26/01/2017 House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

Commons. The SNP will be asking an urgent question on the current

humanitarian situation in Yemen. After that, the Commons leader will

be answering questions on the forthcoming parliamentary matters

and the main business today are two backbenchers debates, on the pubs

code adjudicator and secondly, on breast cancer drugs. Over in the

committee rooms, the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will be

giving evidence to the Lords International relations committee on

the Middle East. You can watch that live from 10am on the website. And

around 5:30pm. Joined Christine for the best of the day in both Houses

of Parliament at 11pm. First it questions to David Davis, the Brexit

secretary. Minister Dave Jones. We fully recognise the importance of

the farming sector also in leaving the EU, we have the opportunity to

take the British farming sector forward and ensure it thrives. As

highlighted recently by my honourable friend the Secretary of

State for DEFRA, we be bound by rules and can consequently design

and agricultural system which works for us. While Brexit may dread

uncertainties in the short-term cut it opens up exciting new markets and

opportunities for farmers and food manufacturers across the country.

What steps are the Government taking to help the sector sees those

opportunities going forward? My honourable friend is right. The food

and drink sector is in fact the largest manufacturing sector in the

country and there are huge opportunities to be seized. The

Government is addressing this by the creation of the Department Boynton

at a trade, which is working closely with DEFRA on a plan to boost our

food Drink exports by ?3 billion over five years. UK farmers face a

triple jeopardy with the loss of CAP subsidies, potential new tariffs on

trade which is currently free with the EU, and the prospect of trade

deals with bigger countries like the USA flooding the UK with cheap

imports, lower food safety and standards. The Secretary of State

said he would do everything necessary to protect London, so can

you give the same assurances to UK farmers who make up 25% of UK

businesses? Well, Mr Speaker, she is right, the farming sector is

extremely important. The Government has already put in place measures to

ensure that the level of EU funding is protected until 2020, the end of

the financial framework period. Furthermore, I think she should have

more confidence in the sector. Kurdish agriculture produces some of

the finest products in the world and I have no doubt, whatever

arrangements are put in place, they will continue to thrive in the

international market. How will the Government approach the regulations

and directives that have been created and implemented between now

and the date we leave the EU when we probably have no intention of

keeping those regulations or directives? Such as the ban on

glyphosate. This will be very damaging to British agriculture, so

will we have to implemented before we leave? Mr Speaker, the Government

has made it absolutely clear that until the date of our departure, we

will continue to play a full part in the European Union which means

observing all the regulations that are implemented. The great repeal

bill, of course, will absorb the body of EU law into British law full

stop once we have left the European Union, we will be in a position to

review that legislation and take the decisions which are best for British

agriculture. At this moment, the UK Government is withholding nearly

?200 million of convergence uplift which is meant to go to Scottish

farmers. Does he agree the Government should pass that on to

Scottish farmers to show they won't be left high and dry after a Tory

Brexit? I don't recognise that description by the honourable

gentleman. The British Government is engaging extremely closely, not only

with a Scottish Government, but the Scottish farming unions and I can

assure him that whatever deal we do will be in the interest of Scotland

as much as the rest of the United Kingdom. Some studies looking at the

future of agricultural policy rather downplay the importance of food

security such as this one from the Central policy studies, so could he

reassure the House that food security remains at the top of the

Government agenda because a shock to the system could completely

destroyed existing trading links and could leave the country and could

leave the country in a vulnerable position. My honourable friend makes

an extremely important point. British agriculture standards are

amongst the highest in the world and I can assure him that this

Government will do nothing that would jeopardise the reputation that

British farming enjoys. Almost 40% of EU funds are spent on the common

agricultural policy so it clear that supporting farming is a central aim

of the EU. Will he comment on what schemes the Government are

considering as replacements which will reflect the importance of

farming to the UK? The honourable lady will know that the Government

has already guaranteed the current level of CHP funding until 2020. I

can assure her that the Government will make sure that the interests of

agriculture are at the forefront of their calculations. British

agriculture is a huge asset to this country and we intend to protect it.

I ask the House to forgive my voice. It is where inter, not emotion.

LAUGHTER -- wear and tear. We have a plan

which includes all negotiating objectives. The primers to confirmed

yesterday that we will be publishing this plan in a White Paper. In

answer to our approach to the customs union, the trading

relationships we are seeking, it had been widely welcomed as a series and

ambition vision for a new positive and constructive partnership for

Britain and the European Union. That would be good for Britain and the

rest of Europe. I thank the Secretary of State for that answer

but can he explain it to the aerospace industry the health

service and other major employers in my constituency accounting for

thousands of jobs, how they should have confidence in this country's

ability to negotiate beneficial trade deals when we have barely any

specialist trade negotiators and no experience of negotiating trade

agreements for decades? Well I'm afraid, it doesn't help her own

industries which are very important that you talk them down herself. Let

me say to the opposition, this is not just as that think this is an

eminently achievable deals a former EU trade commissioner said a trade

deal between the UK and the EU can be done in a very reasonable period

of time. Let me get to the point. He said, I am reading everywhere it

takes five or six or seven years to do a trade negotiation. Yes, that's

true but it's not for technical agreements because you can't get

agreement. Technically you could make an agreement within a period of

time because you know each other. It's not a technical constraint.

