:00:08. > :00:13.As the Prime Minister said in Glasgow last week, as we bring
:00:14. > :00:17.powers and control back to the UK we must ensure they are the right
:00:18. > :00:21.powers that the right level to ensure the UK can operate
:00:22. > :00:24.effectively in the interests of all citizens including people in
:00:25. > :00:28.Scotland. We are powers should best fit will be a matter for further
:00:29. > :00:39.consultation and discussion across the UK. Seeking to group this
:00:40. > :00:42.question with numbers ten and 15. Those who assist the Secretary of
:00:43. > :00:58.State have to keep up with the development of events. When you get
:00:59. > :01:05.to my age, it is so difficult! I would like to remind them about an
:01:06. > :01:06.event in the Sunday Times on the 27th of November. The Secretary of
:01:07. > :01:08.State for Scotland stated whatever the circumstances no powers will be
:01:09. > :01:13.re-reserve to Westminster. In Scotland we know such voters are not
:01:14. > :01:20.worth the paper they are printed on so well he guarantee this house that
:01:21. > :01:26.powers currently exercised by the European Union will be devolved to
:01:27. > :01:33.the Scottish Parliament? Those are two different questions.
:01:34. > :01:37.Unfortunately the member for Gordon is not here because he would be able
:01:38. > :01:41.to tell his colleagues in the FNP that for many years I have been a
:01:42. > :01:48.strong advocate of devolution. I was one of the first person out of the
:01:49. > :01:56.SNP to call for fiscal autonomy for Scotland. I take this very seriously
:01:57. > :02:01.indeed. But there's a distinction between the exercise of powers over
:02:02. > :02:04.agriculture, fisheries and environment by the Scottish
:02:05. > :02:08.Parliament and those matters which are dealt with by the UK Government
:02:09. > :02:16.at the EU on the half of the whole of the UK with heavy consultation.
:02:17. > :02:21.Talking of the volt power as last month the Prime Minister ventured
:02:22. > :02:27.north to tell Scotland hope for the Scottish NHS is despite evidence to
:02:28. > :02:31.the contrary including A waiting times and public satisfaction. If it
:02:32. > :02:37.is so bad can you tell us when we will receive their share of the ?350
:02:38. > :02:39.million a week to fix it? I genuinely have a self-denying
:02:40. > :02:43.ordinance about not attacking the domestic policies of the Scottish
:02:44. > :02:46.Government because that is a matter for them to worry about and their
:02:47. > :02:50.day jobs should be their main interest. The aim here will be to
:02:51. > :02:57.get the best outcome for the whole of the UK including Scotland and
:02:58. > :03:01.Scotland should not lose in any way. Because we are so generous on these
:03:02. > :03:07.benches I'm going to give him another chance to answer that.
:03:08. > :03:12.Despite the key principal of the Scotland Act and what the secretary
:03:13. > :03:17.said the Prime Minister stated at the Scottish Tory conference on the
:03:18. > :03:22.3rd of March, will he today please categorically assure us that when
:03:23. > :03:27.non-reserved powers are repatriated from Brussels that they come
:03:28. > :03:31.directly to Scotland? I think what the ascent he needs is a bit more
:03:32. > :03:41.evident a la the in its questions. -- BSN P. There will be no powers
:03:42. > :03:44.currently exercised by the Scottish Government removed from the Scottish
:03:45. > :03:48.Government. With respect to other powers we will look in conjunction
:03:49. > :03:51.with representatives of the Scottish Government and the Welsh government
:03:52. > :03:58.and the Northern Ireland executive, we will look at what is best for the
:03:59. > :04:02.United Kingdom and for the constituent nations. It is very
:04:03. > :04:07.important we get as much devolution as possible but important we do not
:04:08. > :04:14.damage the UK single market, which is four times as valuable to Scots
:04:15. > :04:18.as the EU single market. I wonder in the cause of these discussions and
:04:19. > :04:25.negotiations whether he discusses the issue at this SNP places on the
:04:26. > :04:29.table of a special arrangement with regards to being in the single
:04:30. > :04:34.market. Given the nature of the fact that recently I wonder whether he
:04:35. > :04:38.has translated this to the SNP, particularly their leader, that
:04:39. > :04:42.recently in Spain it was made absolutely clear that their policy
:04:43. > :04:47.and that of the other parties in Spain was that there will be no
:04:48. > :04:53.special arrangements for the SNP, and should they seek to leave the UK
:04:54. > :05:03.and rejoin the EU they would be vetoed by Spain on both counts. He
:05:04. > :05:11.makes his point as well as ever. This is a matter that game up again
:05:12. > :05:14.later as well. This is not simply a technical matter within the UK, it
:05:15. > :05:23.is also an issue we have to deliver diplomatically. Is he is puzzled as
:05:24. > :05:29.I am that the SNP appeared to oppose any devolution of powers from Europe
:05:30. > :05:33.back to the UK and Scotland? They would rather be governed entirely
:05:34. > :05:37.from Brussels and have some of those powers returned to this place where
:05:38. > :05:41.they have a great influence and others returned to Holyrood where
:05:42. > :05:50.temporarily they have a near majority? He points exactly at the
:05:51. > :05:54.incredible inconsistency at the heart of the SNP. They believe it is
:05:55. > :06:02.fine to be ruled from Brussels but not to be ruled from anywhere else.
:06:03. > :06:07.Given the huge identity of mutual interests that Scotland shares with
:06:08. > :06:11.the rest of the UK, while not a good deal for the UK's shower all sorts
:06:12. > :06:21.of benefits that can be devolved on Scotland?
:06:22. > :06:31.He goes to an important point that what matters in this negotiation is
:06:32. > :06:35.the outcome, not the mechanism. The Scottish Government has laid a great
:06:36. > :06:40.deal of emphasis on its own preferred policy of accepting
:06:41. > :06:46.membership of the single market but the truth is what we want is a good
:06:47. > :06:48.outcome in terms of access to the single market for everybody,
:06:49. > :06:57.everybody in the UK, and that will achieve exactly the same aim. In
:06:58. > :07:00.terms of powers for the Scottish parliament we were promised, the
:07:01. > :07:05.people of Scotland were promised, week before the vote, that Scotland
:07:06. > :07:09.would decide its own immigration policy in the event of Brexit. Next
:07:10. > :07:14.week we have a crucial vote EU nationals. If this government will
:07:15. > :07:20.not use its powers to give EU nationals the certainty they require
:07:21. > :07:25.will he give those powers to the Scottish Parliament? Again we are at
:07:26. > :07:29.games and ends and means. The simple truth is that the Scottish
:07:30. > :07:33.Government has raised a very important issue on the joint
:07:34. > :07:39.ministerial committee about the question of the immigration needs of
:07:40. > :07:44.Scotland. I have reflected those questions to the Home Secretary and
:07:45. > :07:47.I would expect when we come to a UK immigration policy at will reflect
:07:48. > :07:54.the needs of every part of the UK. I look forward to having his support
:07:55. > :07:59.for his leave campaigns promises on immigration power being given to
:08:00. > :08:08.Scotland. As part of that, while he consider the European Court of
:08:09. > :08:10.Justice in 2012 that gave EU nationals with primary caring
:08:11. > :08:14.responsibilities the right to reside in the member state of which their
:08:15. > :08:20.dependent child or adult is a national? Will he consider that? I
:08:21. > :08:30.am not familiar with the individual case. I will look at it and come
:08:31. > :08:36.back to him. The European Court of Justice will not rule over the UK
:08:37. > :08:41.after the date of Brexit. That does not mean will not have a very humane
:08:42. > :08:44.and sensible and straightforward policy with respect to things like
:08:45. > :08:55.family relationships. I will look at the case in detail and come back to
:08:56. > :09:00.him. We want to have reached agreement on
:09:01. > :09:06.our future partnership with in two years of the article 15 process.
