09/03/2017 House of Commons


09/03/2017

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As the Prime Minister said in Glasgow last week, as we bring

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powers and control back to the UK we must ensure they are the right

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powers that the right level to ensure the UK can operate

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effectively in the interests of all citizens including people in

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Scotland. We are powers should best fit will be a matter for further

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consultation and discussion across the UK. Seeking to group this

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question with numbers ten and 15. Those who assist the Secretary of

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State have to keep up with the development of events. When you get

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to my age, it is so difficult! I would like to remind them about an

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event in the Sunday Times on the 27th of November. The Secretary of

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State for Scotland stated whatever the circumstances no powers will be

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re-reserve to Westminster. In Scotland we know such voters are not

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worth the paper they are printed on so well he guarantee this house that

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powers currently exercised by the European Union will be devolved to

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the Scottish Parliament? Those are two different questions.

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Unfortunately the member for Gordon is not here because he would be able

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to tell his colleagues in the FNP that for many years I have been a

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strong advocate of devolution. I was one of the first person out of the

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SNP to call for fiscal autonomy for Scotland. I take this very seriously

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indeed. But there's a distinction between the exercise of powers over

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agriculture, fisheries and environment by the Scottish

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Parliament and those matters which are dealt with by the UK Government

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at the EU on the half of the whole of the UK with heavy consultation.

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Talking of the volt power as last month the Prime Minister ventured

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north to tell Scotland hope for the Scottish NHS is despite evidence to

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the contrary including A waiting times and public satisfaction. If it

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is so bad can you tell us when we will receive their share of the ?350

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million a week to fix it? I genuinely have a self-denying

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ordinance about not attacking the domestic policies of the Scottish

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Government because that is a matter for them to worry about and their

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day jobs should be their main interest. The aim here will be to

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get the best outcome for the whole of the UK including Scotland and

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Scotland should not lose in any way. Because we are so generous on these

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benches I'm going to give him another chance to answer that.

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Despite the key principal of the Scotland Act and what the secretary

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said the Prime Minister stated at the Scottish Tory conference on the

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3rd of March, will he today please categorically assure us that when

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non-reserved powers are repatriated from Brussels that they come

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directly to Scotland? I think what the ascent he needs is a bit more

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evident a la the in its questions. -- BSN P. There will be no powers

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currently exercised by the Scottish Government removed from the Scottish

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Government. With respect to other powers we will look in conjunction

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with representatives of the Scottish Government and the Welsh government

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and the Northern Ireland executive, we will look at what is best for the

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United Kingdom and for the constituent nations. It is very

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important we get as much devolution as possible but important we do not

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damage the UK single market, which is four times as valuable to Scots

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as the EU single market. I wonder in the cause of these discussions and

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negotiations whether he discusses the issue at this SNP places on the

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table of a special arrangement with regards to being in the single

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market. Given the nature of the fact that recently I wonder whether he

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has translated this to the SNP, particularly their leader, that

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recently in Spain it was made absolutely clear that their policy

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and that of the other parties in Spain was that there will be no

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special arrangements for the SNP, and should they seek to leave the UK

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and rejoin the EU they would be vetoed by Spain on both counts. He

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makes his point as well as ever. This is a matter that game up again

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later as well. This is not simply a technical matter within the UK, it

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is also an issue we have to deliver diplomatically. Is he is puzzled as

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I am that the SNP appeared to oppose any devolution of powers from Europe

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back to the UK and Scotland? They would rather be governed entirely

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from Brussels and have some of those powers returned to this place where

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they have a great influence and others returned to Holyrood where

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temporarily they have a near majority? He points exactly at the

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incredible inconsistency at the heart of the SNP. They believe it is

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fine to be ruled from Brussels but not to be ruled from anywhere else.

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Given the huge identity of mutual interests that Scotland shares with

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the rest of the UK, while not a good deal for the UK's shower all sorts

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of benefits that can be devolved on Scotland?

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He goes to an important point that what matters in this negotiation is

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the outcome, not the mechanism. The Scottish Government has laid a great

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deal of emphasis on its own preferred policy of accepting

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membership of the single market but the truth is what we want is a good

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outcome in terms of access to the single market for everybody,

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everybody in the UK, and that will achieve exactly the same aim. In

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terms of powers for the Scottish parliament we were promised, the

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people of Scotland were promised, week before the vote, that Scotland

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would decide its own immigration policy in the event of Brexit. Next

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week we have a crucial vote EU nationals. If this government will

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not use its powers to give EU nationals the certainty they require

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will he give those powers to the Scottish Parliament? Again we are at

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games and ends and means. The simple truth is that the Scottish

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Government has raised a very important issue on the joint

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ministerial committee about the question of the immigration needs of

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Scotland. I have reflected those questions to the Home Secretary and

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I would expect when we come to a UK immigration policy at will reflect

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the needs of every part of the UK. I look forward to having his support

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for his leave campaigns promises on immigration power being given to

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Scotland. As part of that, while he consider the European Court of

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Justice in 2012 that gave EU nationals with primary caring

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responsibilities the right to reside in the member state of which their

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dependent child or adult is a national? Will he consider that? I

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am not familiar with the individual case. I will look at it and come

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back to him. The European Court of Justice will not rule over the UK

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after the date of Brexit. That does not mean will not have a very humane

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and sensible and straightforward policy with respect to things like

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family relationships. I will look at the case in detail and come back to

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him. We want to have reached agreement on

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our future partnership with in two years of the article 15 process.

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Article 50 is clear. It should take two years to negotiate withdrawal

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and any day must take into account the new relationship. We recognise a

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club said for business or threat to stability will be in the interests

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of neither side. A phased process of implementation image Britain and EU

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institutions prepare for the new relationship is likely to be in our

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mutual interest and that will be to everyone's benefits. This intended

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gripping as with number 17. The tech sector is clear that the UK needs a

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watertight agreement on international data flows from the

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day we leave the EU. Transitional arrangements will not do. The best

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route will be an agreement. Since it took seven years to negotiate and

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adequacy agreement with barmaid at what is he doing with colleagues to

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ensure success on data flows? It is essential not just IT and to

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database industries but every industry. It is a serious point. The

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difference in Burnley do was they were not at the point of identity

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when they started their negotiations. We will be at the

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point of identity of data standards at the point of departure and we

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will have to undoubtedly agree some regime whereby we maintain

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equivalence, not identity, but equivalent thereafter. It is unlike

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the we will need transitional arrangements. It is more likely we

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will need an ongoing relationship. Gwent has relied on EU funding in

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recent years. Although we may be leaving the EU the need for

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infrastructure investment remains really high. Because the

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infrastructure has a long lead-in, what transitional arrangements will

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be in place to ensure that it gets the best deal to boost its economy

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after 2020? First, the Treasury has made it clear very rapidly at the

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beginning of the process that it would underwrite agreements that

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were made with the European Union that carried on beyond the point of

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Brexit. So long as they met value for money requirements. The

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responsibility of making that judgment will be the Welsh

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government in his case. I do not see there is a risk to that. Beyond 2020

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the EU would have its own arrangements anyway, new budget

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arrangements, salt would be in the same position.