There are quite enough negotiators in Whitehall to do the job are

talking about. Will White Paper highlight the words of Article 50,

which say that the union must negotiate and conclude an agreement

taking account of the framework for its future relations between the

union and the UK? It is therefore impossible to start negotiations

unless one has an outline agreement on what that framework should be.

There are only two frameworks that are possible, continuation of free

trade and a move to favoured nation terms. Will we get that

clarification right the beginning of the negotiations? We already have

done. In my one meeting with Mr Barnier, when he was talking about

this sequential quote which seems to be not practical, it isn't possible

to come to an outcome on either negotiations without a clear idea of

the trade aspect in the negotiation and his description is pretty

accurate. I've said in terms, we intend all this to be concluded

within two years. The Government says it wants nothing further to do

with the European Court of Justice, but as the Secretary of State well

knows, in any new free agreement with the 27 member states, there

will have to be a legal arbitration mechanism whose rulings will be

obliged to prevent. In the European Court of Justice is not acceptable,

what court would be? It would not necessarily be a court. Most

international... Listen to the answer. In most international trade

agreements, there's an arbitration mechanism, normally preceded by a

mediation mechanism which is used more often. In the case of Canada

one for example, you've got one person from each side and one

neutral appointed by agreement. That agreement cannot be reached, there

is a fallback and there's all the different and will between the civil

trade arbitration mechanism and accord which reaches into every look

cranny of your society. Can I thank the Secretary of State very much for

the party played in securing the White Paper? That has been welcomed

across the House and is good news. Does he know when it might be

published and how much time this place will have two debated? Of

course, this is a decision based solely on the Prime Minister to

publish the White Paper and it's nice to agree with myself from six

months ago. LAUGHTER

In terms of timing... Sorry, my voice on the microphone together, in

terms of timing, the Prime Minister said in due course yesterday it will

be as expeditious as we can be. She has been in Government and these

things have a proceed and it takes time to do that we won't waste time

producing it for the House. I wish the secular state would get his

voice back because I know he will lead it in the next couple of weeks.

To think we should be able to see the White Paper before we consider

legislation? With respect, there will be lots of legislation, I

assume, he's affirming to Article 50? Yes, here's. The Article 50

legislation is about carrying out the will of the British people, the

decision was taken to the 23rd. There will be much more legislation

after that am which will relate to policy, the maintenance of European

law, that's the great repeal bill, but also the other new rights from

that, so it's certainly going to be before all that, and as I said, I

will be as expeditious as is reasonable.

You will be aware of how helpful the House of Commons website is, policy

documents by the government set out their proposals for future

legislation, given Article 50 is a significant piece of legislation and

this house deserves to scrutinise it, will he commit to publishing the

White Paper for the committee stage? I will give the next week, but

before the committee stage? As I said, we will be as expeditious as

we can be. I reiterate to him this point, the Article 50 legislation is

about putting in place the beginning of the procedure, only the beginning

of the procedure as decided by the British people last year that is not

really conditional on the other policy experts of this. I will be as

expeditious as I can. I'm welcoming this decision, can I ask my right

honourable friend, which, if any select committee chairman has

expressed an interest in having this White Paper published with an

intention of scrutinising it. Well, I am pretty sure the "Brexit"

committee, edging out the chairman, but he's not paying attention(!)

LAUGHTER ... I'm pretty sure the "Brexit"

committee have done. I cannot account for the others. I am

concerned by some of the responses from the Secretary of State,

seemingly bursting with enthusiasm about this White Paper, now it seems

we may not get it as soon as we need it. Given the level of interest in

the legislation and the amendments to be tabled, we need this White

Paper before committee stage of this bill, will he make sure we get it?

Powered EU deal with an opposition that will not take yes for an

answer...? LAUGHTER I have said, I have said... We will

deal with it, I will produce it as expeditiously as possible, as

quickly as possible, what can you do faster than that?! Work as fast as

he can, I suppose, but we need it before. Will it be a cut and paste

of the Prime Minister 's speech, when we get it, or instead, will we

have a sense of the financial impact on this country of different

options? As I said at the beginning, the

Prime Minister 's speech, one of the clearest acquisitions of

international policy I have heard in many years, answered all of the

questions that the opposition and the "Brexit" committee raised, other

than those which would actively undermine our negotiating position,

the opposition put up a motion which said that we will not undermine our

negotiating position. It is quite right that they expect us to obey

the rules of the house, but they should as well. A lot of questions

on the paper, which I am keen to reach, but the exchanges at the

moment are quite ponderous... We do need to speed up a bit! Sir Henry

Bellingham. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions

four and a team together, unprecedented opportunity here to

ensure agriculture industry is competitive, productive and

profitable, and that our environment is protected for future generations.