:09:07. > :09:11.Article 50 is clear. It should take two years to negotiate withdrawal
:09:12. > :09:15.and any day must take into account the new relationship. We recognise a
:09:16. > :09:21.club said for business or threat to stability will be in the interests
:09:22. > :09:24.of neither side. A phased process of implementation image Britain and EU
:09:25. > :09:28.institutions prepare for the new relationship is likely to be in our
:09:29. > :09:36.mutual interest and that will be to everyone's benefits. This intended
:09:37. > :09:40.gripping as with number 17. The tech sector is clear that the UK needs a
:09:41. > :09:44.watertight agreement on international data flows from the
:09:45. > :09:51.day we leave the EU. Transitional arrangements will not do. The best
:09:52. > :09:54.route will be an agreement. Since it took seven years to negotiate and
:09:55. > :10:02.adequacy agreement with barmaid at what is he doing with colleagues to
:10:03. > :10:07.ensure success on data flows? It is essential not just IT and to
:10:08. > :10:13.database industries but every industry. It is a serious point. The
:10:14. > :10:18.difference in Burnley do was they were not at the point of identity
:10:19. > :10:22.when they started their negotiations. We will be at the
:10:23. > :10:27.point of identity of data standards at the point of departure and we
:10:28. > :10:34.will have to undoubtedly agree some regime whereby we maintain
:10:35. > :10:37.equivalence, not identity, but equivalent thereafter. It is unlike
:10:38. > :10:43.the we will need transitional arrangements. It is more likely we
:10:44. > :10:50.will need an ongoing relationship. Gwent has relied on EU funding in
:10:51. > :10:52.recent years. Although we may be leaving the EU the need for
:10:53. > :10:58.infrastructure investment remains really high. Because the
:10:59. > :11:02.infrastructure has a long lead-in, what transitional arrangements will
:11:03. > :11:11.be in place to ensure that it gets the best deal to boost its economy
:11:12. > :11:14.after 2020? First, the Treasury has made it clear very rapidly at the
:11:15. > :11:20.beginning of the process that it would underwrite agreements that
:11:21. > :11:27.were made with the European Union that carried on beyond the point of
:11:28. > :11:29.Brexit. So long as they met value for money requirements. The
:11:30. > :11:33.responsibility of making that judgment will be the Welsh
:11:34. > :11:38.government in his case. I do not see there is a risk to that. Beyond 2020
:11:39. > :11:43.the EU would have its own arrangements anyway, new budget
:11:44. > :11:48.arrangements, salt would be in the same position.
:11:49. > :11:56.Which my right honourable friend guaranteed to the House that the
:11:57. > :12:03.last thing he is going to do is accept interference from other parts
:12:04. > :12:09.of the House and that he is going to concentrate on transitional
:12:10. > :12:18.arrangements with Europe? This is not about extending the discussion,
:12:19. > :12:22.but transitional arrangements may well be beneficial to both sides and
:12:23. > :12:28.it is under those that we will continue. Would my right honourable
:12:29. > :12:35.friend agree that during a transitional period for services, it
:12:36. > :12:43.is important to encourage cooperation between factions so that
:12:44. > :12:52.things are smooth between us and Europe. My title honourable friend
:12:53. > :12:56.is right and we will be speaking to the regulators. Some of those
:12:57. > :13:00.discussions have already happened. The governor of the Bank of England
:13:01. > :13:02.has already made comments about the need to maintain stability after
:13:03. > :13:08.Brexit and that will be a very important part of our negotiations.
:13:09. > :13:14.Because of the governments decision to leave the single market, lots of
:13:15. > :13:19.agreements cease to have effect the day after we have left. One of those
:13:20. > :13:25.is the agreement that allows British Airways to fly to any airport in the
:13:26. > :13:31.European Union. Given that airlines sell tickets up to 11 months in
:13:32. > :13:33.advance, what assurance can the Secretary of State give passengers
:13:34. > :13:39.that tickets they buy before we leave the European Union will still
:13:40. > :13:43.be valid to fly to their destination after we leave the European Union?
:13:44. > :13:46.The right honourable gentleman is partially right. Many of the
:13:47. > :13:51.arrangements with the European routes are partially dependent on
:13:52. > :13:54.the EU but also on bilateral arrangements and other arrangements.
:13:55. > :14:01.He is exactly right. We will be setting out to ensure that those
:14:02. > :14:07.forward contracts stand. Further to what the chair of the select
:14:08. > :14:09.committee said, could I ask the Secretary of State whether
:14:10. > :14:13.transitional arrangements are going to be discussed right from the
:14:14. > :14:18.beginning of negotiations, because transitional arrangements cannot be
:14:19. > :14:19.left until the last moment. They need to be hard-wired into
:14:20. > :14:25.negotiations from the very beginning. They will be undoubtedly
:14:26. > :14:31.part of the early discussions but I will say this to him as well. The
:14:32. > :14:33.transitional arrangements, or the need to transitional arrangements,
:14:34. > :14:37.depends upon what the final arrangement will be. If you don't
:14:38. > :14:41.know where you're going to end up, you can't have a transitional
:14:42. > :14:51.arrangement. Second airily, overarching offer, as it were, of
:14:52. > :14:55.Earth -- of a comprehensive arrangement will remove the need to
:14:56. > :15:02.transitional arrangements in some areas. Not everyone, but some of
:15:03. > :15:05.them. The question on data, that is one where regulation will matter,
:15:06. > :15:11.but in many cases, it will not be necessary at all. Can the Secretary
:15:12. > :15:14.of State tell the House what he sees as the main differences between
:15:15. > :15:18.agreed interim arrangements as part of a phased process of lamenting the
:15:19. > :15:25.future relationship with the European Union, assault by the
:15:26. > :15:27.Government and negotiating a deal? The reason we specialised --
:15:28. > :15:34.specified in detail was because there were lots of arrangements by
:15:35. > :15:38.different people. Some of them thought it would be good to have a
:15:39. > :15:43.departure deal and then spend years in a transitional arrangement
:15:44. > :15:46.carrying on the negotiation. That is why we specifically differentiated
:15:47. > :15:50.what we were talking about from that. We want the arrangement to be
:15:51. > :15:55.concluded in terms of decisions within two years but it may take
:15:56. > :15:59.longer for implementation matters such as customs, financial services
:16:00. > :16:09.regulations, a whole series of things like that. I will take
:16:10. > :16:14.questions three, six and a team together. One of the core principles
:16:15. > :16:17.guiding our approach to exit negotiations is to maintain our
:16:18. > :16:25.historic ties with Ireland. There is a strong commitment from our
:16:26. > :16:30.Government, the Northern Ireland administration and the Irish
:16:31. > :16:39.Government to maintain our links and we do not want hard borders between
:16:40. > :16:48.the United Kingdom and Ireland. Does he recognise the very serious impact
:16:49. > :16:51.that a hard border reinstated would have, both on people having to cross
:16:52. > :16:56.the border but also on the peace process? My honourable friend is
:16:57. > :17:03.absolutely right and we have seen some welcome comments on this. John
:17:04. > :17:10.Claude Junker said that during the Brexit negotiations, the UK must
:17:11. > :17:15.negotiate well with Ireland and we must uphold the Friday -- the Good
:17:16. > :17:22.Friday agreement. We will continue to work hard on this issue. I
:17:23. > :17:27.welcome these strong commitment to the CTA, the White Paper. Shrewsbury
:17:28. > :17:33.has benefited for many generations from Irish citizens coming to work
:17:34. > :17:40.in our community. Will he give them an assurance that their rights will
:17:41. > :17:44.be protected under UK law, much of which predates our membership of the
:17:45. > :17:49.European Union. I can assure my right honourable friend that Irish
:17:50. > :17:56.citizens special status within the UK, since long before the EU, will
:17:57. > :18:06.remain in place. They have additional rights beyond phase
:18:07. > :18:13.associated with the ties between the two nations. The Crown dependence of
:18:14. > :18:17.the Isle of Man has very strong links with both the Republic,
:18:18. > :18:22.Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The number one ask
:18:23. > :18:25.of that Government was to ask that they remain part of the Common
:18:26. > :18:32.travel area between the three as well. Can you reassure us Arr two?