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Which my right honourable friend guaranteed to the House that the

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last thing he is going to do is accept interference from other parts

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of the House and that he is going to concentrate on transitional

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arrangements with Europe? This is not about extending the discussion,

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but transitional arrangements may well be beneficial to both sides and

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it is under those that we will continue. Would my right honourable

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friend agree that during a transitional period for services, it

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is important to encourage cooperation between factions so that

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things are smooth between us and Europe. My title honourable friend

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is right and we will be speaking to the regulators. Some of those

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discussions have already happened. The governor of the Bank of England

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has already made comments about the need to maintain stability after

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Brexit and that will be a very important part of our negotiations.

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Because of the governments decision to leave the single market, lots of

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agreements cease to have effect the day after we have left. One of those

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is the agreement that allows British Airways to fly to any airport in the

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European Union. Given that airlines sell tickets up to 11 months in

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advance, what assurance can the Secretary of State give passengers

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that tickets they buy before we leave the European Union will still

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be valid to fly to their destination after we leave the European Union?

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The right honourable gentleman is partially right. Many of the

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arrangements with the European routes are partially dependent on

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the EU but also on bilateral arrangements and other arrangements.

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He is exactly right. We will be setting out to ensure that those

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forward contracts stand. Further to what the chair of the select

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committee said, could I ask the Secretary of State whether

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transitional arrangements are going to be discussed right from the

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beginning of negotiations, because transitional arrangements cannot be

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left until the last moment. They need to be hard-wired into

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negotiations from the very beginning. They will be undoubtedly

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part of the early discussions but I will say this to him as well. The

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transitional arrangements, or the need to transitional arrangements,

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depends upon what the final arrangement will be. If you don't

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know where you're going to end up, you can't have a transitional

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arrangement. Second airily, overarching offer, as it were, of

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Earth -- of a comprehensive arrangement will remove the need to

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transitional arrangements in some areas. Not everyone, but some of

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them. The question on data, that is one where regulation will matter,

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but in many cases, it will not be necessary at all. Can the Secretary

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of State tell the House what he sees as the main differences between

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agreed interim arrangements as part of a phased process of lamenting the

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future relationship with the European Union, assault by the

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Government and negotiating a deal? The reason we specialised --

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specified in detail was because there were lots of arrangements by

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different people. Some of them thought it would be good to have a

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departure deal and then spend years in a transitional arrangement

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carrying on the negotiation. That is why we specifically differentiated

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what we were talking about from that. We want the arrangement to be

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concluded in terms of decisions within two years but it may take

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longer for implementation matters such as customs, financial services

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regulations, a whole series of things like that. I will take

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questions three, six and a team together. One of the core principles

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guiding our approach to exit negotiations is to maintain our

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historic ties with Ireland. There is a strong commitment from our

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Government, the Northern Ireland administration and the Irish

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Government to maintain our links and we do not want hard borders between

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the United Kingdom and Ireland. Does he recognise the very serious impact

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that a hard border reinstated would have, both on people having to cross

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the border but also on the peace process? My honourable friend is

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absolutely right and we have seen some welcome comments on this. John

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Claude Junker said that during the Brexit negotiations, the UK must

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negotiate well with Ireland and we must uphold the Friday -- the Good

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Friday agreement. We will continue to work hard on this issue. I

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welcome these strong commitment to the CTA, the White Paper. Shrewsbury

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has benefited for many generations from Irish citizens coming to work

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in our community. Will he give them an assurance that their rights will

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be protected under UK law, much of which predates our membership of the

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European Union. I can assure my right honourable friend that Irish

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citizens special status within the UK, since long before the EU, will

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remain in place. They have additional rights beyond phase

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associated with the ties between the two nations. The Crown dependence of

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the Isle of Man has very strong links with both the Republic,

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Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The number one ask

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of that Government was to ask that they remain part of the Common

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travel area between the three as well. Can you reassure us Arr two?

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Absolutely and we greatly value the work my boyfriend and his committee

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has done on -- their work my honourable friend and his committee

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has done on this. We are committed to preserving the arrangement they

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currently have. We have set that out in the White Paper and will work

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with the Crown dependencies as well as Ireland on improving the travel

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area. Does the Government appreciate that the Good Friday agreement was

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not a single event signed and sealed and put on an event -- put on a

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shelf years ago, but rather a normalisation and free movement of

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people, goods and so on? If the Government does realise that, would

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they respond to the very real fears and Ireland that Brexit represents a

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turning back of the clock on the precious new normality that have

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developed? The honourable gentleman is right about the presence of these

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issues and he is right that the Good Friday agreement is not just a

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moment in time. We talk about the Belfast agreement and its successes.

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We recognise the need to continue working on this with our friends and

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allies in the Republic as well as in the Northern Ireland Executive. If

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the Common travel area can continue to operate between the UK and the

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Republic of Ireland, a country that is a member of the European Union,

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then why couldn't it operate between Scotland and the rest of the UK?

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That is if Scotland stayed in the single market when the rest of the

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UK leaves. The Common travel area is of benefit to the whole of the UK.

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The people of Scotland voted less than two years ago to remain part of

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the United Kingdom and I think we should all work together to make

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this process a success for the United Kingdom. It is reassuring to

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hear the words of the Minister on this issue and he will know the

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level of concern about this across this House and out there in the

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country. But if he reads, and I can recommend to him the House of Lords

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recent report onto this and particularly page 62 where the

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report says, we can't assume that this will become part of the article

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15 negotiation, and if that doesn't happen, he must act quickly to

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reassure the people of Ireland and the UK to make sure that this is

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done either as part of the Article 15 negotiation or, if not, in a way

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that will happen in time, because certainty isn't needed more than

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anything in Northern Ireland. She is right that we must be accountable

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for certainty and we will take on board the suggestions of the House

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of Lords report. I welcome the statements we have had from the

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commission that they are taking a strong interest in the subject. When

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the Brexit select committee visited Dublin recently, it was described to

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us that a default to WTO by the United Kingdom would be catastrophic

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for the island of Ireland with the reinstatement of the border. Pity

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reassure me that he will not be moving towards WTO if for no other

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reason than the reasons affecting Ireland itself? -- could he reassure

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me? The Government has set out a clear strategy about establishing a

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partnership with the European Union and that partnership includes the

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concept of notion of movement across the border in Ireland. The Minister

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further outline how the election of the Northern Ireland Assembly has

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affected the travel area and further what role the Minister and other

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areas of this and we will have in this process? We are fully committed

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to ensuring as we established our negotiating that we have... The

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Northern Ireland Secretary is doing all he can to establish a positive

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outcome as quickly as possible. We are not contemplating anything other

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than the continuation of devolved Government. It would help enormously

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if the UK Government made it clear that it wants to make both the

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Common travel area and the Good Friday agreement in all its strands

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explicitly named features in future negotiations between the UK and the

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EU. Yes, and I believe that we have and will continue to do so. With

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your permission, I will take questions four and five together. We

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are listening and speaking to as many farming organisations and

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institutions as possible as we develop our negotiating position.