I regularly meet farmers representatives from all over the UK

as well as my ministerial colleagues. Post "Brexit", two key

priorities for agriculture, devise a system of support for the economy

which does not contain the current levels of EU Beller n Chrissie that

are so expensive, and if we're cheap that, we agree that we could

maintain the current levels of support for our own economy? -- EU

bureaucracy. My honourable friend makes extremely appalled in point,

once we have left the European Union we will be able to redesign policy

to suit the needs of British agriculture, which will lead to a

significant reduction in red tape and as he says, in costs. When the

Prime Minister spoke, she did not mention the agriculture sector, when

they publish their White Paper Commonwealth the guarantee that the

farming sector is a key element, because once we have left the, the

sector needs a show of support. I can assure the honourable gentleman

that the agriculture industry is at the forefront of calculations, as I

said earlier we consult regularly with farming unions from all over

the UK, including Wales, and we will be meeting the farm is union of

Wales on Saturday of this week full of any suggestion we are not

listening to farming industry is completely unfounded. Will the

Minister ensure that the new system of farm support rewards the highest

standards of animal welfare? Another extra important point, the United

Kingdom is noted throughout the world for its high standards of

animal welfare, and I have no doubt that the government will wish to

maintain that reputation in the forthcoming legislation. Farmers are

worried that crops will rot in the ground without a seasonal worker

scheme, will this be included in the promised White Paper? The honourable

gentleman makes another important point, farming industry is reliant,

to a certain extent, on seasonal agricultural workers, there was a

scheme which existed until fairly recently. That is one of the models

that the government is giving consideration to. The department is

working with officials across government continuing wide-ranging

analysis, covering the entirety of the economy and trading

relationships with the, looking at 50 sectors including cost-cutting.

We want to ensure that British businesses have the maximum freedom

to trade with and operate within European markets and let European

businesses do the same in Britain, we believe that a good deal of

market access and a strong relationship is in the interest of

both parties. While bringing in more immigration controls, the ability of

keys sectors like financial services and aerospace to bring in and

relocate talent from different countries is important. What

reassurances can my honourable friend give such businesses? My

honourable friend is a champion for the aerospace businesses on the M5

corridor and helps in his role as a global trade envoy, as she said, we

want the UK to be a secure, prosperous and tolerant country, a

home for pioneers and innovators who will shape the world ahead, we will

continue to attract the brightest and best to work and study in

Britain. Openness to international talent must remain one of this

country's most distinctive talents. Can you ask the minister what he's

doing to ensure that research leaders from the UConn trees can to

receive positions at UK research institutions after we leave the EU?