:18:33. > :18:40.Absolutely and we greatly value the work my boyfriend and his committee
:18:41. > :18:43.has done on -- their work my honourable friend and his committee
:18:44. > :18:49.has done on this. We are committed to preserving the arrangement they
:18:50. > :18:52.currently have. We have set that out in the White Paper and will work
:18:53. > :18:57.with the Crown dependencies as well as Ireland on improving the travel
:18:58. > :19:02.area. Does the Government appreciate that the Good Friday agreement was
:19:03. > :19:11.not a single event signed and sealed and put on an event -- put on a
:19:12. > :19:14.shelf years ago, but rather a normalisation and free movement of
:19:15. > :19:20.people, goods and so on? If the Government does realise that, would
:19:21. > :19:24.they respond to the very real fears and Ireland that Brexit represents a
:19:25. > :19:30.turning back of the clock on the precious new normality that have
:19:31. > :19:34.developed? The honourable gentleman is right about the presence of these
:19:35. > :19:38.issues and he is right that the Good Friday agreement is not just a
:19:39. > :19:43.moment in time. We talk about the Belfast agreement and its successes.
:19:44. > :19:46.We recognise the need to continue working on this with our friends and
:19:47. > :19:52.allies in the Republic as well as in the Northern Ireland Executive. If
:19:53. > :19:56.the Common travel area can continue to operate between the UK and the
:19:57. > :20:01.Republic of Ireland, a country that is a member of the European Union,
:20:02. > :20:06.then why couldn't it operate between Scotland and the rest of the UK?
:20:07. > :20:12.That is if Scotland stayed in the single market when the rest of the
:20:13. > :20:16.UK leaves. The Common travel area is of benefit to the whole of the UK.
:20:17. > :20:20.The people of Scotland voted less than two years ago to remain part of
:20:21. > :20:23.the United Kingdom and I think we should all work together to make
:20:24. > :20:28.this process a success for the United Kingdom. It is reassuring to
:20:29. > :20:32.hear the words of the Minister on this issue and he will know the
:20:33. > :20:36.level of concern about this across this House and out there in the
:20:37. > :20:40.country. But if he reads, and I can recommend to him the House of Lords
:20:41. > :20:43.recent report onto this and particularly page 62 where the
:20:44. > :20:48.report says, we can't assume that this will become part of the article
:20:49. > :20:52.15 negotiation, and if that doesn't happen, he must act quickly to
:20:53. > :21:00.reassure the people of Ireland and the UK to make sure that this is
:21:01. > :21:03.done either as part of the Article 15 negotiation or, if not, in a way
:21:04. > :21:07.that will happen in time, because certainty isn't needed more than
:21:08. > :21:12.anything in Northern Ireland. She is right that we must be accountable
:21:13. > :21:15.for certainty and we will take on board the suggestions of the House
:21:16. > :21:17.of Lords report. I welcome the statements we have had from the
:21:18. > :21:23.commission that they are taking a strong interest in the subject. When
:21:24. > :21:28.the Brexit select committee visited Dublin recently, it was described to
:21:29. > :21:35.us that a default to WTO by the United Kingdom would be catastrophic
:21:36. > :21:40.for the island of Ireland with the reinstatement of the border. Pity
:21:41. > :21:44.reassure me that he will not be moving towards WTO if for no other
:21:45. > :21:48.reason than the reasons affecting Ireland itself? -- could he reassure
:21:49. > :21:52.me? The Government has set out a clear strategy about establishing a
:21:53. > :21:58.partnership with the European Union and that partnership includes the
:21:59. > :22:05.concept of notion of movement across the border in Ireland. The Minister
:22:06. > :22:11.further outline how the election of the Northern Ireland Assembly has
:22:12. > :22:18.affected the travel area and further what role the Minister and other
:22:19. > :22:23.areas of this and we will have in this process? We are fully committed
:22:24. > :22:33.to ensuring as we established our negotiating that we have... The
:22:34. > :22:44.Northern Ireland Secretary is doing all he can to establish a positive
:22:45. > :22:47.outcome as quickly as possible. We are not contemplating anything other
:22:48. > :22:51.than the continuation of devolved Government. It would help enormously
:22:52. > :22:55.if the UK Government made it clear that it wants to make both the
:22:56. > :23:00.Common travel area and the Good Friday agreement in all its strands
:23:01. > :23:05.explicitly named features in future negotiations between the UK and the
:23:06. > :23:13.EU. Yes, and I believe that we have and will continue to do so. With
:23:14. > :23:17.your permission, I will take questions four and five together. We
:23:18. > :23:22.are listening and speaking to as many farming organisations and
:23:23. > :23:26.institutions as possible as we develop our negotiating position.
:23:27. > :23:29.I've met a range of representatives from the agricultural sector
:23:30. > :23:35.including, I believe, all the UK farming unions and have attended
:23:36. > :23:43.Defra's roundtable is one of which focused on farming and horticulture.
:23:44. > :23:53.Louth and Horncastle boasts farms which the ghost -- which produce
:23:54. > :23:55.excellent food. Can I ask that maintaining food production which
:23:56. > :24:01.maintains fantastic standards will be uppermost in his mind was
:24:02. > :24:05.negotiating? Certainly the British farming industry is noted throughout
:24:06. > :24:08.the world for the quality of its produce and outside of the European
:24:09. > :24:13.Union, we have an unprecedented opportunity to redesign our policies
:24:14. > :24:17.to make them work for us, ensuring that our agriculture industry is
:24:18. > :24:22.productive and profitable and also that our environment continues to
:24:23. > :24:39.improve. Farmers in to spray apply higher standards of -- the highest
:24:40. > :24:45.standards of produce to that animals. What will be put into place
:24:46. > :24:52.to ensure that animal welfare and traceability are important to those
:24:53. > :24:56.outside of our production? We are committed to higher animal welfare
:24:57. > :24:58.standards and will continue to push in international trade arrangements
:24:59. > :25:07.for those standards to be maintained. British farmers face a
:25:08. > :25:11.triple threat from the vote to leave the European Union. The loss of the
:25:12. > :25:16.cat subsidy, the threat of cheap imports from countries with low
:25:17. > :25:29.animal welfare and tariffs on exports... We could see tariffs of
:25:30. > :25:32.up to 40% on lamb. Mr Speaker, the honourable lady makes very important
:25:33. > :25:39.points but I think this lady has -- this Government has already made a
:25:40. > :25:44.commitment by supporting cab one until 2020 and also giving support
:25:45. > :25:48.for cap two. In terms of the issue on terrorists, as she will know, it
:25:49. > :25:51.is the aim of this Government to achieve the best possible free-trade
:25:52. > :25:58.agreement with the continuing European Union -- in terms of the of
:25:59. > :26:03.tariffs, we want to benefit Britain and the EU. Could the minister
:26:04. > :26:09.perhaps tell us what discussions he has had with the Government of
:26:10. > :26:13.Ireland with regards to the movement of goods, as the movement every gets
:26:14. > :26:21.-- the free movement of goods from the exit the EU will be critical as
:26:22. > :26:26.many farms straddle the border and they also transit the border many
:26:27. > :26:31.times, like milk and transit it five times.
