Thursday Volume 669 9 January 2020 No. 7 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 9 January 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 585 9 JANUARY 2020 586 Kate Griffiths: Does my right hon. Friend agree that House of Commons to mark our leaving the European Union, our fantastic local breweries in Burton-on-Trent should brew a celebratory Brexit beer? Thursday 9 January 2020 Hon. Members: Hear, hear! The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Steve Barclay: From the reaction of the House, it seems my hon. Friend has struck an extremely positive note in one of her first contributions. I again welcome PRAYERS her to the House. I know her constituency is famed for its beer, and I am sure that many Members would welcome those breweries celebrating this occasion in [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] such a way, just as I would welcome the fantastic Elgood’s Brewery doing so, which sits in my constituency. Mark Logan: Will my right hon. Friend consider the Oral Answers to Questions idea, as a lot of my constituents have, of commemorating this day of real constitutional importance by having an anniversary on the date every year? EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION Steve Barclay: I very much welcome my hon. Friend to his place, not least as a fellow Lancastrian; I am sure Mr Speaker knows of our Lancastrian pride. He brings an important suggestion. Again, it is all part of marking The Secretary of State was asked— this significant moment in our national history. Marking Exit Day Daniel Kawczynski: Will my right hon. Friend 1. Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con): What acknowledge that 31 January is a significant day not plans the Government have to mark the UK leaving the only for us here in the United Kingdom but for hundreds EU on 31 January 2020. [900000] of millions of Eurosceptics across the continent of Europe who share concerns about the direction of travel 11. Kate Griffiths (Burton) (Con): What plans the of the European Union, including many citizens in my Government have to mark the UK leaving the EU on country of birth, Poland? Does he agree that it is 31 January 2020. [900011] important for us to celebrate this day very publicly, as a nation, to give a guiding principle to others in Europe 17. Mark Logan (Bolton North East) (Con): What that there is life outside the European Union? plans the Government have to mark the UK leaving the EU on 31 January 2020. [900017] Steve Barclay: My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the fact that this is an important day not just for our 18. Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) own citizens but for many elsewhere who recognise the (Con): What plans the Government have to mark the importance of this event in terms of democracy and UK leaving the EU on 31 January 2020. [900018] respecting the democratic decisions that people take, rather than overturning them, as has sometimes been The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union the intention in the past. He has always been a champion (Steve Barclay): I begin by congratulating my hon. of close ties between the UK and Poland, and I think Friend on his election to the seat of Warrington South. that whatever celebrations there are will continue in that I look forward to his advocacy on issues relating to our vein. exit from the European Union. We stand ready to work with businesses up and down the country as we mark an Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab): Do the Government’s important moment in our national history: leaving the plans for the end of this month still include the abolition European Union on 31 January. of the right hon. Gentleman’s Department? If so, which Department and which Minister will take responsibility Andy Carter: How will my right hon. Friend ensure for the very important negotiations that are about to that small businesses, which have been, and are, the begin? engine of growth in my constituency, are able to share in the benefits of leaving the EU and in celebrating our Steve Barclay: I pay tribute to the work of the right departure on 31 January? hon. Gentleman during his tenure as chair of the Exiting the European Union Committee. He knows from his Steve Barclay: Before coming to the House, my hon. time in Government that machinery of government Friend was a champion of small businesses in Warrington, changes are announced in the usual way by the Prime and I know he will continue to be so during his time in Minister, and No. 10 has signalled that it intends to do this place. The best way that we will support businesses so. He should also be aware, because we publicly stated in his constituency is by having control of our money, it, that the Department will draw to a close to mark our borders and laws. That is what our exit from the European exit. It is the Department for Exiting the European Union does, and that is what he should rightly celebrate Union, and we will have exited and done the job of the on 31 January. Department when we leave on 31 January. 587 Oral Answers 9 JANUARY 2020 Oral Answers 588 Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): I £1 million is specifically for the settlement scheme, as I welcome the Secretary of State back to this House. We am sure the Minister for Security detailed in Committee have always got on very well, and he is much cleverer on Tuesday, and there have been 2.6 million or 2.8 million than me, but I do have a couple of degrees in economics. or so applications, so the scheme is working very effectively When the President of the European Commission comes free of charge. But the hon. Member is right that some here and says that in any deal, if we do not have free people will have concerns, and one thing that the European movement of labour we will not get free movement of Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill does is guarantee goods and services, is that not something that we should the rights of citizens and address many of the concerns all be very sad about as we leave the European Union? that some of his constituents have shared. Steve Barclay: I am always grateful to the hon. Gentleman Sir John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) for how he champions his constituents and raises thoughtful (Con): In celebration of this important occasion in our points. He is quite right to pick up on what I thought nation’s history, will the Secretary of State arrange for was a constructive speech from the European Commission Union flags to be flown from all public buildings across President at the London School of Economics yesterday our kingdom? That would be a fitting tribute to the and to draw the House’s attention to it. What I took decision the British people made to leave the European away from her speech was her language about wanting a Union. We will remain unafraid of our patriotism, very ambitious partnership—she referred to unabashed about our departure and unwavering in our “old friends and new beginnings” determination to make our future even greater. and drew on her own time in London and how much Steve Barclay: I know that, like me, my parliamentary she enjoyed it and valued the United Kingdom. She neighbour always takes pride in seeing our Union Jack wanted to see a close partnership, whether on climate flown, and any opportunity to do so is one that he and I change, security or many other issues on which we have would always celebrate. Given my right hon. Friend’s values in common with our neighbours. penchant for poetry, I cannot be alone in thinking that such an occasion might inspire him in due course to Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP): Will the write something fitting. Government confirm whether they are going to request the chiming of Big Ben to mark 11 pm on 31 January? Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD): Even This is not going to be a moment of celebration for the most ardent supporter of Brexit will, I am sure, many people across the UK; it will be a moment of share a concern that the UK’s departure from the considerable concern, not least for my constituents who European Union might be depicted as representing are European Union nationals. Perhaps we should be insularity and nationalism. It is therefore important asking the Government: if they do want to hear the bell that we dispel that sense, and one way in which we could chime, for whom will the bell toll? do so is to sign up long term to the vulnerable refugees resettlement scheme and, indeed, to accept in full the Steve Barclay: I welcome this late conversion on the Dubs amendment and do our best by the most vulnerable part of the Scottish National party to celebrating our people on this planet, child refugees. exit and having Big Ben chime. As the hon. Gentleman will know, a decision as to whether Big Ben should Steve Barclay: I absolutely agree with the first part of bong or not is one for the House authorities and I the hon. Gentleman’s question. A big part of why I and would not dare to step in to such terrain.