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I've met a range of representatives from the agricultural sector

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including, I believe, all the UK farming unions and have attended

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Defra's roundtable is one of which focused on farming and horticulture.

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Louth and Horncastle boasts farms which the ghost -- which produce

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excellent food. Can I ask that maintaining food production which

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maintains fantastic standards will be uppermost in his mind was

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negotiating? Certainly the British farming industry is noted throughout

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the world for the quality of its produce and outside of the European

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Union, we have an unprecedented opportunity to redesign our policies

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to make them work for us, ensuring that our agriculture industry is

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productive and profitable and also that our environment continues to

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improve. Farmers in to spray apply higher standards of -- the highest

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standards of produce to that animals. What will be put into place

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to ensure that animal welfare and traceability are important to those

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outside of our production? We are committed to higher animal welfare

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standards and will continue to push in international trade arrangements

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for those standards to be maintained. British farmers face a

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triple threat from the vote to leave the European Union. The loss of the

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cat subsidy, the threat of cheap imports from countries with low

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animal welfare and tariffs on exports... We could see tariffs of

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up to 40% on lamb. Mr Speaker, the honourable lady makes very important

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points but I think this lady has -- this Government has already made a

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commitment by supporting cab one until 2020 and also giving support

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for cap two. In terms of the issue on terrorists, as she will know, it

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is the aim of this Government to achieve the best possible free-trade

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agreement with the continuing European Union -- in terms of the of

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tariffs, we want to benefit Britain and the EU. Could the minister

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perhaps tell us what discussions he has had with the Government of

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Ireland with regards to the movement of goods, as the movement every gets

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-- the free movement of goods from the exit the EU will be critical as

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many farms straddle the border and they also transit the border many

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times, like milk and transit it five times.

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He raises an extremely important point at the forefront of the mind

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of the government and the Prime Minister has discussed this with all

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the ministers having similar discussions and I have had recent

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discussions with representatives of the Irish government. Number seven.

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With your permission I will answer questions seven, nine and 13. The UK

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manufacturing sector is worth reading and we are determined to

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ensure the best deal for that sector. We are aiming to agree a

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bald and ambitious free-trade agreement with the EU including zero

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tariffs that is more ambitious than to date. In North Tyneside a Belgian

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company has filled the void in the manufacturing market left when this

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government failed to back or GM. They hope to create up to 400 new

:27:30.:27:35.

jobs and expand even further. What guarantees can he give that will

:27:36.:27:40.

allow them the same benefits they currently get with access to the

:27:41.:27:43.

single market and Customs union after Brexit? I had discussion in

:27:44.:27:52.

earlier this week with the Flanders Chamber of Commerce which recognise

:27:53.:27:55.

the important issue of bilateral trade between Belgium and the UK. I

:27:56.:27:59.

am pleased to say they fully realise that there is a need for

:28:00.:28:02.

frictionless agreements once we leave the EU and this is something

:28:03.:28:05.

this government is also committed to. The Prime Minister has said

:28:06.:28:12.

Britain will not remain a full member of the customs union but this

:28:13.:28:15.

morning the Chancellor said it is clear we cannot stay in the customs

:28:16.:28:20.

union. Which one should we believe? It is clear if we are to seek

:28:21.:28:23.

free-trade agreements around the world we will not be able to remain

:28:24.:28:29.

in the customs union as it stands. Having said that what we seek our

:28:30.:28:34.

arrangements with our EU partners that will be able to construct

:28:35.:28:39.

customs arrangements that are as frictionless as possible for the

:28:40.:28:45.

benefit of the EU and the UK. The post Brexit fall in the pound has

:28:46.:28:49.

led to a boost in the manufacturing of the north-east. A fall in the

:28:50.:28:55.

pound has also led to an increase in import costs which will only

:28:56.:29:02.

increase. What is he planning to do for north-east manufacturers to make

:29:03.:29:07.

sure they are not increasing extra costs for products they are making?

:29:08.:29:11.

No these manufacturing is that the forefront of the mind of this

:29:12.:29:15.

government and he will know that we arranged with Nissan a state of

:29:16.:29:21.

affairs that will allow it to continue to manufacture in the

:29:22.:29:25.

north-east. As far as customs arrangements are concerned he is

:29:26.:29:28.

right, we do not want to see customs arrangements that impede trade with

:29:29.:29:30.

the UK and we are looking to agree the UK and we are looking to agree

:29:31.:29:35.

arrangements for our mutual benefit that are as frictionless as

:29:36.:29:40.

possible. Is it not the case that the end of the day that when the UK

:29:41.:29:48.

leave the EU we will be their largest export market? Does he not

:29:49.:29:51.

agree with my favourite politician at the moment, the finance minister

:29:52.:29:58.

of Germany, who says that if we, the Germans, or the European Union or to

:29:59.:30:04.

cause any damage to the UK it would be increased ten fold for the EU? I

:30:05.:30:11.

am sure the finance minister will be uncontrollably excited to discover

:30:12.:30:14.

he is such a fan. He makes an extremely good point.

:30:15.:30:24.

That is that this UK market will be the biggest export market for the

:30:25.:30:29.

continuing EU after we leave. I am glad to say that is recognised not

:30:30.:30:32.

only by the finance minister but by the Belgian Chamber of Commerce with

:30:33.:30:39.

whom I spoke earlier this week. Would he agree that it is much more

:30:40.:30:44.

in the EU's interest to do a deal with others than us with them

:30:45.:30:49.

because they have a ?60 billion trade surplus with us? It is very

:30:50.:30:57.

much in our mutual interest and I am sure that once the negotiations

:30:58.:31:01.

begin we will move towards a very sensible and satisfactory mutual

:31:02.:31:05.

conclusion. Does he agree and hope for the best but the chaotic

:31:06.:31:10.

patchwork of EU institutions may mean a deal is not done into my ears

:31:11.:31:14.

and in that case will he consider the case to invest in the Channel

:31:15.:31:20.

ports and frictionless borders to ensure we have a seamless law in the

:31:21.:31:26.

future? I agree on the issue of frictionless agreements. We have a

:31:27.:31:33.

huge advantage in that at the moment Britain is a member of the EU. Our

:31:34.:31:39.

standards and regulations are incomplete alignment. I was

:31:40.:31:40.

heartened to see the chief heartened to see the chief

:31:41.:31:45.

negotiator for the EU recognise that it was doable within two years. The

:31:46.:31:52.

food and drinks industry is growing in west Aberdeenshire. What plans

:31:53.:31:55.

does he have to retain the benefits of membership of the single market

:31:56.:31:59.

and Customs union for the food and drink sector after we have left the

:32:00.:32:05.

