Whole Day Download the Hansard
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Thursday Volume 677 11 June 2020 No. 68 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 11 June 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/. 381 11 JUNE 2020 382 Michael Gove: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I House of Commons know that the businesses for which he speaks up so effectively in Bury South and elsewhere want uncertainty Thursday 11 June 2020 removed. That is why we are clear that we will end the transition period on 31 December, which is a position I understand the CBI is now in favour of. The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab): The Minister talks about certainty, and he is right: businesses need PRAYERS certainty on the outcome of the talks. On Tuesday, the Paymaster General told the House: [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] “On… zero tariffs and zero quotas, our policy has not changed.”— Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Order, [Official Report, 9 June 2020; Vol. 677, c. 161.] 4 June). That was the pledge the Conservative party won the [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] election on. But last week, the Government’s chief negotiator wrote: “we would be willing to discuss a relationship that was based on less than that”. Oral Answers to Questions Who is speaking for the Government—the Paymaster General or their chief negotiator? CABINET OFFICE Michael Gove: The Paymaster General speaks eloquently and powerfully on behalf of the Government, and it is right that we seek what the political declaration also The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and commits the European Union to, which is a zero-tariff, Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked— zero-quota arrangement. EU Trade Negotiations Leaving the EU: Transition Period Darren Henry (Broxtowe) (Con): What steps he is Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): taking to ensure that the transition period ends on What recent progress the Government have made on 31 December 2020. [903075] trade negotiations with the EU. [903077] Christian Wakeford (Bury South) (Con): What steps Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What recent the Government are taking to ensure that the transition assessment he has made of the state of trade negotiations period ends on 31 December 2020. [903087] between the UK and the EU; and if he will make a statement. [903079] The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove): The transition Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North) (Lab): What recent period ends on 31 December 2020. Under no circumstances assessment he has made of the progress of negotiations will the Government accept an extension. Indeed, we on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. [903090] have a domestic law obligation not to accept. Extending would simply delay the moment at which we achieve Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): What recent what we want and what the country voted for: our assessment he has made of the progress of negotiations economic and political independence. on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. [903091] Darren Henry: I am keen to ensure that new arrangements Robert Courts (Witney) (Con): What recent progress following the end of the transition period work for the Government have made on trade negotiations with small businesses in Broxtowe. Will my right hon. Friend the EU. [903096] outline what steps he is taking to support small businesses facing considerable uncertainty over their future because Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): of the covid-19 pandemic and the end of the Brexit What recent progress the Government have made on transition period? trade negotiations with the EU. [903098] Michael Gove: My hon. Friend is right that small and medium-sized enterprises face particular challenges at The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister this time, and that is one reason the Government are for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove): UK and EU doing everything they can to ensure that customs negotiators held discussions last week via video conference intermediaries and others who can support small businesses and covered the full range of issues. Both sides engaged to continue to export—indeed, to enlarge their export constructively, but sadly there was no movement on the profile—are put in place. most difficult areas where differences of principle are most acute—notably on fisheries,governance arrangements Christian Wakeford: Does the Minister agree that and the so-called level playing field. businesses, not just in Bury South but right across the country, simply want to remove the uncertainty that Mrs Murray: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that comes with prolonging negotiations and feel safe in the he will not sacrifice access to our waters for any trade knowledge that a firm mandate for the negotiations will deal with the EU and will he make it clear to Mr Barnier allow businesses to prepare properly and prosper? that that is not negotiable? 383 Oral Answers 11 JUNE 2020 Oral Answers 384 Michael Gove: Our excellent chief negotiator, David Michael Gove: Progress has been made and, on a Frost, has made it clear to Michel Barnier that we will number of issues—on fisheries and on state aid—Michel be an independent coastal state, that we will control Barnier has indicated that he is inclined to move. Some who has access to our waters and on what terms, and EU member states have been a little more reluctant. It that access to our waters will be subject to annual would be in everyone’s interest—EU member states, the negotiations. Commission and, of course, the United Kingdom Government—if Michel Barnier were able to use the Mr Speaker: We now go to the shadow of Lichfield flexibility that he has deployed in the past to secure an Cathedral. arrangement that would work in everyone’s interests. Michael Fabricant [V]: Is not the real problem that Sir David Evennett [V]: I welcome my right hon. Michel Barnier has absolutely no room for manoeuvre Friend’s hard work in this area. He has been quite clear because he has to do what has been agreed with the that we will have full control over our economic destiny other 27 countries? Is not that lack of agility and in future. Does he agree that, now more than ever as we flexibility the very reason we have decided to leave the emerge from this pandemic, it is vital that we look to EU and why companies such as Nissan and Unilever, forming new trade relationships and partnerships around which has announced this today, are centring their the world? operations here in the United Kingdom? Michael Gove: My right hon. Friend is absolutely Michael Gove: My hon. Friend puts it perfectly, and right, and that is one of the reasons why the Secretary his question is its own answer. I do not think we have of State for International Trade opened new trade heard any sage of Lichfield since Dr Johnson who has negotiations with Japan this week and why she is in put things quite so well. trade negotiations with the United States. However, it is not just trade deals that matter; it is also export promotion. Anna McMorrin: With such slow progress on the The Department for International Trade is doing a talks, the Government somehow believe they can hold superb job in making sure that businesses are equipped the EU bloc to ransom, but all they are doing is taking to take advantage of the new markets, which I know the country perilously close to no deal. Will the Minister that he, as a strong voice for business, is committed to confirm that the Government will do everything in their supporting. power to reach an agreement and translate legally what is written in the political declaration? On one specific Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab): The Government’s point, will he push for the ability of the devolved approach to trade negotiations with the EU and with Governments of Wales and Scotland to participate in the US will have huge implications for all of us. The the Erasmus programme and other schemes, so that Government’s election manifesto guaranteed that food students do not to miss out, if he will not stand up and imports would have to be produced at the same standards do that for England? as in UK farming. The EU also says that a free trade deal depends on the UK maintaining those high standards. Michael Gove: We all want an agreement, and I am Does this remain Government policy in our approach grateful for the support and help that the devolved to EU and other trade negotiations, and, if it does, why Administrations have given. I talk regularly to them, as were such commitments not upheld in the Agriculture does my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General. We Bill? know how important Erasmus is to many, and we will continue to seek membership of those programmes Michael Gove: It is absolutely our commitment to across the United Kingdom. make sure that we uphold those very high standards. The Agriculture Bill will ensure not only that those high Alison McGovern: The British people were promised standards are upheld, but that public money is spent on an oven-ready deal, but given the speculation in recent public goods and that environmental enhancement is at weeks, what they have is half-baked. Will the Secretary the heart of how we manage our countryside alongside of State therefore commit to no unpicking of the political high-quality food production.