The honourable gentleman raises a very important question, I have had

a number of valuable meetings with my honourable friend for pension and

is higher education Council to address this issue, we recognise the

concerns of the sector and we recognise we need to continue

focusing on having an immigration sector which attract the brightest

and the best. Can I urge my right honourable friend to address the

issue about incoming individuals and the controls as soon as, one of the

big issues which my honourable friend has already touched on is the

concern about access to global, global talent, and the sooner that

we can reassure the city and others that the high added value, low

volume numbers that come in are very welcome, it is the low skill, using

British benefits, which are not very welcome. My right honourable friend

is right about the importance of attracting global talent for key

industries such as the financial services and the Finn tech

industries. Manufacturing companies in aerospace and automotive are

worried about potential delays at the border when we leave the, and

possible customs duties. It was suggested that associate membership

of the customs union might be possible. Will the Minister confirm

that unless that associate membership covers most sectors of

the economy, it will fall foul of the WTO rules? The Prime Minister

has talked about aiming for a frictionless system and one which we

can agree to not have tariffs and not have barriers in place, that is

what we should all be aiming for in a new partnership between the UK and

the EU. In light of the very clear statement by the Prime Minister and

the observations of the member for Chingford, doesn't Prime Minister

think it might be useful to set out at an earlier date these rules for

attracting talent into the UK? In light of the Prime Minister's beach

and ability to create certainty from this process, the sooner we can come

forward with that, the better. The Prime Minister's appeal for some

form of hybrid customs arrangements with Europe, far from being a clear

expedition of policy, raised more questions than it provided answers,

will the forthcoming White Paper expand upon the Prime Minister's

remarks and provide businesses across the country with the clarity

they need about the range of positive alternative arrangements

and how that may affect? The Prime Minister's statement has given very

welcome clarity, welcomed by many business groups. We would expect the

White Paper to set up more detail around that but we should also make

sure that we are not doing what the house has repeatedly instructed us

to do, protect interests through this process. Flexibility is

important in a complex negotiation such as this, requiring imagination

on both sides. Not everyone will be able to know everything at every

stage. That is why we have the set out the strategic aim for new

partnership in a bold and ambitious trading arrangement. That is also

why we will not get drawn into setting out every bit of our

negotiating strategy in detail and laying out red lines. Doing so would

tie the hands of the government, and make it harder for us to achieve the

right deal for the UK, I presume that is what every once. I thank the

Secretary of State for the answer, the right honourable member for

Hitchin and Harpenden reminded the house that Article 50 requires the

European Union to take account of any future relationship that an

independent Britain may have with it as we negotiate the declaration of

arid independence. Would my right honourable friend agree with me that

at the same time as we negotiate independence, we should show

generosity to the 27 by continuing to offer them access to our market

on a free-trade basis? Well, he's exactly right, and that is our

intention, we made it clear, and it is, I believe, one of the reasons

why the Prime Minister's beach has been received with such applause,

frankly, around the rest of Europe. Actually, let me quote, if I can

find it... In fact, in that case, I won't find... It is rather a long

quote, I will leave it! LAUGHTER. I agree with my right honourable

friend. The Secretary of State has

repeatedly said that he can maintain flexibility and give the house a say

through the great repeal Bill. That only covers things in legislation.

At what point is the house going to be able to look at the value of the

agencies and the cost of setting up new UK ones? Well, that is precisely

the sort of thing that I welcome up in legislation -- that might well

come up in legislation. In dealing with these new agencies we will be

seeking the best outcome in each case for the relevant sector. And

when we are doing that, we will of course be talking to the house about

the cost benefit of various options at the point it is appropriate, not

whilst still in the middle of that details bit of negotiation but when

it is appropriate for the house to know. In seeking a clean "Brexit",

we would want to be as flexible as possible in negotiating our

mentorship of a free-trade area, nevertheless, will the Minister

agree that such an agreement is not forthcoming and therefore, we need

to be prepared for a situation where we may have to have some form of

duties, will he agree with me that it is perfectly possible that with

digital technology, to have the border as part of the journey rather

than a hard border of old. Given my honourable friend's constituency he

will know this better than most people, I can see where you are

going and he is right. There will be a ten station for the government to

think this is just about government to government conversations,

wouldn't it be really useful for the government to look at this as a

parliament to Parliament negotiation as well, so that... So that we all

start lobbying together, so that we all secure the best possible deal

for this country? INAUDIBLE

I'm not going to say definitely no to the honourable gentleman. On the

contrary, he knows, my prejudices in this is probably the right word, but

it is for Parliament to decide what Parliament wants to do. The

essential responsibility of the negotiation is quite properly the

government and the opposition will hold us and everybody to account but

nevertheless, he is quite right, there is a role for Parliament to

talk to other parliaments about the joint interests of their

constituents. In that respect, he has my support.

An important part of a partnership we seek with the EU will be the

pursuit of the greatest possible market access to the single market

on a fully reciprocal basis. This'll be a high priority in the

negotiations and we believe that the benefit of both sides and the people

of Scotland. We want to get the best deal for people including Scotland.

Exports from Aberdeen to Norway, over ?750 million in 2015, and a

vital part of anchoring the world class oil and gas trade. Can he

ensure that in this process the oil and gas industry will be taken into

account and access will not be lost as a result of a harder Tory Brexit?

He's right to raise the importance of the oil and gas industry in his

constituency and the entire UK. The Secretary of State held a roundtable

with industry leaders which included oil and gas representatives and I'm

looking forward to visiting them in Scotland in the coming weeks. Does

he agree with me that selling into the single market is much preferable

to being a member of it because it is in fact a highly regulatory

bureaucratic mechanism and 87% of British businesses does not rely on

it. He makes his case very strongly as ever. I believe the best market

access to a single market for UK businesses and European businesses

to the UK market will be in all our interests. I recently met with a

very good manufacturing company who employs people in my constituency

and they told me they hope the Government understands the concerns

of industry in terms of Brexit and the customs union. Wires? THE

industry across the country to make industry across the country to make

sure we take on the concerns and they see the opportunities. Many

businesses I have met are excited about the opportunities for the UK

to go out and make trade deals and trade around the world. If he has

liberating effect of escaping from liberating effect of escaping from

the external tariffs, as a former economic speed, I'm happy to give

him 45 minutes on the subject. I look forward to the lesson. What a

fortunate fellow he is. Lord Bromfield. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

The Secretary of State provided some clarity on his priorities for access

to the single market in response to questions on Tuesday statement. He

said he is seeking, "A comprehensive free-trade agreement, a

comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits

as we have." Being inside the single market? Would he confirmed that is

his negotiating position so we can measure the success against it? It

is up to the opposition to get the best market access and as we've

repeatedly said, for British businesses to trade in the single

market. The Department for exiting the European Union has been

undertaking a thorough analysis of over 50 business sectors. We have

been speaking direct lead to manufacturer such as those in the

automotive and chemical factors to understand what they need from us so

we can continue to thrive after the European Union. Within that work,

has established how many British manufacturing factories are actually

in competition internally with other factories in France, Germany,

forward that companies going to be manufacturing and does he therefore

realise how catastrophic it would be for our manufacturing industry if

there were tariffs on products made in the UK that France and Germany

didn't have. He's entirely right. Manufacturing industry is highly

integrated across the EU and that's why the Prime Minister has made it

clear that watches G6 is customs arrangements which will cater for

those arrangements, but I think we have to remember that when we have

left the European Union, the UK will be the biggest export market for the

European Union. It is therefore in our mutual interest we have proper

arrangements relating to customs. Can he confirm that two

manufacturers in Caterham, there export prospects are far brighter

outside the EU because whilst we are a member, we are forbidden from

entering international trade agreements of our own. He is right

to point that out for the once we've left the EU, we will be in a

position to strike free-trade agreements around the world and that

is precisely what the Department for it and trade is doing right now.

