Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 7th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

12. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that the timetable for the UK leaving the EU is met.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

14. What steps the Government are taking to ensure that the timetable for the UK leaving the EU is met.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Davis)]

We aim to get the right agreement for the United Kingdom and the European Union. Government officials are working at pace, and we have said repeatedly that both parties will need to demonstrate a dynamic and flexible approach in each negotiation round. Flexibility and creativity are needed from both sides, and we have already said that we are willing to meet as frequently as required. We want to reach an agreement about our future partnership by the end of March 2019. From that point, we believe that a time-limited interim period will be in the mutual interest of the United Kingdom and the European Union, allowing people and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Union to adjust to the new arrangements.

[Bob Blackman]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. Our future trade relations with the European Union are clearly vital, and it is good news that a queue of trade deals is potentially in the offing for when we leave. Given our unique position with the EU, it is surely perfectly possible to conclude a trade agreement by the time we leave in March 2019.

[Mr Davis]

Yes, my hon. Friend is exactly right. The Bill that we will debate later today is designed with exactly that in mind. The unique nature of the free trade agreement that we are seeking to agree with the European Union is that we all start from exactly the same standards. The previous question related to maintaining the same standards for labour law and other matters, but those standards are actually already better. My hon. Friend is right that our unique position is the key to getting a fast, effective and wealth-creating trade agreement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 27th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

One of the best things that could happen to the west midlands would be the election of Andy Street, and I will make time to see him as soon as he is elected.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

London is the pre-eminent economic force in the country. What assistance and co-operation has my right hon. Friend received from the Mayor of London and, indeed, local authorities in London, to ensure that we have a smooth, clean Brexit that benefits the capital and the country as a whole?

Legislating for UK Withdrawal from the EU

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 30th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The 40 are not in the UK; they are across the Union. It may be appropriate and it may not. It depends. [Interruption.] If the hon. Lady stops heckling I will answer. If, for example, it is a question of adding to another regulatory body already in existence, a statutory instrument might well be appropriate. In other cases where a regulatory body is created, it might be appropriate to have rather heavier level of parliamentary debate and insight.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Procedure Committee is conducting an inquiry into how we get the great repeal Bill into law. Unfortunately, my right hon. Friend has not been able to appear before the Committee. May I urge him to agree a date when we can help to facilitate the great repeal Bill process?

[Mr Davis]

I am happy to say that, yes, I will be doing so. That was the intention in any event. I cannot remember the reason for deferral last time, but it will happen.