:26:32. > :26:35.He raises an extremely important point at the forefront of the mind
:26:36. > :26:43.of the government and the Prime Minister has discussed this with all
:26:44. > :26:46.the ministers having similar discussions and I have had recent
:26:47. > :26:57.discussions with representatives of the Irish government. Number seven.
:26:58. > :27:02.With your permission I will answer questions seven, nine and 13. The UK
:27:03. > :27:08.manufacturing sector is worth reading and we are determined to
:27:09. > :27:11.ensure the best deal for that sector. We are aiming to agree a
:27:12. > :27:17.bald and ambitious free-trade agreement with the EU including zero
:27:18. > :27:25.tariffs that is more ambitious than to date. In North Tyneside a Belgian
:27:26. > :27:29.company has filled the void in the manufacturing market left when this
:27:30. > :27:35.government failed to back or GM. They hope to create up to 400 new
:27:36. > :27:40.jobs and expand even further. What guarantees can he give that will
:27:41. > :27:43.allow them the same benefits they currently get with access to the
:27:44. > :27:52.single market and Customs union after Brexit? I had discussion in
:27:53. > :27:55.earlier this week with the Flanders Chamber of Commerce which recognise
:27:56. > :27:59.the important issue of bilateral trade between Belgium and the UK. I
:28:00. > :28:02.am pleased to say they fully realise that there is a need for
:28:03. > :28:05.frictionless agreements once we leave the EU and this is something
:28:06. > :28:12.this government is also committed to. The Prime Minister has said
:28:13. > :28:15.Britain will not remain a full member of the customs union but this
:28:16. > :28:20.morning the Chancellor said it is clear we cannot stay in the customs
:28:21. > :28:23.union. Which one should we believe? It is clear if we are to seek
:28:24. > :28:29.free-trade agreements around the world we will not be able to remain
:28:30. > :28:34.in the customs union as it stands. Having said that what we seek our
:28:35. > :28:39.arrangements with our EU partners that will be able to construct
:28:40. > :28:45.customs arrangements that are as frictionless as possible for the
:28:46. > :28:49.benefit of the EU and the UK. The post Brexit fall in the pound has
:28:50. > :28:55.led to a boost in the manufacturing of the north-east. A fall in the
:28:56. > :29:02.pound has also led to an increase in import costs which will only
:29:03. > :29:07.increase. What is he planning to do for north-east manufacturers to make
:29:08. > :29:11.sure they are not increasing extra costs for products they are making?
:29:12. > :29:15.No these manufacturing is that the forefront of the mind of this
:29:16. > :29:21.government and he will know that we arranged with Nissan a state of
:29:22. > :29:25.affairs that will allow it to continue to manufacture in the
:29:26. > :29:28.north-east. As far as customs arrangements are concerned he is
:29:29. > :29:30.right, we do not want to see customs arrangements that impede trade with
:29:31. > :29:35.the UK and we are looking to agree the UK and we are looking to agree
:29:36. > :29:40.arrangements for our mutual benefit that are as frictionless as
:29:41. > :29:48.possible. Is it not the case that the end of the day that when the UK
:29:49. > :29:51.leave the EU we will be their largest export market? Does he not
:29:52. > :29:58.agree with my favourite politician at the moment, the finance minister
:29:59. > :30:04.of Germany, who says that if we, the Germans, or the European Union or to
:30:05. > :30:11.cause any damage to the UK it would be increased ten fold for the EU? I
:30:12. > :30:14.am sure the finance minister will be uncontrollably excited to discover
:30:15. > :30:24.he is such a fan. He makes an extremely good point.
:30:25. > :30:29.That is that this UK market will be the biggest export market for the
:30:30. > :30:32.continuing EU after we leave. I am glad to say that is recognised not
:30:33. > :30:39.only by the finance minister but by the Belgian Chamber of Commerce with
:30:40. > :30:44.whom I spoke earlier this week. Would he agree that it is much more
:30:45. > :30:49.in the EU's interest to do a deal with others than us with them
:30:50. > :30:57.because they have a ?60 billion trade surplus with us? It is very
:30:58. > :31:01.much in our mutual interest and I am sure that once the negotiations
:31:02. > :31:05.begin we will move towards a very sensible and satisfactory mutual
:31:06. > :31:10.conclusion. Does he agree and hope for the best but the chaotic
:31:11. > :31:14.patchwork of EU institutions may mean a deal is not done into my ears
:31:15. > :31:20.and in that case will he consider the case to invest in the Channel
:31:21. > :31:26.ports and frictionless borders to ensure we have a seamless law in the
:31:27. > :31:33.future? I agree on the issue of frictionless agreements. We have a
:31:34. > :31:39.huge advantage in that at the moment Britain is a member of the EU. Our
:31:40. > :31:40.standards and regulations are incomplete alignment. I was
:31:41. > :31:45.heartened to see the chief heartened to see the chief
:31:46. > :31:52.negotiator for the EU recognise that it was doable within two years. The
:31:53. > :31:55.food and drinks industry is growing in west Aberdeenshire. What plans
:31:56. > :31:59.does he have to retain the benefits of membership of the single market
:32:00. > :32:05.and Customs union for the food and drink sector after we have left the
:32:06. > :32:11.EU? Why we will not continue to be a member of the single market, we are
:32:12. > :32:15.looking to achieve a very good free-trade agreement with the
:32:16. > :32:23.continuing European Union which is very much in the mutual benefit of
:32:24. > :32:27.the UK and the EU. As he considers the customs union can I urge him to
:32:28. > :32:33.look at the experience of close trading partners around the world
:32:34. > :32:38.must unite the US and Canada trade annually, Norway does 70% of trade
:32:39. > :32:47.with the EU. None of them have seen fit to form customs unions with each
:32:48. > :32:53.other. He makes an excellent point. It is not necessary to be part of a
:32:54. > :32:55.customs union but we seek frictionless customs arrangements
:32:56. > :33:04.for the benefit of the EU and the UK. In a leaked document to the
:33:05. > :33:11.Thames the oil and gas industry was listed as not a big priority. Can he
:33:12. > :33:14.confirm he has no plans to retain membership of the customs union and
:33:15. > :33:20.single market for the oil and gas industry? The fact that the oil and
:33:21. > :33:24.gas industry is of a high priority to this government is shown by
:33:25. > :33:30.yesterday's announcement by the Chancellor. Rather than talking
:33:31. > :33:34.bleakly about the future of the industry he should urge his
:33:35. > :33:39.colleagues in the Scottish Government to work strongly with the
:33:40. > :33:48.UK Government to ensure arrangements can be made that are satisfactorily
:33:49. > :33:52.for the Industry. One of the advantages of leaving as we will be
:33:53. > :33:56.in a position to design our own package of trade defence
:33:57. > :34:00.instruments, something I would think members opposite would welcome. Can
:34:01. > :34:08.he update on the cross government work on this point? Any arrangement
:34:09. > :34:15.that we strike will have to be WTO compliant but he is right. There
:34:16. > :34:18.have been many difficulties recently experienced by British industry, not
:34:19. > :34:21.least the steel industry, and he will know the support this
:34:22. > :34:28.government has given to that industry. A report from the US
:34:29. > :34:32.Chamber of Commerce concluded that America's significant commercial and
:34:33. > :34:37.financial presence in the UK has been premised on large parts on UK
:34:38. > :34:40.membership of the EU. The largest wealthiest and most important
:34:41. > :34:46.foreign market in the world to US companies. Does he recognise the
:34:47. > :34:51.importance of our relationship with the single market to those non-EU
:34:52. > :34:59.countries on which the government are keen to build trade and
:35:00. > :35:02.investment? The importance of the UK to the US was reflected very
:35:03. > :35:06.strongly in the Prime Minister's recent meeting with the new