EU? Why we will not continue to be a member of the single market, we are

:32:06.:32:11.

looking to achieve a very good free-trade agreement with the

:32:12.:32:15.

continuing European Union which is very much in the mutual benefit of

:32:16.:32:23.

the UK and the EU. As he considers the customs union can I urge him to

:32:24.:32:27.

look at the experience of close trading partners around the world

:32:28.:32:33.

must unite the US and Canada trade annually, Norway does 70% of trade

:32:34.:32:38.

with the EU. None of them have seen fit to form customs unions with each

:32:39.:32:47.

other. He makes an excellent point. It is not necessary to be part of a

:32:48.:32:53.

customs union but we seek frictionless customs arrangements

:32:54.:32:55.

for the benefit of the EU and the UK. In a leaked document to the

:32:56.:33:04.

Thames the oil and gas industry was listed as not a big priority. Can he

:33:05.:33:11.

confirm he has no plans to retain membership of the customs union and

:33:12.:33:14.

single market for the oil and gas industry? The fact that the oil and

:33:15.:33:20.

gas industry is of a high priority to this government is shown by

:33:21.:33:24.

yesterday's announcement by the Chancellor. Rather than talking

:33:25.:33:30.

bleakly about the future of the industry he should urge his

:33:31.:33:34.

colleagues in the Scottish Government to work strongly with the

:33:35.:33:39.

UK Government to ensure arrangements can be made that are satisfactorily

:33:40.:33:48.

for the Industry. One of the advantages of leaving as we will be

:33:49.:33:52.

in a position to design our own package of trade defence

:33:53.:33:56.

instruments, something I would think members opposite would welcome. Can

:33:57.:34:00.

he update on the cross government work on this point? Any arrangement

:34:01.:34:08.

that we strike will have to be WTO compliant but he is right. There

:34:09.:34:15.

have been many difficulties recently experienced by British industry, not

:34:16.:34:18.

least the steel industry, and he will know the support this

:34:19.:34:21.

government has given to that industry. A report from the US

:34:22.:34:28.

Chamber of Commerce concluded that America's significant commercial and

:34:29.:34:32.

financial presence in the UK has been premised on large parts on UK

:34:33.:34:37.

membership of the EU. The largest wealthiest and most important

:34:38.:34:40.

foreign market in the world to US companies. Does he recognise the

:34:41.:34:46.

importance of our relationship with the single market to those non-EU

:34:47.:34:51.

countries on which the government are keen to build trade and

:34:52.:34:59.

investment? The importance of the UK to the US was reflected very

:35:00.:35:02.

strongly in the Prime Minister's recent meeting with the new

:35:03.:35:06.

president. When he showed great enthusiasm for a free trade

:35:07.:35:09.

arrangement between the US and the UK. The significance of that in the

:35:10.:35:16.

America first policy is yet to be demonstrated but on the 24th of

:35:17.:35:21.

January the Secretary of State told the house he is seeking, a

:35:22.:35:27.

comprehensive free-trade agreement and comprehensive customs agreement

:35:28.:35:30.

that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have. The exact same

:35:31.:35:34.

benefits that we have inside the single market. Will he confirm that

:35:35.:35:42.

is still the government's aim? The government's aim is to seek a bold

:35:43.:35:46.

and ambitious free-trade agreement with the continuing European Union

:35:47.:35:50.

which will be to the benefit of both the UK and the EU. Thanks to the new

:35:51.:35:58.

opportunities that will open up for the UK after we leave the EU the

:35:59.:36:02.

accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has said that

:36:03.:36:09.

the UK will have the fastest-growing economy in the G7 over the next 30

:36:10.:36:14.

years. Does he not agree that this demonstrates that manufacturing has

:36:15.:36:18.

nothing to fear from other leaving the EU? He is right to point out

:36:19.:36:28.

that the doom mongers who said that the British economy would clash

:36:29.:36:31.

after we decided to leave the EU have been proven wrong. Number

:36:32.:36:41.

eight. The UK has a long-standing tradition of ensuring our rights and

:36:42.:36:46.

liberties are protected domestic league and fulfilling our

:36:47.:36:48.

international human rights obligations. The decision to leave

:36:49.:36:51.

the EU does not change any of this. That is the approach we will take

:36:52.:36:56.

Indigo she agents. The government has no plans to withdraw from the

:36:57.:37:00.

European convention on human rights. Will he set out a full and detailed

:37:01.:37:07.

list of all fundamental rights currently guaranteed under EU law

:37:08.:37:11.

and what approach it intends to take towards them? We will be putting in

:37:12.:37:22.

front of the house the great repeal bill at some point in the future

:37:23.:37:25.

which will carry into British law the existing law of the European

:37:26.:37:31.

Union and case law that goes with it. The British human rights have

:37:32.:37:39.

not depended on the European Union. They have been intrinsic to our

:37:40.:37:43.

history and tradition and we will continue to defend them. I most of

:37:44.:37:54.

all. I welcome what he said about the council of Europe and the

:37:55.:37:57.

European Court of Human Rights. With that in mind, will he consider

:37:58.:38:02.

giving his support to a fourth summit of the council of Europe to

:38:03.:38:07.

look at the way forward for the council and how human rights could

:38:08.:38:10.

be strengthened through the European Court of Human Rights? She knows my

:38:11.:38:15.

ongoing passion for human rights. This is the first I have heard of

:38:16.:38:20.

the summit proposal. I will look at it and she can guess what my

:38:21.:38:26.

sentiments will be. Isn't it a human right to have some certainty about

:38:27.:38:31.

your future? Is he not aware of how many people have come to this

:38:32.:38:37.

country, talented, hard-working, entrepreneurial, you have no idea

:38:38.:38:40.

whether they can stay in this country and who are demanding they

:38:41.:38:44.

have sole health insurance for life to be able to stay here? I am not

:38:45.:38:51.

sure whether certainty about your own future is a human rights. Order.

:38:52.:39:02.

