and promote understanding of international trade policies.

Description

This bill introduces two main obligations:

Public Education on Free Trade: The Secretary of State must submit a report to Parliament detailing how the Department for International Trade will use its budget to educate the public about the advantages of global free trade. This education must target schoolchildren, consumers, and businesses.

Reports on Trade Arrangements: The Secretary of State must regularly publish reports on trade agreements with other countries. The bill specifies that this can be fulfilled by regularly updating the existing Trade and Investment Core Statistics Book.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify a set amount for government spending. Instead, it requires the Secretary of State to report on how existing departmental budgets within the Department for International Trade will be allocated to fund public education initiatives promoting free trade. No new direct funding is mandated.

Groups Affected

This bill will impact several groups:

• Schoolchildren: They will receive education on the benefits of free trade.
• Consumers: They will receive information to improve understanding of free trade's impact on them.
• Businesses: They will receive information relevant to international trade.
• Department for International Trade (DIT): The DIT will be responsible for implementing the education program and updating trade reports.
• Parliament: Parliament will receive reports on both the education program and the trade agreements.