:35:07. > :35:09.president. When he showed great enthusiasm for a free trade
:35:10. > :35:16.arrangement between the US and the UK. The significance of that in the
:35:17. > :35:21.America first policy is yet to be demonstrated but on the 24th of
:35:22. > :35:27.January the Secretary of State told the house he is seeking, a
:35:28. > :35:30.comprehensive free-trade agreement and comprehensive customs agreement
:35:31. > :35:34.that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have. The exact same
:35:35. > :35:42.benefits that we have inside the single market. Will he confirm that
:35:43. > :35:46.is still the government's aim? The government's aim is to seek a bold
:35:47. > :35:50.and ambitious free-trade agreement with the continuing European Union
:35:51. > :35:58.which will be to the benefit of both the UK and the EU. Thanks to the new
:35:59. > :36:02.opportunities that will open up for the UK after we leave the EU the
:36:03. > :36:09.accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has said that
:36:10. > :36:14.the UK will have the fastest-growing economy in the G7 over the next 30
:36:15. > :36:18.years. Does he not agree that this demonstrates that manufacturing has
:36:19. > :36:28.nothing to fear from other leaving the EU? He is right to point out
:36:29. > :36:31.that the doom mongers who said that the British economy would clash
:36:32. > :36:41.after we decided to leave the EU have been proven wrong. Number
:36:42. > :36:46.eight. The UK has a long-standing tradition of ensuring our rights and
:36:47. > :36:48.liberties are protected domestic league and fulfilling our
:36:49. > :36:51.international human rights obligations. The decision to leave
:36:52. > :36:56.the EU does not change any of this. That is the approach we will take
:36:57. > :37:00.Indigo she agents. The government has no plans to withdraw from the
:37:01. > :37:07.European convention on human rights. Will he set out a full and detailed
:37:08. > :37:11.list of all fundamental rights currently guaranteed under EU law
:37:12. > :37:22.and what approach it intends to take towards them? We will be putting in
:37:23. > :37:25.front of the house the great repeal bill at some point in the future
:37:26. > :37:31.which will carry into British law the existing law of the European
:37:32. > :37:39.Union and case law that goes with it. The British human rights have
:37:40. > :37:43.not depended on the European Union. They have been intrinsic to our
:37:44. > :37:54.history and tradition and we will continue to defend them. I most of
:37:55. > :37:57.all. I welcome what he said about the council of Europe and the
:37:58. > :38:02.European Court of Human Rights. With that in mind, will he consider
:38:03. > :38:07.giving his support to a fourth summit of the council of Europe to
:38:08. > :38:10.look at the way forward for the council and how human rights could
:38:11. > :38:15.be strengthened through the European Court of Human Rights? She knows my
:38:16. > :38:20.ongoing passion for human rights. This is the first I have heard of
:38:21. > :38:26.the summit proposal. I will look at it and she can guess what my
:38:27. > :38:31.sentiments will be. Isn't it a human right to have some certainty about
:38:32. > :38:37.your future? Is he not aware of how many people have come to this
:38:38. > :38:40.country, talented, hard-working, entrepreneurial, you have no idea
:38:41. > :38:44.whether they can stay in this country and who are demanding they
:38:45. > :38:51.have sole health insurance for life to be able to stay here? I am not
:38:52. > :39:02.sure whether certainty about your own future is a human rights. Order.
:39:03. > :39:09.I am not sure we should have some of these remarks. Rather unseemly. The
:39:10. > :39:15.gentleman is a distinguished statesman. I am not sure whether
:39:16. > :39:19.certainty about your future is a human rights. I am not sure the
:39:20. > :39:24.house would extend it to the gentleman. We have a large group of
:39:25. > :39:28.people, some of them European citizens, some of them British
:39:29. > :39:33.citizens abroad, to whom we want to give certainty across the board
:39:34. > :39:38.about their rights to remain, writes in health care, welfare and so on.
:39:39. > :39:44.One of the things that has been apparent to me, about half of the
:39:45. > :39:47.member states, who I have seen, it is plain to me that all of them
:39:48. > :39:52.treat this seriously want to see a dealt with it early in the
:39:53. > :40:02.negotiation and that is what the government policy is, to ensure
:40:03. > :40:08.certainty for everybody. 14. I am going to get the hang of this. I
:40:09. > :40:17.asked to group 11 and 14 together. In a few years I will get used to
:40:18. > :40:23.this place! Then I will retire. I said retire, not resign! We are
:40:24. > :40:28.working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure the best deal
:40:29. > :40:33.for Scotland and the rest of the UK as we leave the EU. We share many
:40:34. > :40:38.objectives and open and odd or looking country ensuring access to
:40:39. > :40:43.labour, collaboration on science and research, protecting workers' rates,
:40:44. > :40:49.a smooth and orderly exit process and guaranteeing the rights of EU
:40:50. > :41:00.nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. Who knows what the
:41:01. > :41:06.Scottish people will think of such an imprecise answer? Let me try
:41:07. > :41:11.something else which may help them. In terms of the very specific and
:41:12. > :41:14.unique needs of some sectors of the Scottish economy how many trade ago
:41:15. > :41:18.she tours have been recruited to deal with such matters?
:41:19. > :41:28.Many have been negotiated and I think when he asks this question, he
:41:29. > :41:33.will know that they have been very busy in recent months. The simple
:41:34. > :41:37.truth in this is that the British Government shares, I think, his aims
:41:38. > :41:41.for his own constituents and they are aims for the people of Scotland.
:41:42. > :41:45.Namely, we want the best possible deal which will be the best for the
:41:46. > :41:51.Scottish economy, best for Scottish business but, most of all, best for
:41:52. > :41:56.Scottish people. Following on from my honourable friend's question, I
:41:57. > :42:04.am glad to inform him that support for independence has gone up to
:42:05. > :42:11.5050. Given his intransigence of his Government 's determination for a
:42:12. > :42:18.hard, right-wing, Tory Brexit, in what way does he think that Powell
:42:19. > :42:25.is going to tip as he continues in his intransigence? I don't recognise
:42:26. > :42:29.the phrase hard Brexit or right-wing Tory Brexit either. I am not a
:42:30. > :42:33.believer in polls when it comes to referendums. They don't exactly work
:42:34. > :42:36.very well. But if you wanted to go with pulse, perhaps he would go with
:42:37. > :42:42.the one that says the Scottish people do not want to have another
:42:43. > :42:48.referendum. I respect the Scottish Government's process to want to
:42:49. > :42:53.contribute to the Brexit process as with all other areas. May I ask the
:42:54. > :42:58.Government to seek a policy that works for the whole United Kingdom.
:42:59. > :43:02.That is the intention of the Government. That is why we are going
:43:03. > :43:08.for a copperheads, overarching free-trade agreement which will
:43:09. > :43:12.deliver -- a comprehensive, overarching free-trade agreement
:43:13. > :43:17.which will deliver the best possible deal for Great Britain and the
:43:18. > :43:22.European Union. The Prime Minister, supported by my Government, will
:43:23. > :43:26.agree the format of negotiations with our counterparts once they have
:43:27. > :43:32.begun. I shall be informed by the joint per minute -- joint
:43:33. > :43:37.Parliamentary committee on this and we will represent all constituent
:43:38. > :43:43.parts of the United Kingdom. On the 24th of January, the Supreme Court
:43:44. > :43:48.president said it was a political decision as to whether or not to
:43:49. > :43:52.formally involve devolved administrations in the process of
:43:53. > :43:55.leaving the EU. Can the Secretary of State tell us today what role the
:43:56. > :44:05.devolved parliaments will have in the passing of a great repeal Bill?