I am not sure we should have some of these remarks. Rather unseemly. The

:39:03.:39:09.

gentleman is a distinguished statesman. I am not sure whether

:39:10.:39:15.

certainty about your future is a human rights. I am not sure the

:39:16.:39:19.

house would extend it to the gentleman. We have a large group of

:39:20.:39:24.

people, some of them European citizens, some of them British

:39:25.:39:28.

citizens abroad, to whom we want to give certainty across the board

:39:29.:39:33.

about their rights to remain, writes in health care, welfare and so on.

:39:34.:39:38.

One of the things that has been apparent to me, about half of the

:39:39.:39:44.

member states, who I have seen, it is plain to me that all of them

:39:45.:39:47.

treat this seriously want to see a dealt with it early in the

:39:48.:39:52.

negotiation and that is what the government policy is, to ensure

:39:53.:40:02.

certainty for everybody. 14. I am going to get the hang of this. I

:40:03.:40:08.

asked to group 11 and 14 together. In a few years I will get used to

:40:09.:40:17.

this place! Then I will retire. I said retire, not resign! We are

:40:18.:40:23.

working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure the best deal

:40:24.:40:28.

for Scotland and the rest of the UK as we leave the EU. We share many

:40:29.:40:33.

objectives and open and odd or looking country ensuring access to

:40:34.:40:38.

labour, collaboration on science and research, protecting workers' rates,

:40:39.:40:43.

a smooth and orderly exit process and guaranteeing the rights of EU

:40:44.:40:49.

nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. Who knows what the

:40:50.:41:00.

Scottish people will think of such an imprecise answer? Let me try

:41:01.:41:06.

something else which may help them. In terms of the very specific and

:41:07.:41:11.

unique needs of some sectors of the Scottish economy how many trade ago

:41:12.:41:14.

she tours have been recruited to deal with such matters?

:41:15.:41:18.

Many have been negotiated and I think when he asks this question, he

:41:19.:41:28.

will know that they have been very busy in recent months. The simple

:41:29.:41:33.

truth in this is that the British Government shares, I think, his aims

:41:34.:41:37.

for his own constituents and they are aims for the people of Scotland.

:41:38.:41:41.

Namely, we want the best possible deal which will be the best for the

:41:42.:41:45.

Scottish economy, best for Scottish business but, most of all, best for

:41:46.:41:51.

Scottish people. Following on from my honourable friend's question, I

:41:52.:41:56.

am glad to inform him that support for independence has gone up to

:41:57.:42:04.

5050. Given his intransigence of his Government 's determination for a

:42:05.:42:11.

hard, right-wing, Tory Brexit, in what way does he think that Powell

:42:12.:42:18.

is going to tip as he continues in his intransigence? I don't recognise

:42:19.:42:25.

the phrase hard Brexit or right-wing Tory Brexit either. I am not a

:42:26.:42:29.

believer in polls when it comes to referendums. They don't exactly work

:42:30.:42:33.

very well. But if you wanted to go with pulse, perhaps he would go with

:42:34.:42:36.

the one that says the Scottish people do not want to have another

:42:37.:42:42.

referendum. I respect the Scottish Government's process to want to

:42:43.:42:48.

contribute to the Brexit process as with all other areas. May I ask the

:42:49.:42:53.

Government to seek a policy that works for the whole United Kingdom.

:42:54.:42:58.

That is the intention of the Government. That is why we are going

:42:59.:43:02.

for a copperheads, overarching free-trade agreement which will

:43:03.:43:08.

deliver -- a comprehensive, overarching free-trade agreement

:43:09.:43:12.

which will deliver the best possible deal for Great Britain and the

:43:13.:43:17.

European Union. The Prime Minister, supported by my Government, will

:43:18.:43:22.

agree the format of negotiations with our counterparts once they have

:43:23.:43:26.

begun. I shall be informed by the joint per minute -- joint

:43:27.:43:32.

Parliamentary committee on this and we will represent all constituent

:43:33.:43:37.

parts of the United Kingdom. On the 24th of January, the Supreme Court

:43:38.:43:43.

president said it was a political decision as to whether or not to

:43:44.:43:48.

formally involve devolved administrations in the process of

:43:49.:43:52.

leaving the EU. Can the Secretary of State tell us today what role the

:43:53.:43:55.

devolved parliaments will have in the passing of a great repeal Bill?

:43:56.:44:05.

Of course we have formally involved the devolved administrations in our

:44:06.:44:08.

preparations through the JNC process and we continue to engage in that

:44:09.:44:13.

process. With regards to the great repeal Bill, of course there will be

:44:14.:44:17.

a white paper published and the devolved administrations will have

:44:18.:44:20.

the chance is to respond to that of all members across this House. When

:44:21.:44:26.

the Government devolved powers which have been repatriated, will it

:44:27.:44:29.

consider allocating extra resources to ensure those policies are

:44:30.:44:34.

implemented property -- properly? As we have said, we haven't made the

:44:35.:44:39.

final decisions about repatriation. That is something we will want to

:44:40.:44:44.

discuss, as I think the worst of men have suggested we do, with devolved

:44:45.:44:50.

administrations. It was a guaranteed have already been made covering

:44:51.:44:56.

devolved administrations. Ministers will have drawn on the advice of a

:44:57.:45:00.

large number of UK and foreign consultancy firms like accent jab,

:45:01.:45:05.

and the press Association and others want to know how much this has cost.

:45:06.:45:11.

Can you confirm the cost to date on the likes of PWC and others on

:45:12.:45:16.

supporting the Government on Brexit? I'm sure that type of information

:45:17.:45:19.

will be disclosed in the normal way when the Department reports its

:45:20.:45:26.

accounts. Mr Speaker, neither the United Kingdom or the European Union

:45:27.:45:31.

publishes an aggregated audited figure representing the total net

:45:32.:45:37.

contribution since the UK joined the EEC but details of annual

:45:38.:45:44.

contributions are published each year, with the latest one published

:45:45.:45:50.

in February 20 16. A one word answer with the figure would have been more

:45:51.:45:54.

useful than the answer the Minister has given me. I suspect the answer

:45:55.:45:58.

is that it is a massive amount of money that has been handed over from

:45:59.:46:03.

British tax payers to the European Union and like in any good divorce,

:46:04.:46:09.

will entitle us to a huge share of assets or massive financial

:46:10.:46:13.

compensation if we don't get them? Mr Speaker, my right honourable

:46:14.:46:21.

friend is right. It is rather a lot. But really the issue is to what

:46:22.:46:26.

extent is the United Kingdom liable for payment of anything and, if so,

:46:27.:46:33.

how much is it? The point is this. The United Kingdom has always

:46:34.:46:37.

adhered to its international treaty obligations and it will continue to

:46:38.:46:42.

do so. It will adhere to those obligations but similarly it will

:46:43.:46:46.

also pursue its rights according to those treaties and that is how they

:46:47.:46:53.

will pursue these negotiations. Thank you, Mr Speaker, very kind of

:46:54.:46:59.

you. Number 20. As we have repeatedly made clear, we want to

:47:00.:47:03.

secure the status of UK nationals living in the EU and EU nationals

:47:04.:47:09.

living in the UK as early as possible. I know that many member

:47:10.:47:13.

states agree with us on this but we can only protect the status of EU --

:47:14.:47:20.

