Douglas McAllister

I welcome the UK-India free trade agreement. It is truly historic and a groundbreaking deal for the UK, for Scotland and for my West Dunbartonshire constituency. As the Minister said, India is the fastest-growing country in the G20 and it is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2028. For this reason, it is crucial to secure a strong and mutual relationship with India. In the current geopolitical climate of uncertainty and instability, these relationships are more important than ever. This Government have delivered a favourable deal that brings hope and investment for the future. Through this deal, we are making significant progress towards achieving our growth mission. For West Dunbartonshire, the impact of the new trade deal will be immediate and tangible. It will result in much-needed investment for West Dunbartonshire and its residents. The Scotch whisky industry supports thousands of jobs in my constituency, and this trade deal will hopefully result in many more. These businesses provide skilled, well-paid jobs and anchor our local economy. It is a vital industry to my constituency for workers, local economies and tourism, and it is one that we are very proud of. My constituency is home to Chivas Brothers, the Auchentoshan distillery, the Loch Lomond Group and a number of smaller distilleries. The Chivas Kilmalid bottling site in Dumbarton employs more than 1,100 people on permanent contracts alone, and we are proud to be home to its state-of-the-art bottling site. Its recent multimillion-pound investment programme continues at pace. This deal gives the industry the added confidence to invest and, in doing so, gives the workforce added confidence and security in their future. Scotch whisky distilleries are among the most visited tourist attractions in Scotland, drawing domestic and international visitors who support our hospitality sector. Long-term export growth will, of course, strengthen this. Scotch whisky has faced sky-high import tariffs for decades—as high as 150%—and under this new agreement, those costly tariffs will be cut in half and further reduced to 40% within 10 years. Furthermore, the deal is expected to increase spirit exports to India by 180%. This is a massive win for Scotland, for the whisky industry and for West Dunbartonshire. Increased bilateral trade, increased wages and GDP growth are set to grow the Scottish economy by £190 million a year, and the Scotch Whisky Association has described the tariff cuts as “transformational”, with the potential to increase exports by around £1 billion over the next five years. This deal is a clear statement of intent that the UK is open to trade, serious about growth and prepared to engage constructively with the world. However, these deeper relationships bring deeper responsibilities. I am encouraged by the growth in relations between India and Britain, which is why I hope that we can open up meaningful dialogue about diplomatic issues. As most of the House will be aware, my West Dunbartonshire constituent Jagtar Singh Johal has been arbitrarily detained in India since 2017. It has been over eight years now—3,020 days. In 2022, the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention concluded that his imprisonment was arbitrary and called for his immediate release. Last year, he was acquitted of all charges with respect to the only case against him that has proceeded to trial. Despite this, he continues to be detained on eight other cases—all similar charges with the same witnesses and the same discredited evidence. We must do more as a Government than simply raise his case with Indian counterparts. It is often remarked that we must respect the Indian judicial system. However, any legal system that remands an individual—a UK citizen—for over eight years is not worth our respect. Worryingly, he has recently been transferred to Tihar jail in New Delhi, which is infamous for its overcrowding and violence. I hope that his case can be resolved and his release advanced following this closer and friendlier relationship with India. I advise the House that today is Jagtar’s birthday. He will be 39 today; this will be his ninth birthday detained in an Indian prison. His family in West Dunbartonshire are deeply concerned about his wellbeing. They have shown extraordinary resilience and dignity over many years, and they continue to hope for progress. This agreement marks a new phase in our UK-India relationship. It establishes regular channels of engagement and strengthens trust between our two Governments. I truly hope that this renewed partnership can support continued constructive discussions about Jagtar’s case, with the aim of securing his release and return to his family in Dumbarton. I urge the Government to continue raising this matter consistently and carefully with the Indian authorities, and to ensure that Jagtar and his family know that he remains a priority to us. On behalf of West Dunbartonshire, I warmly welcome this comprehensive economic and trade agreement. It is a deal that will deliver real economic benefit by supporting jobs, driving investment and strengthening our whisky industry. It means opportunity for workers, business, tourism and future generations. It is a major milestone in our relationship with India—one that is future-focused and built on renewed trust. It is testament to this Government’s promise to deliver, and it positions our United Kingdom to grow and compete in a rapidly changing world. The deal invests in our future and will have a real, meaningful impact in my constituency. I fully support it and look forward to seeing it deliver for West Dunbartonshire and the United Kingdom as a whole, but I also hope that this closer relationship can help bring resolution to the deeply troubling case of my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal and deliver the outcome that he and his family deserve.