70,000 jobs are created in the food sector in Northern Ireland. 1.1

billion basic prices. What will he provide for this massive employer

and what support and advice has been offered? He is right to point out

the importance of the agri- food sector not only in Northern Ireland

but throughout the UK. We having gauged closely with the food Drink

Federation. In Northern Ireland there are specific circumstances,

and he will know that the Government is committed to ensuring that there

is as little impact as possible on the sector in Northern Ireland. Is

he aware that both Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover are currently planning

for how the export market may well change if we have free-trade

agreements with India, China and the United States? Does he agree with me

that they are right to say this is an opportunity for manufacturing,

not a disadvantage? He is entirely right and I really think that we

have a duty, rather than talking down British manufacturing industry,

to point out the benefits which will flow from Brexit. There is a world

out there and we should seize the opportunity. My Livingston

constituency was built on manufacturing and many other

companies in Livingston rely on EU workers. What can he do to assure

me, those workers and companies in my constituency that they will stay

and work in Livingston in Scotland? The issue of EU residence in the UK

is one that we believe should be settled very early in the

negotiation, similarly the issue of British residents in the continuing

European Union. I can tell the honourable lady I have already

discussed this issue with ministerial counterparts and they

are agreed that this is a matter of priority. My department is working

closely with the Department for Education to understand their

interests. A global button must look to the future and it means being one

of the best places in the world for science and innovation. The UK laws

like those with the skills and expertise to make our nation greater

still. The university sector is one of the largest contributors to our

economy so it does need to think carefully about its position post

Brexit, so is there an appropriate point of contact, start and a

significant way, so that sector can feel confident its issues will be

dealt with? The ministers for universities and science, who I

joined this week with the university sector to engage on precisely this

issue, we were both delighted to the prominence universities and science

played in the prime ministers speech. I taught in the university

sector for many years and saw first-hand the benefits that

overseas students bring to the universities both financially,

culturally and socially. What assurances can he give that overseas

students will continue to come in the same numbers and more post

Brexit? I have been clear we should continue to welcome the brightest

and the best of the UK. The UK continues to be a great place to

study. We have world-class teaching and innovative research carrying out

some of the most culturally and intellectually diverse academic

environment in the world. 18 universities in the top 100 and I

will visit the highest ranked in the world tomorrow. Given the migration

of these issues will be close to the negotiations for any future trade

deals with India, America, New Zealand, Australia and the EU, can

he give an assurance that a new British immigration policy will be

sufficiently well-developed and can demand public support in time for

those negotiations to begin in a meaningful way? I absolutely agree.

I think this is a challenge for the whole of Government. We need to work

across Whitehall and other departments, the Treasury, Home

Office, to come up with a best system for a global Britain. Has he

any plans to seek an accommodation of the Republic of Ireland to

achieve reciprocal processes for staff and students that move

backwards and forwards across the border? We have been very clear in

the Prime Minister speech about our commitment to the Common travel area

with Ireland and continuing to engage on cross-border issues of the

Republic of Ireland as regards to universities is absolutely vital and

apply Mr will meet with their leader next week. -- the Prime Minister. UK

nationals in EU and vice versa are a priority for negotiations. This is a

right and fair thing to do. The Prime Minister has already set out

that we try to achieve an early agreement on this issue with our EU

partners. We will continue to do so. We also want to ensure our future

immigration framework operates in the best interests of all part of

the UK and we are working closely with devolved administrations to

achieve this. The committee I'd share carefully considered the

Scottish Government paper last week. We were clear it is our intention to

it detect the existing rights enjoyed by Irish and UK nationals

when in the other state and to maintain existing border arrangement

of the Common travel area. Immigration is a reserved matter

nonetheless. If the Government is not going to guarantee residence

rights for EU nationals, what assessment have made on public

services and the economy and the return of thousands of retired

British immigrants? We don't intend to pursue a policy which will lead

to that. I think there is a real issue at the heart of this but it's

not helped I holier than thou stance of the SNP. I think the House should

be reminded of the words of Nicola Sturgeon during the independence

referendum in 2014. She said, "We have set down a robust and

common-sense position for that there are 160,000 EU nationals from other

states living in Scotland, including some in the Commonwealth city of

Glasgow. Of Scotland's outside Europe, they would lose the right to

stay here." I will deal with the issue properly. Can he explain why

so many EU nationals who start off in Scotland end up in England? No.