UK nationals in the EU under former negotiations. I have had

:47:21.:47:24.

constituents coming to me in tears because of the uncertainty of their

:47:25.:47:29.

future. They can't apply for new jobs, they don't know if they can

:47:30.:47:35.

apply for university courses, they don't know what to do. They need

:47:36.:47:39.

assurances now from the Government. These are not itinerant migrant

:47:40.:47:42.

workers. They have made their lives in Bristol and they need those

:47:43.:47:46.

assurances. We all want to provide those assurances but as was said by

:47:47.:47:49.

many in the debate in the Other Place, the best way is to get on

:47:50.:47:54.

with negotiations so that we can assure them -- guaranteed. I

:47:55.:48:03.

congratulate my honourable friend who always is a champion for

:48:04.:48:07.

universities and the students in his patch. The UK is already a leading

:48:08.:48:11.

destination for science and innovation with some of the worlds

:48:12.:48:14.

best universities, three of which are in the top ten. We ensure -- we

:48:15.:48:23.

intend to secure the best possible situation for science and research.

:48:24.:48:30.

The European Union's funding for science and research and

:48:31.:48:37.

collaboration has been so important and will he commit that it will be a

:48:38.:48:48.

focus in negotiation? The Prime Minister has made it clear that we

:48:49.:48:51.

want to be truly global and we recognise the importance of...

:48:52.:49:03.

Order. Topical questions need to be extremely brief if I'm to maximise

:49:04.:49:09.

the of contributors. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister is today

:49:10.:49:15.

meeting other leaders in Brussels discussing migration, jobs and

:49:16.:49:18.

competitiveness. The Prime Minister will be telling them that we did

:49:19.:49:22.

remain strong advocates of free trade and I expect are also to

:49:23.:49:26.

underline our desire to see a strong and stable European Union even after

:49:27.:49:30.

we leave. This has been a central part of my message on recent trips

:49:31.:49:35.

to meet -- meet counterparts. Rather than aiming to divide and conquer,

:49:36.:49:39.

we want the EU to be strong and successful which is why we are

:49:40.:49:43.

aiming for a combined Sydney partnership between the UK and the

:49:44.:49:46.

EU that we are clear will benefit everyone. Could the Secretary of

:49:47.:49:50.

State update the House on the response he has had from across

:49:51.:49:52.

Europe to the Government's white paper? Yes, I can. I went to nine in

:49:53.:49:59.

three weeks of our fellow member states and others have come to see

:50:00.:50:03.

me. The overarching response has been a positive one. It's been one

:50:04.:50:09.

of support for the general approach. It's been one which seeks a

:50:10.:50:13.

constructive outcome, not the penalty outcome talked about some

:50:14.:50:17.

earlier run. It's certainly true that they also think of it as a very

:50:18.:50:21.

logical approach, so I think it gives us great cause for optimism in

:50:22.:50:27.

the negotiations. Clearly the Government wants to trigger article

:50:28.:50:31.

15 next Wednesday or next Thursday. It will then have to set out its

:50:32.:50:35.

proposal in detail so that the EU can respond. For months, it's hidden

:50:36.:50:41.

behind the bland phrases frictionless borders, frictionless

:50:42.:50:44.

trade. This is the last opportunity before triggering for the Secretary

:50:45.:50:48.

of State to spell out, what does that actually mean? I thought the

:50:49.:50:54.

honourable gentleman is a very erudite chap and I would have

:50:55.:50:58.

thought he would have known what frictionless mentor. It means trade

:50:59.:51:04.

with a minimum possible barriers and a minimum possible impediment. That

:51:05.:51:08.

is what we will seek to achieve. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The pie

:51:09.:51:13.

minister said the approval of Parliament will be required for the

:51:14.:51:18.

final terms of our withdrawal from the European Union. The House of

:51:19.:51:24.

Lords has now voted by a large majority to amend the article 50

:51:25.:51:29.

built to reflect these commitments. All very straightforward. If the

:51:30.:51:32.

Prime Minister intends to keep her commitments, why would the

:51:33.:51:35.

Government not support this amendment when it returns to this

:51:36.:51:40.

House on Monday? Because they are unnecessary. Businesses and

:51:41.:51:48.

individuals in my constituency are eager to see the greatest degree of

:51:49.:51:52.

certainty about the Brexit process possible. Does my right honourable

:51:53.:51:57.

friend share my concern that actually amendment three, passed in

:51:58.:52:02.

the Other Place, the EU notification of withdrawal bill, risks adding

:52:03.:52:05.

further uncertainty and further complexity, the exact opposite of

:52:06.:52:09.

what my constituents want? My right honourable friend is -- my

:52:10.:52:12.

honourable friend is right and I would go further. This house had an

:52:13.:52:19.

undertaking without opposition at all on an Opposition Day to do

:52:20.:52:23.

nothing at all to under nine the negotiating position of the UK and

:52:24.:52:31.

that is what that policy would do. In response to the question just now

:52:32.:52:39.

from my honourable friend for Holborn and St Pancras, the

:52:40.:52:44.

Secretary of State implied there was some difference between frictionless

:52:45.:52:48.

trade arrangements and tariff and barrier free arrangements. What

:52:49.:52:53.

exactly are these differences? That is pretty straightforward. If we

:52:54.:52:57.

have a comprehensive free trade agreement, then there will be no

:52:58.:53:03.

tariffs, one hopes, very few nontariff barriers, certainly no new

:53:04.:53:09.

ones, and that makes it easy for the customs arrangements to be simple.

:53:10.:53:15.

I'm sure my right honourable friend will agree that reform of the sea

:53:16.:53:19.

APR represents a positive opportunity for the farming industry

:53:20.:53:28.

and would he agree that rewarding farmers for storage, for example

:53:29.:53:32.

storing water as a flood resilience measure, would be very helpful? My

:53:33.:53:38.

honourable friend have highlighted how important it would be and how

:53:39.:53:42.

much of an advantage it would be for us to write our own agricultural

:53:43.:53:47.

policies. The Secretary of State would be aware that the secretary --

:53:48.:53:52.

the principle of consent was the cornerstone of the Good Friday

:53:53.:53:56.

agreement. What has he made a bid Taoiseach's comments recently on

:53:57.:53:59.

that principle when he said it would have to be embedded in any future

:54:00.:54:06.

agreement between the UK and the EU? As I said, and can I thank the

:54:07.:54:11.

honourable gentleman for inviting me to speak alongside a Republic of

:54:12.:54:17.