:44:06. > :44:08.Of course we have formally involved the devolved administrations in our
:44:09. > :44:13.preparations through the JNC process and we continue to engage in that
:44:14. > :44:17.process. With regards to the great repeal Bill, of course there will be
:44:18. > :44:20.a white paper published and the devolved administrations will have
:44:21. > :44:26.the chance is to respond to that of all members across this House. When
:44:27. > :44:29.the Government devolved powers which have been repatriated, will it
:44:30. > :44:34.consider allocating extra resources to ensure those policies are
:44:35. > :44:39.implemented property -- properly? As we have said, we haven't made the
:44:40. > :44:44.final decisions about repatriation. That is something we will want to
:44:45. > :44:50.discuss, as I think the worst of men have suggested we do, with devolved
:44:51. > :44:56.administrations. It was a guaranteed have already been made covering
:44:57. > :45:00.devolved administrations. Ministers will have drawn on the advice of a
:45:01. > :45:05.large number of UK and foreign consultancy firms like accent jab,
:45:06. > :45:11.and the press Association and others want to know how much this has cost.
:45:12. > :45:16.Can you confirm the cost to date on the likes of PWC and others on
:45:17. > :45:19.supporting the Government on Brexit? I'm sure that type of information
:45:20. > :45:26.will be disclosed in the normal way when the Department reports its
:45:27. > :45:31.accounts. Mr Speaker, neither the United Kingdom or the European Union
:45:32. > :45:37.publishes an aggregated audited figure representing the total net
:45:38. > :45:44.contribution since the UK joined the EEC but details of annual
:45:45. > :45:50.contributions are published each year, with the latest one published
:45:51. > :45:54.in February 20 16. A one word answer with the figure would have been more
:45:55. > :45:58.useful than the answer the Minister has given me. I suspect the answer
:45:59. > :46:03.is that it is a massive amount of money that has been handed over from
:46:04. > :46:09.British tax payers to the European Union and like in any good divorce,
:46:10. > :46:13.will entitle us to a huge share of assets or massive financial
:46:14. > :46:21.compensation if we don't get them? Mr Speaker, my right honourable
:46:22. > :46:26.friend is right. It is rather a lot. But really the issue is to what
:46:27. > :46:33.extent is the United Kingdom liable for payment of anything and, if so,
:46:34. > :46:37.how much is it? The point is this. The United Kingdom has always
:46:38. > :46:42.adhered to its international treaty obligations and it will continue to
:46:43. > :46:46.do so. It will adhere to those obligations but similarly it will
:46:47. > :46:53.also pursue its rights according to those treaties and that is how they
:46:54. > :46:59.will pursue these negotiations. Thank you, Mr Speaker, very kind of
:47:00. > :47:03.you. Number 20. As we have repeatedly made clear, we want to
:47:04. > :47:09.secure the status of UK nationals living in the EU and EU nationals
:47:10. > :47:13.living in the UK as early as possible. I know that many member
:47:14. > :47:20.states agree with us on this but we can only protect the status of EU --
:47:21. > :47:24.UK nationals in the EU under former negotiations. I have had
:47:25. > :47:29.constituents coming to me in tears because of the uncertainty of their
:47:30. > :47:35.future. They can't apply for new jobs, they don't know if they can
:47:36. > :47:39.apply for university courses, they don't know what to do. They need
:47:40. > :47:42.assurances now from the Government. These are not itinerant migrant
:47:43. > :47:46.workers. They have made their lives in Bristol and they need those
:47:47. > :47:49.assurances. We all want to provide those assurances but as was said by
:47:50. > :47:54.many in the debate in the Other Place, the best way is to get on
:47:55. > :48:03.with negotiations so that we can assure them -- guaranteed. I
:48:04. > :48:07.congratulate my honourable friend who always is a champion for
:48:08. > :48:11.universities and the students in his patch. The UK is already a leading
:48:12. > :48:14.destination for science and innovation with some of the worlds
:48:15. > :48:23.best universities, three of which are in the top ten. We ensure -- we
:48:24. > :48:30.intend to secure the best possible situation for science and research.
:48:31. > :48:37.The European Union's funding for science and research and
:48:38. > :48:48.collaboration has been so important and will he commit that it will be a
:48:49. > :48:51.focus in negotiation? The Prime Minister has made it clear that we
:48:52. > :49:03.want to be truly global and we recognise the importance of...
:49:04. > :49:09.Order. Topical questions need to be extremely brief if I'm to maximise
:49:10. > :49:15.the of contributors. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister is today
:49:16. > :49:18.meeting other leaders in Brussels discussing migration, jobs and
:49:19. > :49:22.competitiveness. The Prime Minister will be telling them that we did
:49:23. > :49:26.remain strong advocates of free trade and I expect are also to
:49:27. > :49:30.underline our desire to see a strong and stable European Union even after
:49:31. > :49:35.we leave. This has been a central part of my message on recent trips
:49:36. > :49:39.to meet -- meet counterparts. Rather than aiming to divide and conquer,
:49:40. > :49:43.we want the EU to be strong and successful which is why we are
:49:44. > :49:46.aiming for a combined Sydney partnership between the UK and the
:49:47. > :49:50.EU that we are clear will benefit everyone. Could the Secretary of
:49:51. > :49:52.State update the House on the response he has had from across
:49:53. > :49:59.Europe to the Government's white paper? Yes, I can. I went to nine in
:50:00. > :50:03.three weeks of our fellow member states and others have come to see
:50:04. > :50:09.me. The overarching response has been a positive one. It's been one
:50:10. > :50:13.of support for the general approach. It's been one which seeks a
:50:14. > :50:17.constructive outcome, not the penalty outcome talked about some
:50:18. > :50:21.earlier run. It's certainly true that they also think of it as a very
:50:22. > :50:27.logical approach, so I think it gives us great cause for optimism in
:50:28. > :50:31.the negotiations. Clearly the Government wants to trigger article
:50:32. > :50:35.15 next Wednesday or next Thursday. It will then have to set out its
:50:36. > :50:41.proposal in detail so that the EU can respond. For months, it's hidden
:50:42. > :50:44.behind the bland phrases frictionless borders, frictionless
:50:45. > :50:48.trade. This is the last opportunity before triggering for the Secretary
:50:49. > :50:54.of State to spell out, what does that actually mean? I thought the
:50:55. > :50:58.honourable gentleman is a very erudite chap and I would have
:50:59. > :51:04.thought he would have known what frictionless mentor. It means trade
:51:05. > :51:08.with a minimum possible barriers and a minimum possible impediment. That
:51:09. > :51:13.is what we will seek to achieve. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The pie
:51:14. > :51:18.minister said the approval of Parliament will be required for the
:51:19. > :51:24.final terms of our withdrawal from the European Union. The House of
:51:25. > :51:29.Lords has now voted by a large majority to amend the article 50
:51:30. > :51:32.built to reflect these commitments. All very straightforward. If the
:51:33. > :51:35.Prime Minister intends to keep her commitments, why would the
:51:36. > :51:40.Government not support this amendment when it returns to this
:51:41. > :51:48.House on Monday? Because they are unnecessary. Businesses and
:51:49. > :51:52.individuals in my constituency are eager to see the greatest degree of
:51:53. > :51:57.certainty about the Brexit process possible. Does my right honourable
:51:58. > :52:02.friend share my concern that actually amendment three, passed in
:52:03. > :52:05.the Other Place, the EU notification of withdrawal bill, risks adding
:52:06. > :52:09.further uncertainty and further complexity, the exact opposite of
:52:10. > :52:12.what my constituents want? My right honourable friend is -- my
:52:13. > :52:19.honourable friend is right and I would go further. This house had an
:52:20. > :52:23.undertaking without opposition at all on an Opposition Day to do
:52:24. > :52:31.nothing at all to under nine the negotiating position of the UK and
:52:32. > :52:39.that is what that policy would do. In response to the question just now
:52:40. > :52:44.from my honourable friend for Holborn and St Pancras, the
:52:45. > :52:48.Secretary of State implied there was some difference between frictionless
:52:49. > :52:53.trade arrangements and tariff and barrier free arrangements. What
:52:54. > :52:57.exactly are these differences? That is pretty straightforward. If we
:52:58. > :53:03.have a comprehensive free trade agreement, then there will be no
:53:04. > :53:09.tariffs, one hopes, very few nontariff barriers, certainly no new
:53:10. > :53:15.ones, and that makes it easy for the customs arrangements to be simple.