The Prime Minister will today meet an American president who champions

torture and who is proud to discriminate against Muslims. Will

he therefore agree with me that it's even more important as Government

sends a strong moral message, bargaining chips are not human

beings. Will he confirmed the residency rights of EU nationals?

The honourable lady knows my stance on torture down the years. Better

than most, I suspect. The British Government's stance on torture is

very painful that we don't agree with it under any circumstances

whatsoever. At the conference in Berlin on Brexit at the weekend, the

uncertainty facing EU nationals residence to the UK was made very

clear. The Prime Minister's comments were immensely welcomed, and would

be possible for this issue to be resolved as rapidly as possible in

negotiations? The primers and made it plain she is trying to get

agreement amongst the member states -- the Prime Minister for the most

of them agree that one or two don't. We have two keep pressing to resolve

this as quickly as possible but I hope EU nationals currently here

will take heart from what we are saying, what our intention is, to

give them the guarantees that will also apply to British citizens

abroad. The Prime Minister speech said at

the negotiating priority to ensure the UK is one of the best places in

the world for science and innovation. As part of the

negotiations, the Government will discuss EU member state to continue

co-operation in the field of clinical trials. With a spectre

directly to his question, the UK's successfully brought to reform the

current directive and is in the best interests of business. We will

follow the UK, EU rules and to the point of exit and those new rules

come into effect shortly. The great repeal bill will convert the law on

Brexit including EU regulations and if need be we can reform them after

that. Given the harmful effect of EU directives on clinical trials and

science in the UK, when the time comes to write our own rules, can he

give an undertaking to listen to some of the chemical scientists, not

just the big corporate vested interests from Brussels? The short

answer is absolutely. Here's right. The original clinical trials

directive was a very poorly drafted piece of EU regulation and certainly

has increased the of undertaking such trials and if I remember

correctly from my own constituency background, particularly small

trials. Those are exactly that other people I think he's talking about.

Those views will be taken very seriously indeed in a new regime

after Brexit. Boat the US biotech company and GlaxoSmithKline have

announced they are making very substantial investment into the UK.

Does he agree that this demonstrates that, even after we leave the

European Union, we will still be a very competitive place for biotech

companies to do business? Yes, he's exactly right. I went to see some of

those companies in Cambridge recently. One of the problems for

people who do talk the country down if I underestimate the extent to

which pharmaceuticals, life sciences, finance, software, are

fantastically powerful industries in which we already have a huge

critical mass of talent which will continue into the future.