Ireland minister and show the commitment from both sides to both

:54:18.:54:19.

the Belfast agreement and the Common travel area. Responding, I would say

:54:20.:54:26.

we remain totally committed to the Belfast agreement, including the

:54:27.:54:33.

principle of consent. The new owners of Vauxhall have suggested that the

:54:34.:54:40.

takeover will be good news for the supply chain post Brexit. Is it not

:54:41.:54:44.

the case that apart from multinationals using the UK as a

:54:45.:54:52.

springboard into the EU, European companies will be using it as a

:54:53.:54:55.

springboard into the rest of the world? He is absolutely right. I

:54:56.:54:59.

thought the comments from Peugeot and the head of Peugeot were

:55:00.:55:02.

fascinating in what they showed, what we could do as a business

:55:03.:55:10.

nation. We are seeking the best possible opportunities for our own

:55:11.:55:13.

country and for businesses that want to come in? --. Last week, the

:55:14.:55:20.

all-party Parliamentary group for Africa published its reported to

:55:21.:55:25.

relations with Africa post Brexit. We highlighted both the

:55:26.:55:28.

opportunities Brexit but also uncertainty over the relationship

:55:29.:55:34.

with the UK and with the European Union. Can I urge the Minister to

:55:35.:55:38.

read the report as well as a Secretary of State and ensure that

:55:39.:55:42.

our exiting of the European Union supports positive relations with

:55:43.:55:46.

Africa? I certainly will do that. I certainly will if she will send it

:55:47.:55:54.

to me as I have not done so yet. This opens up opportunities for

:55:55.:55:57.

stronger relationships with Africa, both economic and otherwise. The EU

:55:58.:56:05.

Commissioner for security and the head of Europol have made it clear

:56:06.:56:08.

in evidence to the home affairs select committee how important

:56:09.:56:12.

maintaining our current policing and security operation with Europe is. I

:56:13.:56:17.

know they are committed to continuing that. Are his European

:56:18.:56:19.

counterpoints as committed as he is? After the migrants of the citizens

:56:20.:56:31.

of the UK, this came up between the Nordics, the Baltics, and the

:56:32.:56:34.

Eastern Europeans so it seems to me that we have a great deal to

:56:35.:56:36.

continue to offer the European Union and we absolutely intend to do so

:56:37.:56:41.

because we intend to meet our responsibilities as a global citizen

:56:42.:56:46.

country. Give than yesterday was international women's day, can the

:56:47.:56:49.

Secretary of State tell us whether his discussions in Europe have

:56:50.:56:54.

brought us any closer to finally seeing an end to the tampon tax?

:56:55.:57:03.

Actually, I think we haven't seen anything of that yet but I'm sure

:57:04.:57:09.

it's one of the first things on the agenda talking to the Chancellor.

:57:10.:57:14.

The funding of the Tampon tax are used for all sorts of incredibly

:57:15.:57:22.

important matters. She'll know more than me. Will my right honourable

:57:23.:57:28.

friend make sure the Government tread warily on the resurrection

:57:29.:57:32.

between the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche while we are in complex

:57:33.:57:37.

negotiations in financial services. Yes. The manufacturers organisation

:57:38.:57:45.

EEF last week highlighted the difficulties that manufacturers are

:57:46.:57:49.

currently having in filling skilled engineering posts. They warn if this

:57:50.:57:54.

is not going to get worse post-Brexit they'll need the

:57:55.:57:57.

flexibility to employ and deploy people across Europe. What

:57:58.:58:00.

consideration has the Secretary of State given to the representations

:58:01.:58:04.

from EEF and what reassurance can he give them? Indeed we have had such

:58:05.:58:10.

discusses and he's right, we do need to ensure that we have an adequate

:58:11.:58:14.

supply of skilled labour in this country. The Home Office is current

:58:15.:58:17.

hi working on policies that will achieve just that.

:58:18.:58:22.

The UK legal services sector is worth some ?21 billion to our

:58:23.:58:26.

economy. A good percentage coming from legal services provided into

:58:27.:58:29.

the European Union. Will my right honourable friend meet with

:58:30.:58:31.

counsel and the Law Society to counsel and the Law Society to

:58:32.:58:33.

discuss what they need to remain to discuss what they need to remain to

:58:34.:58:38.

have access into that key market? Well, the short answer is, the

:58:39.:58:42.

Parliamentarian's already met them but we'll met them again. It's a

:58:43.:58:47.

very, very important sector, people underestimate the general services

:58:48.:58:50.

sector is as big as the City so we have to make sure we do.

:58:51.:58:54.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The success of our economy is riding on a

:58:55.:58:58.

successful negotiation of our exit from the European Union but the

:58:59.:59:00.

former Chancellor, the Right Honourable member for Tatton, told

:59:01.:59:02.

the House the Government's chosen not to make the economy the

:59:03.:59:08.

priority. He was right, wasn't he? Not at all. I mean, I can't see how

:59:09.:59:13.

one can make it more of a priority to make it the centrepiece of

:59:14.:59:17.

negotiation. We are seek ago comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

:59:18.:59:20.

The purpose of that is nothing but economic. Of course out of it will

:59:21.:59:23.

flow other things but it's economic first and centre.

:59:24.:59:28.

Following on from that question, isn't the fact that the British

:59:29.:59:33.

economy, or the office of budget responsibility has increased the

:59:34.:59:36.

nearly 50%. Surely that's a vote in nearly 50%. Surely that's a vote in

:59:37.:59:41.

favour of coming out of the EU, not what the honourable member said.

:59:42.:59:46.

Well, I think frankly the whole economics profession is beginning to

:59:47.:59:50.

take a lesson in predictions about the effects of Brexit. He's right,

:59:51.:59:55.

there's been a dramatic uptake in the current year's growth and in

:59:56.:00:02.

1920-21 as it tushes out. The simple point is, many companies are coming

:00:03.:00:09.

here now, McDonald's, WhatsApp, Google. The simple truth is, they

:00:10.:00:16.

are moving or showing with their feet what they believe.

:00:17.:00:20.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the north-east, the voluntary sector

:00:21.:00:25.

relies heavily on the ESF in order to carry out its fantastic work. As

:00:26.:00:28.

the region receives the highest per head funding from the ESF, how will

:00:29.:00:34.

the minister address the sector's concerns about funding post-Brexit?

:00:35.:00:41.