:53:16. > :53:19.I'm sure my right honourable friend will agree that reform of the sea
:53:20. > :53:28.APR represents a positive opportunity for the farming industry
:53:29. > :53:32.and would he agree that rewarding farmers for storage, for example
:53:33. > :53:38.storing water as a flood resilience measure, would be very helpful? My
:53:39. > :53:42.honourable friend have highlighted how important it would be and how
:53:43. > :53:47.much of an advantage it would be for us to write our own agricultural
:53:48. > :53:52.policies. The Secretary of State would be aware that the secretary --
:53:53. > :53:56.the principle of consent was the cornerstone of the Good Friday
:53:57. > :53:59.agreement. What has he made a bid Taoiseach's comments recently on
:54:00. > :54:06.that principle when he said it would have to be embedded in any future
:54:07. > :54:11.agreement between the UK and the EU? As I said, and can I thank the
:54:12. > :54:17.honourable gentleman for inviting me to speak alongside a Republic of
:54:18. > :54:19.Ireland minister and show the commitment from both sides to both
:54:20. > :54:26.the Belfast agreement and the Common travel area. Responding, I would say
:54:27. > :54:33.we remain totally committed to the Belfast agreement, including the
:54:34. > :54:40.principle of consent. The new owners of Vauxhall have suggested that the
:54:41. > :54:44.takeover will be good news for the supply chain post Brexit. Is it not
:54:45. > :54:52.the case that apart from multinationals using the UK as a
:54:53. > :54:55.springboard into the EU, European companies will be using it as a
:54:56. > :54:59.springboard into the rest of the world? He is absolutely right. I
:55:00. > :55:02.thought the comments from Peugeot and the head of Peugeot were
:55:03. > :55:10.fascinating in what they showed, what we could do as a business
:55:11. > :55:13.nation. We are seeking the best possible opportunities for our own
:55:14. > :55:20.country and for businesses that want to come in? --. Last week, the
:55:21. > :55:25.all-party Parliamentary group for Africa published its reported to
:55:26. > :55:28.relations with Africa post Brexit. We highlighted both the
:55:29. > :55:34.opportunities Brexit but also uncertainty over the relationship
:55:35. > :55:38.with the UK and with the European Union. Can I urge the Minister to
:55:39. > :55:42.read the report as well as a Secretary of State and ensure that
:55:43. > :55:46.our exiting of the European Union supports positive relations with
:55:47. > :55:54.Africa? I certainly will do that. I certainly will if she will send it
:55:55. > :55:57.to me as I have not done so yet. This opens up opportunities for
:55:58. > :56:05.stronger relationships with Africa, both economic and otherwise. The EU
:56:06. > :56:08.Commissioner for security and the head of Europol have made it clear
:56:09. > :56:12.in evidence to the home affairs select committee how important
:56:13. > :56:17.maintaining our current policing and security operation with Europe is. I
:56:18. > :56:19.know they are committed to continuing that. Are his European
:56:20. > :56:31.counterpoints as committed as he is? After the migrants of the citizens
:56:32. > :56:34.of the UK, this came up between the Nordics, the Baltics, and the
:56:35. > :56:36.Eastern Europeans so it seems to me that we have a great deal to
:56:37. > :56:41.continue to offer the European Union and we absolutely intend to do so
:56:42. > :56:46.because we intend to meet our responsibilities as a global citizen
:56:47. > :56:49.country. Give than yesterday was international women's day, can the
:56:50. > :56:54.Secretary of State tell us whether his discussions in Europe have
:56:55. > :57:03.brought us any closer to finally seeing an end to the tampon tax?
:57:04. > :57:09.Actually, I think we haven't seen anything of that yet but I'm sure
:57:10. > :57:14.it's one of the first things on the agenda talking to the Chancellor.
:57:15. > :57:22.The funding of the Tampon tax are used for all sorts of incredibly
:57:23. > :57:28.important matters. She'll know more than me. Will my right honourable
:57:29. > :57:32.friend make sure the Government tread warily on the resurrection
:57:33. > :57:37.between the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche while we are in complex
:57:38. > :57:45.negotiations in financial services. Yes. The manufacturers organisation
:57:46. > :57:49.EEF last week highlighted the difficulties that manufacturers are
:57:50. > :57:54.currently having in filling skilled engineering posts. They warn if this
:57:55. > :57:57.is not going to get worse post-Brexit they'll need the
:57:58. > :58:00.flexibility to employ and deploy people across Europe. What
:58:01. > :58:04.consideration has the Secretary of State given to the representations
:58:05. > :58:10.from EEF and what reassurance can he give them? Indeed we have had such
:58:11. > :58:14.discusses and he's right, we do need to ensure that we have an adequate
:58:15. > :58:17.supply of skilled labour in this country. The Home Office is current
:58:18. > :58:22.hi working on policies that will achieve just that.
:58:23. > :58:26.The UK legal services sector is worth some ?21 billion to our
:58:27. > :58:29.economy. A good percentage coming from legal services provided into
:58:30. > :58:31.the European Union. Will my right honourable friend meet with
:58:32. > :58:33.counsel and the Law Society to counsel and the Law Society to
:58:34. > :58:38.discuss what they need to remain to discuss what they need to remain to
:58:39. > :58:42.have access into that key market? Well, the short answer is, the
:58:43. > :58:47.Parliamentarian's already met them but we'll met them again. It's a
:58:48. > :58:50.very, very important sector, people underestimate the general services
:58:51. > :58:54.sector is as big as the City so we have to make sure we do.
:58:55. > :58:58.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The success of our economy is riding on a
:58:59. > :59:00.successful negotiation of our exit from the European Union but the
:59:01. > :59:02.former Chancellor, the Right Honourable member for Tatton, told
:59:03. > :59:08.the House the Government's chosen not to make the economy the
:59:09. > :59:13.priority. He was right, wasn't he? Not at all. I mean, I can't see how
:59:14. > :59:17.one can make it more of a priority to make it the centrepiece of
:59:18. > :59:20.negotiation. We are seek ago comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
:59:21. > :59:23.The purpose of that is nothing but economic. Of course out of it will
:59:24. > :59:28.flow other things but it's economic first and centre.
:59:29. > :59:33.Following on from that question, isn't the fact that the British
:59:34. > :59:36.economy, or the office of budget responsibility has increased the
:59:37. > :59:41.nearly 50%. Surely that's a vote in nearly 50%. Surely that's a vote in
:59:42. > :59:46.favour of coming out of the EU, not what the honourable member said.