This is the trouble with being Taylor and Charlie. The Prime

Minister was clear that she wants to guarantee the status of EU citizens

already in Britain. -- tail end Charlie. She has tried already to

reach an agreement and we will continue to try to get her to reach

an agreement. Will my right honourable friend accept that that

answer will be extremely welcome because there is genuine and

widespread concern on this issue. Could he tell the house what are the

problems that he is encountering with a few member states that is

stopping a reciprocal agreement from being arrived at now? Well, truth be

told, I'm not 100% sure, on what the actual problems are, in the running

to these negotiations of course the commission and some member states

have taken a very stern stance on no negotiation before notification and

may think it is trying to pre-empt that, that is not the intention. The

intention is to act in the interest of principal citizens. Those

problems notwithstanding, there are many talented people from the

European Union in this country making enormous contributions to the

economy and the cultural life of the country, and surely he agrees that

it is not need agreement with other EU member states, there is going to

be won, and he would get a lot of goodwill from the public and

partners across European Union if he unilaterally made that commitment

today. I thank the honourable member for the tone in which he put the

question but we have a dual responsibility, responsibility

within our own country to maintain a moral stand in what we did and that

is what I see this as, immoral question, and on the other hand, a

responsibility to citizens abroad. Legal as well as moral. We will get

this resolved, and we will resolve it as fast as we can. Question 15,

Mr Speaker. Recognise the large majority of trade agreements

involving 40 mechanism or trades dispute resolution. -- involve

the Prime Minister has said that she wants a conference free-trade

agreement with the UN and that in future, our laws will be interpreted

by British judges in British courts, but every comprehensive free-trade

agreement has some sort of intended trade dispute resolution mechanism,

does the Minister agree that this sort of inconsistency needs to be

ironed out by rigorous Parliamentary scrutiny of the Prime Minister's

plan. It is not an inconsistency, it is a lack of understanding on the

part of the opposition, as I said in response to an earlier question,

there is a range of models but a large number of international trade

agreements with arbitration mechanisms but they are that, agreed

arbitration mechanisms, they are not mechanisms that bring the influence

of the European court into all parts of British society and that is what

will be resolved by leaving the European Union. Mr Speaker, Britain

has played a key role in protecting Europe's security and Prime Minister

is clear that we will continue to with European partners on Warren

defence policy as we leave the European Union. Does my right

honourable friend agree that as a global player in areas such as

counterterrorism, we have much to benefit both EU partners and

ourselves as a cooperation agreement in our interest? I agree entirely

with my honourable friend, indeed, this was an issue I discussed with

several of my European counterparts earlier this week, they fully

understand the strength that Britain brings to the table, in terms of

intelligence, for example, and they understand the value that they bring

to the table after they leave the EU. Surely the Minister understand

that across Europe as we talk to other parliamentarians, they are

deeply worried that the knock on effect of us leaving the European

Union on stability and future of Nato. That is the truth. They get

what is happening in the United States with the new president, can

you assure the house that the Nato commitment of this country will be

redoubled rather than diminished? Mr Speaker, we are absolutely committed

to Nato and I can assure the house that commitment will continue after

"Brexit". As the Prime Minister said, we will

put the final deal to a vote, we have always said that we will

observe the constitutional legal obligations that apply to the final

deal and as I have said many times, we will keep the house informed

through the process. Will my right honourable friend confirmed that

both Houses of Parliament will have a number of opportunities to vote on

a wide range of legislation determining substantial policy

decisions as we exit the EU? My right honourable friend is

absolutely right, we will have the Article 50 Bill, introduced

imminently, a great repeal Bill, to be introduced in the next session,

that is an important piece of legislation which will ensure that

all EU laws can be voted into UK law, including workers' rights and

environmental regulation, which I would think would be of interest to

the opposition. There will be the deflation on those and other issues,

those are just the beginning, exiting the European Union

this Parliament back control over this Parliament back control over

its own laws. Decisions on policy will be taken here, not the European

Union, and we will go back to being a free country again. Extraordinary

fellow... Mr Speaker, during the prime and is the's beach... I'm

sorry, I'll do... -- during the Prime Minister's speech, and... I'm

sorry, I will do... Yes... The question is not whether we should

leave, that decision was taken on June 23 last year, it was a question

of respect in the referendum result and doing the majority of -- doing

the job that the majority want, making a success of our new position

in the world. The Prime Minister has set out a old ambitious plan to

build a global Britain and one which everybody can get behind. In her

speech at Lancaster house on the 17th of this month, she has promised

to put the preservation of our press is union at the heart of everything

we do, given that we are told this is a union of equals, what form of

role will be given to the devolved administrations when the UK

renegotiate its new relationship with the EU. Formal role is already

in place, we have a joint ministerial committee of which a

Scottish Government represented, along with representatives of the

Northern Ireland executive and Welsh government, three meeting so far,

another meeting on Monday in Cardiff, and another in early

February, we are taking formerly the paper submitted by the Scottish

Government and the Welsh government, and we will take them on board. The

point we have made throughout all of this is that this is a sophisticated

and complex negotiation, difficult to do, it has to be done under a

single banner, but it will be done in a way that reflects the interests

and reflect the interests of all parties in the United Kingdom. With

the UK being a net importer of agricultural goods from the EU and

the EU being the agriculture Mark's biggest market, what assurances can

be given that a key part of negotiations will be to remove

agricultural tariffs on both the UK and EU sides as it is in both our

interests? My honourable friend is entirely right, there is a

significant two-way trade in agricultural products, food and

drink products, and I would imagine that it is just as much in the

interests of the EU and the UK that sensible arrangements continue.

