Wednesday Volume 654 20 February 2019 No. 256 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 20 February 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1447 20 FEBRUARY 2019 1448 David Mundell: I agree that we should leave the EU House of Commons with a deal. The SNP position is to contrive to bring about a no-deal Brexit, and the chaos and disruption Wednesday 20 February 2019 that they know that would bring to Scotland. Peter Grant: It is just as well that the three-strikes-and- The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock you’re-out rule does not apply here, or the Secretary of State would be one dodged question away from an early PRAYERS bath. On other occasions, the Secretary of State has been very keen to know what plan B was, so what has he told the Prime Minister his plan B is when—not if, but [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] when—the Prime Minister’s rotten deal is rejected again? Is his plan B no deal or is it to extend article 50, and why is he so coy about telling us what it is? Oral Answers to Questions David Mundell: First, I absolutely refute the hon. Gentleman’s description of the Prime Minister’s deal. The Prime Minister’s deal is a good deal. This House, by a majority, has set out changes it wants to that deal, SCOTLAND and the Prime Minister is seeking that deal. But if SNP Members really do not want no deal, they should be The Secretary of State was asked— backing a deal. Leaving the EU Paul Masterton (East Renfrewshire) (Con): Can the Secretary of State confirm that, having spent months 1. Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP): What recent propping herself in front of every TV camera going, discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the demanding a seat at the table, the First Minister of effect on Scotland of the UK leaving the EU. It is good Scotland was extended an invitation to a series of key to see the Benches so busy for Scotland questions. meetings by the Prime Minister, which she could not [909249] even be bothered to attend? 7. Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): David Mundell: My hon. Friend is correct. For whatever What recent discussions he has had with the Prime reason, the First Minister has chosen not to attend the Minister on the effect on Scotland of the UK leaving Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by the Prime Minister the EU. [909256] on EU exit preparedness. What she has been prepared to do, however, is to go on television and say that she 8. Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP): What recent would not accept any deal; no matter what that deal discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the contained, she would not accept a deal. To me, that is a effect on Scotland of the UK leaving the EU. [909257] most powerful advocate for a no-deal Brexit. The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): I share the pleasure of the hon. Member for Glasgow Colin Clark (Gordon) (Con): Her Majesty’s North (Patrick Grady) at seeing so many Members Government’s Agriculture Bill will give essential legal present on the Opposition Benches below the gangway. clarity for farm payments after 2020 and safeguard the I have regular meetings with my right hon. Friend the UK frameworks as we leave the EU. Does the Secretary Prime Minister and colleagues and have discussed the of State agree that that is in marked contrast to the benefits of the withdrawal agreement and political SNP Scottish Government who, even at this late stage, deceleration for Scotland and the whole UK. have refused to be part of the Bill, leaving Scottish farmers in the dark and at risk? Patrick Grady: Does Secretary of State accept that no form of Brexit is better for Scotland than our David Mundell: My hon. Friend has become a powerful current deal, which is membership? On that basis, will advocate for Scottish agriculture in this Parliament. He he take the opportunity now to rule out a no-deal, is correct. We have offered the Scottish Government the cliff-edge Brexit by extending article 50? opportunity to join us in taking forward the UK Agriculture Bill and providing certainty for Scottish farmers. Instead, David Mundell: There is one sure and clear way to they prepare to play politics with Scottish farming and avoid a no-deal Brexit, and that is to vote for the Prime leave farmers with great uncertainty. Minister’s deal; but on every occasion that SNP Members have had an opportunity to do so, they have declined. David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con): In line with Indeed, they have sought to bring a no-deal Brexit the Prime Minister’s ongoing commitment to supporting closer to reality. the growth of the fisheries sector outside the common fisheries policy, may I ask my right hon. Friend what Alan Brown: Instead of these weasel words and standard discussions he has had with the Prime Minister, the answer, will the Secretary of State answer the question? Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Government agree that no deal would be a disaster. and the Treasury about future financial support for the Does he agree with extending article 50 to rule out a sector, and how best to progress with that and invest in no-deal scenario? the industry in Scotland? 1449 Oral Answers 20 FEBRUARY 2019 Oral Answers 1450 David Mundell: As my hon. Friend knows, both the and voted for an EU withdrawal agreement to prevent Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, the catastrophic event of leaving the EU without a Food and Rural Affairs have made very clear their deal? support for the industry. Indeed, this afternoon I am meeting the Secretary of State, and that will be one David Mundell: Yes. issue on our agenda. Lesley Laird (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (Lab): Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): We have seen On the 12 October 2016, when questioned about the over the past few weeks the large number of businesses sweetheart deal that the UK Government struck with that have been warning about Brexit and the Government’s Nissan, the Secretary of State stood at the Dispatch strategy on Brexit. I keep being told by the leave campaign, Box and told the House that whatever support is put in “Don’t worry; businesses will adapt.” Well, they are place for businesses in the south of England adapting. They are adapting by moving their holding “willapplytobusinessesinScotland.”—[OfficialReport,12October2016; companies and their brass plates to other European Vol. 615, c. 287.] Union countries. What will the Secretary of State do in In the light of the news that Nissan was offered a the Cabinet to try to sort this mess out before it is too financial package worth up to £80 million to ensure that late? While his party and the SNP fight over flags, some it would not be adversely affected by Brexit, can he of us are going to have to fight for jobs in our constituencies. detail the financial support that he has made available to Scottish businesses to ensure that, like Nissan, they David Mundell: I did anticipate that I would have a are not adversely affected by Brexit? question from the hon. Gentleman, but I was not sure whether he would ask it from the Labour Benches. David Mundell: I am pleased to see the hon. Lady on What he needs to do, if he is concerned about avoiding the Labour Benches, as it has been reported that she a no-deal Brexit and the disruption and chaos that that would be willing to give up her seat to the SNP so that would bring to Scottish businesses, is back the Prime there could be a Labour minority Government propped Minister’s deal. up by the SNP. I stand by what I said previously: we stand ready to support businesses in Scotland. A huge Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) (SNP): Coming amount of Government support has gone into supporting back to Brexit, the Secretary of State seems to be businesses in Scotland since the Brexit vote, and that completely incapable of answering a simple question: will continue to be the case. given the choice between no deal and extending article 50 to avoid that scenario, would he choose the latter option? Mr Speaker: May I gently say to Members on both sides Leaving that to one side, the papers report that he and of the House that the style is altogether too languid? three colleagues went to see the Prime Minister on A lot of people want to get in: short questions, short Monday this week to discuss this very matter. Did he answers, and let us move on. I call Lesley Laird. request that the Prime Minister take no deal off the table, and what was her response? Lesley Laird: Let me reassure the Secretary of State David Mundell: I am very clear about the implications that I am going nowhere—I am Labour through and of no deal for Scotland and the United Kingdom, through. [Interruption.] He should not believe everything which is why I want the Prime Minister to achieve a that he reads in the newspapers. deal. That is why any Member of the House who does Recently, Nissan, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Airbus, not want a no-deal outcome should support a deal.