:59:47. > :59:50.Well, I think frankly the whole economics profession is beginning to
:59:51. > :59:55.take a lesson in predictions about the effects of Brexit. He's right,
:59:56. > :00:02.there's been a dramatic uptake in the current year's growth and in
:00:03. > :00:09.1920-21 as it tushes out. The simple point is, many companies are coming
:00:10. > :00:16.here now, McDonald's, WhatsApp, Google. The simple truth is, they
:00:17. > :00:20.are moving or showing with their feet what they believe.
:00:21. > :00:25.Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the north-east, the voluntary sector
:00:26. > :00:28.relies heavily on the ESF in order to carry out its fantastic work. As
:00:29. > :00:34.the region receives the highest per head funding from the ESF, how will
:00:35. > :00:41.the minister address the sector's concerns about funding post-Brexit?
:00:42. > :00:45.Well, these concerns, having met pre-Brexit by the Treasury
:00:46. > :00:48.underwriting the commitments up to and through Brexit, of course which
:00:49. > :00:52.she has to remember that the European Union itself will have a
:00:53. > :00:57.complete budgetary review in 2020, we will be giving absolutely clear
:00:58. > :01:01.attention to priorities like this when we come to write our own
:01:02. > :01:05.budgets after 2019. EU regulation will be all
:01:06. > :01:09.transferred into UK law at the beginning, there'll then begin to be
:01:10. > :01:13.divergence over the years. What is my right honourable friend doing to
:01:14. > :01:17.prepare British business so that they're aware of all the changes
:01:18. > :01:21.that will be made so that they can continue to export and trade with
:01:22. > :01:24.the European Union? My right honourable friend is
:01:25. > :01:26.absolutely right about the approach of the great Repeal Bill which will
:01:27. > :01:29.be about stability and continuity. We are engaging with British
:01:30. > :01:33.business and will continue to engage with British business throughout the
:01:34. > :01:36.process across the country and in every sector.
:01:37. > :01:40.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Last Thursday, the leader of his
:01:41. > :01:42.party in Scotland described the transfer of control over farm
:01:43. > :01:45.subsidies as a power grab and I subsidies as a power grab and I
:01:46. > :01:49.don't think she meant that in a good way. Could I ask the Secretary of
:01:50. > :01:53.State, will he put her mind at rest and simply confirm that Scottish
:01:54. > :01:57.fishing and Scottish agriculture will be governed in Scotland after
:01:58. > :02:00.Brexit? I would repeat to the Right
:02:01. > :02:03.Honourable gentleman what I said earlier - no powers exercised by the
:02:04. > :02:08.Scottish Parliament or the Scottish Government will be taken away. We'll
:02:09. > :02:13.debate with all of the devolved administrations, not simply
:02:14. > :02:15.Scotland, what is the appropriate level of exercising these powers
:02:16. > :02:19.after exit. Thank you, Mr Speaker. What
:02:20. > :02:22.discussions has the department had with representatives of the tourism
:02:23. > :02:26.sector on the implications of the UK leaving the EU?
:02:27. > :02:30.Well, Mr Speaker, we regularly engage with the tourist industry and
:02:31. > :02:34.we will continue to do so. Tourism is an important part of the British
:02:35. > :02:38.economy and we fully recognise its particular concerns. The Government
:02:39. > :02:42.has said it wants to secure the rights of British nationals living
:02:43. > :02:45.in Europe. What about British nationals living here who're married
:02:46. > :02:49.to European nationals whose futures have been thrown into doubt because
:02:50. > :02:52.of the repugnant position that the Government has adopted? Isn't it
:02:53. > :02:59.time to end this doubt for these people?
:03:00. > :03:03.Of course we do not want to see any doubt on the part of any citizen in
:03:04. > :03:08.Europe, British or otherwise in Britain or on the continent. The
:03:09. > :03:12.simple truth is this - most of the people I've seen in the
:03:13. > :03:16.decision-making tier as it were, of the European Government, agree with
:03:17. > :03:18.us, this is an issue that has to be dealt with together, British
:03:19. > :03:22.citizens and European citizens. It will be dealt with as a matter of
:03:23. > :03:26.priority. Does my right honourable friend
:03:27. > :03:29.agree that the huge investment by Dyson in research the and
:03:30. > :03:35.development facilities in the UK is a sign of confidence in the UK
:03:36. > :03:38.economy outside the EU? Yes, it certainly is, Mr Speaker, and it's
:03:39. > :03:43.only one of the latest of a long line of new investments in the
:03:44. > :03:44.British economy showing this huge confidence the international
:03:45. > :03:47.business community has in our country.
:03:48. > :03:51.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I push the Secretary of State further on in
:03:52. > :03:55.the answer he gave to my right honourable friend regarding
:03:56. > :03:57.fictionless trade. Is he saying that trade tariffs remain on the
:03:58. > :04:03.negotiating table? Hear, hear. No, what I was saying to
:04:04. > :04:08.my right honourable friend, is that there are plenty of countries around
:04:09. > :04:13.the world who have very, very light touch customs arrangements and that
:04:14. > :04:15.would be consistent with a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
:04:16. > :04:20.THE SPEAKER: The two colleagues who haven't spoken to date, if they're
:04:21. > :04:23.extremely brief, I will take you. From recent discussions I've been in
:04:24. > :04:27.with senior members of the German Parliament, it's very clear we are
:04:28. > :04:31.not going to get barrier free access if we no longer operate free
:04:32. > :04:37.movement. Do ministers recognise that reality? That's not the
:04:38. > :04:41.response I'm getting from the ministers I've spoken to around
:04:42. > :04:45.Europe. What they have come back with is that they want to see a
:04:46. > :04:48.constructive outcome. The only way to a constructive outcome is a
:04:49. > :04:53.comprehensive free trade arrangement. Under the common ago
:04:54. > :04:56.cultural policy, some of the richest people in this country get millions
:04:57. > :05:02.of pounds in handouts from the packs payer. That must surely be wrong.
:05:03. > :05:05.Would it not be a good idea when in charge of our own agriculture policy
:05:06. > :05:16.to put a cap on how much people get, just like we have a benefits cap? Of
:05:17. > :05:19.course, I welcome this, after 2019, he'll have a say in that.
:05:20. > :05:27.THE SPEAKER: Before we take the business question, I do want to
:05:28. > :05:32.mention that today is the birthday of the honourable gentleman, the
:05:33. > :05:38.member for Perth and North Perthshire. . I'm sure there will be
:05:39. > :05:44.veritable rejoicing in the streets on this happy occasion at any rate
:05:45. > :05:47.at least in Perth and North Perthshire, happy birthday to the
:05:48. > :05:54.honourable gentleman of business yes, Valerie Vaz?
:05:55. > :06:00.Could the leader of the House give us the forthcoming business.
:06:01. > :06:05.Mr Speaker, Sir, the business for next week will be as follows, Monday
:06:06. > :06:09.13th March, consideration of Lord's amenments to the European Union
:06:10. > :06:15.notification of withdrawal Bill. Followed by continuation of the
:06:16. > :06:19.budget debate. Tuesday 14th March, if necessary, consideration of
:06:20. > :06:26.Lord's amendments. Followed by concollusion of the budget debate.
:06:27. > :06:29.Wednesday, 15th March, if necessary, consideration of Lord's amendments,
:06:30. > :06:33.followed by consideration of Lord's amendments to the Health Service
:06:34. > :06:36.medical supplies costs bill, followed by remaining stages of the
:06:37. > :06:43.national citizens service Bill Lords. Followed by a motion relating
:06:44. > :06:47.to the appointment of lay members to the committee of stonards, followed
:06:48. > :06:48.by if necessary consideration of Lord's