Thank you, we have a commitment now to a White Paper, the role of

Parliament in the Article 50 process is to be determined. That is why

Labour will seek to table an amendment to the proposed Article 50

Bill to require Secretary of State to lay periodic reports at intervals

of no less than two months -- every two months. Will the Secretary of

State now to the principle of who are big report? Well, from behind me

I hear, like he's not going to do that...! Every two months?... Since

September, in five months I have done five statements in front of

this house, ten debates, appeared in front of a number of select

committees, and that process will continue, I suspect two months will

be rather an unambitious aim. Thank you. The role at the end of the

exercise for parliament will also be important, the Prime Minister has

said that MPs will have a vote on the final agreement. Can the

Secretary of State today state categorically that MPs in this house

will have no less involvement in the process and no less a say over the

final Article 50 agreement then MEPs in the European Parliament? I

cannot... I have to say... The role of the MEPs will be somewhat limited

and peripheral in many respects, use of offset will be allowed at treaty

negotiations, but I don't think you will be making a decision. European

citizens in this country and British citizens in the EU make valuable

contributions to their countries. Pension, health and the rights of

children have been mentioned, I wonder if he and his colleagues have

been working on this with counterparts across the European

Union? My honourable friend again makes an important point, the

interest of British residents in the continuing European Union are at the

top of their agenda, in fact, I had a discussion early on Monday with

representatives of the British residents in Malta, he can be

assured that we will continue to reflect the interests of British

residents as negotiations commence. Will the government publish an

impact assessment of the effect that leaving the single market will have

on jobs and conversely the impact of the resulting skills shortage on key

industries and the NHS? These are certainly important matters, and

certainly matters that we are addressing, but she will understand

that we will not be publishing impact assessments, that might be

useful to those with whom we would be negotiating. The seafood

processing sector is of vital importance to the local economy in

the Cleethorpes constituency, can the Minister assure me that their

interest will be at the forefront of consideration during Brexit

negotiations and will he meet with business leaders from that sector to

pass on their assurances? Yes, my honourable friend is entirely right,

this is an important sector of the economy, and it may well be that we

have already met with those representatives since we have been

having extensive engagement with the agricultural food industry. The

Health Secretary told us this week that "Brexit" would mean Britain

leaving the European medicines agency 's, this move is likely to

send Britain to the back of the queue for innovative new drugs, make

regulation more complex, and threaten jobs in the thriving

pharmaceutical sector, will the Secretary of State tell us why his

government have so readily given up membership of this vital body and

will he explain the measures he will introduce to ensure that people

across Britain will have the same access to medicines as European

neighbours? Is already well that the complete premise of -- it's all very

well, but the complete premise is wrong. That has been misinterpreted.

What I will say to her is this, what we will be doing with this is first

putting the clinical safety of the British people at the front of the

queue, the front of the priority list, and then the interest of

British industry, particularly Biosystems, and life sciences, in

which of course we are a world leader and we will remain one after

we leave. As the all-party Parliamentary group, the clinical

trials issue is a big one for patients, they are concerned that

exiting the EU means that nothing will replace them, and my right

honourable friend assure the house and those patients that that will be

replicated as soon as we end up leaving the EU? I can assure my

honourable friend that we are in extensive discussions with the bio

Pharma industry, on this particular issue, and those discussions will

continue. This week the kingdom of Fife is

placed to welcome many students from around the world. When will the

university be given guarantees that nothing about Brexit will jeopardise

its reputation as the most international of universities? We

need to engage with the university sector about what makes Britain such

an appealing place to come. I believe that leaving the European

Union will be a good thing for the steel industry. This week the steel

APPG published its 2020 vision report. Would you like me to send a

copy to you so you can have a look at its recommendations as part of

the ongoing debate? We would be delighted to receive that. The

society of Moti motor manufacturers reported today that car production

is at a high but investment in manufacturing is falling because of

uncertainty over Brexit. How long does he think the current

uncertainty is going to be undermining investment in British

economy? We should absolutely welcome the fact that we've seen the

highest level this century of car production and car exports from the

UK. We continue to see key investments by the automotive

industry, such as Land Rover expansion in Coventry. We want to

work with the industry to make sure they have the best access to

European markets and indeed global markets as we move ahead. About 9

million written is will visit France this year and 15 million will visit

Spain. About foreign half million French and about two and a half

million Spaniards will visit the UK. We be seeking Visa free travel for

Europe post Brexit and we were making it clear that it is now you

are praying friends's interest to do so? He is hot right to highlight the

importance of the two-way tourist industry in Europe. We are

considering this but I'll aim is... Via protocol three, when we exit the

European Union does it mean the Crown dependencies will also exit

the customs union? I met with Chief ministers of Crown dependencies

yesterday as part of the formal process of ongoing meetings we're

using stakes have use into account and following the Prime Minister's

speech I spoke to them and they are pleased with the direction of travel

it is at. Higher education is one of the UK's greatest exports. As we

seek to grow our export markets post Brexit does the Minister agree we

needed an approach that plays to our strengths and builds on them?

Wholeheartedly. In response to an earlier question, the secretary of

states said we needed both flexibility and imagination in

tackling these context negotiations. My manufacturing sector, my

university, want competence. That is what they are worried about, the

competence of the team sitting on the front bench during negotiations

thoroughly. I'd better deal with this one. The interesting thing is,

if you look at the response around Europe to the Prime Minister's

speech talking about confidence, the Spanish secretary of state for

foreign affairs who I saw only a couple of weeks ago welcomed it

widely and said it was an eminently achievable aim, in everybody's

interests. In my constituency we are lucky to see the excellent L bus 400

M as it flies from Brize Norton. Does my honourable friend agree that

it is an excellent example of defence cooperation and such

cooperation will continue when it leaves the European Union? I visited

the hour bus factory just before Christmas and saw the wonderful work

they are doing. He is right to say that into grated manufacturing

across Europe is important and I have no doubt we will be putting in

place arrangements to ensure it continues. An RAF Typhoon flown from

my constituency have more marked a rusting Russian aircraft carrier as

it made its journey back from raids on Aleppo. Does this demonstrates

the important role in the United Kingdom must play after our exit in

ensuring the defence and security of Europe as a whole? As my honourable

friend is right. Britain is a leading power in Nato and will

continue to be after we leave the EU. Will my honourable friend come

to Dorset to speak to our businesses and hear their concerns, and discuss

the great opportunities Brexit provides? Delighted to. We are

talking to businesses all across the country and I look forward to

visiting those in your constituency. Urgent question. We make a statement

please on Yemen? Thank you. UK supports the Saudi Arabian lead

military intervention which came at the request of the legitimate

president and we are clear