Well, these concerns, having met pre-Brexit by the Treasury

:00:42.:00:45.

underwriting the commitments up to and through Brexit, of course which

:00:46.:00:48.

she has to remember that the European Union itself will have a

:00:49.:00:52.

complete budgetary review in 2020, we will be giving absolutely clear

:00:53.:00:57.

attention to priorities like this when we come to write our own

:00:58.:01:01.

budgets after 2019. EU regulation will be all

:01:02.:01:05.

transferred into UK law at the beginning, there'll then begin to be

:01:06.:01:09.

divergence over the years. What is my right honourable friend doing to

:01:10.:01:13.

prepare British business so that they're aware of all the changes

:01:14.:01:17.

that will be made so that they can continue to export and trade with

:01:18.:01:21.

the European Union? My right honourable friend is

:01:22.:01:24.

absolutely right about the approach of the great Repeal Bill which will

:01:25.:01:26.

be about stability and continuity. We are engaging with British

:01:27.:01:29.

business and will continue to engage with British business throughout the

:01:30.:01:33.

process across the country and in every sector.

:01:34.:01:36.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Last Thursday, the leader of his

:01:37.:01:40.

party in Scotland described the transfer of control over farm

:01:41.:01:42.

subsidies as a power grab and I subsidies as a power grab and I

:01:43.:01:45.

don't think she meant that in a good way. Could I ask the Secretary of

:01:46.:01:49.

State, will he put her mind at rest and simply confirm that Scottish

:01:50.:01:53.

fishing and Scottish agriculture will be governed in Scotland after

:01:54.:01:57.

Brexit? I would repeat to the Right

:01:58.:02:00.

Honourable gentleman what I said earlier - no powers exercised by the

:02:01.:02:03.

Scottish Parliament or the Scottish Government will be taken away. We'll

:02:04.:02:08.

debate with all of the devolved administrations, not simply

:02:09.:02:13.

Scotland, what is the appropriate level of exercising these powers

:02:14.:02:15.

after exit. Thank you, Mr Speaker. What

:02:16.:02:19.

discussions has the department had with representatives of the tourism

:02:20.:02:22.

sector on the implications of the UK leaving the EU?

:02:23.:02:26.

Well, Mr Speaker, we regularly engage with the tourist industry and

:02:27.:02:30.

we will continue to do so. Tourism is an important part of the British

:02:31.:02:34.

economy and we fully recognise its particular concerns. The Government

:02:35.:02:38.

has said it wants to secure the rights of British nationals living

:02:39.:02:42.

in Europe. What about British nationals living here who're married

:02:43.:02:45.

to European nationals whose futures have been thrown into doubt because

:02:46.:02:49.

of the repugnant position that the Government has adopted? Isn't it

:02:50.:02:52.

time to end this doubt for these people?

:02:53.:02:59.

Of course we do not want to see any doubt on the part of any citizen in

:03:00.:03:03.

Europe, British or otherwise in Britain or on the continent. The

:03:04.:03:08.

simple truth is this - most of the people I've seen in the

:03:09.:03:12.

decision-making tier as it were, of the European Government, agree with

:03:13.:03:16.

us, this is an issue that has to be dealt with together, British

:03:17.:03:18.

citizens and European citizens. It will be dealt with as a matter of

:03:19.:03:22.

priority. Does my right honourable friend

:03:23.:03:26.

agree that the huge investment by Dyson in research the and

:03:27.:03:29.

development facilities in the UK is a sign of confidence in the UK

:03:30.:03:35.

economy outside the EU? Yes, it certainly is, Mr Speaker, and it's

:03:36.:03:38.

only one of the latest of a long line of new investments in the

:03:39.:03:43.

British economy showing this huge confidence the international

:03:44.:03:44.

business community has in our country.

:03:45.:03:47.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I push the Secretary of State further on in

:03:48.:03:51.

the answer he gave to my right honourable friend regarding

:03:52.:03:55.

fictionless trade. Is he saying that trade tariffs remain on the

:03:56.:03:57.

negotiating table? Hear, hear. No, what I was saying to

:03:58.:04:03.

my right honourable friend, is that there are plenty of countries around

:04:04.:04:08.

the world who have very, very light touch customs arrangements and that

:04:09.:04:13.

would be consistent with a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

:04:14.:04:15.

THE SPEAKER: The two colleagues who haven't spoken to date, if they're

:04:16.:04:20.

extremely brief, I will take you. From recent discussions I've been in

:04:21.:04:23.

with senior members of the German Parliament, it's very clear we are

:04:24.:04:27.

not going to get barrier free access if we no longer operate free

:04:28.:04:31.

movement. Do ministers recognise that reality? That's not the

:04:32.:04:37.

response I'm getting from the ministers I've spoken to around

:04:38.:04:41.

Europe. What they have come back with is that they want to see a

:04:42.:04:45.

constructive outcome. The only way to a constructive outcome is a

:04:46.:04:48.

comprehensive free trade arrangement. Under the common ago

:04:49.:04:53.

cultural policy, some of the richest people in this country get millions

:04:54.:04:56.

of pounds in handouts from the packs payer. That must surely be wrong.

:04:57.:05:02.

Would it not be a good idea when in charge of our own agriculture policy

:05:03.:05:05.

to put a cap on how much people get, just like we have a benefits cap? Of

:05:06.:05:16.

course, I welcome this, after 2019, he'll have a say in that.

:05:17.:05:19.

THE SPEAKER: Before we take the business question, I do want to

:05:20.:05:27.

mention that today is the birthday of the honourable gentleman, the

:05:28.:05:32.

member for Perth and North Perthshire. . I'm sure there will be

:05:33.:05:38.

veritable rejoicing in the streets on this happy occasion at any rate

:05:39.:05:44.

at least in Perth and North Perthshire, happy birthday to the

:05:45.:05:47.

honourable gentleman of business yes, Valerie Vaz?

:05:48.:05:54.

Could the leader of the House give us the forthcoming business.

:05:55.:06:00.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the business for next week will be as follows, Monday

:06:01.:06:05.

13th March, consideration of Lord's amenments to the European Union

:06:06.:06:09.

notification of withdrawal Bill. Followed by continuation of the

:06:10.:06:15.

budget debate. Tuesday 14th March, if necessary, consideration of

:06:16.:06:19.

Lord's amendments. Followed by concollusion of the budget debate.

:06:20.:06:26.

Wednesday, 15th March, if necessary, consideration of Lord's amendments,

:06:27.:06:29.

followed by consideration of Lord's amendments to the Health Service

:06:30.:06:33.

medical supplies costs bill, followed by remaining stages of the

:06:34.:06:36.

national citizens service Bill Lords. Followed by a motion relating

:06:37.:06:43.

to the appointment of lay members to the committee of stonards, followed

:06:44.:06:47.

by if necessary consideration of Lord's

:06:48.:06:48.

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