Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what is the last date on which a decision can be made that no deal has been struck with the EU before the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.
Answered by Robin Walker
We want a positive future relationship with the EU encompassing both economic and security cooperation and we have published our White Paper on the future relationship setting out in detail how we want to work together in the future. We are confident that this is in the interests of both sides and we are working with the EU’s negotiating team at pace to agree the terms of our future relationship alongside the Withdrawal Agreement later this year.
At the end of that process, Parliament will have a vote. The vote offered by Government to Parliament will be either to accept or reject the deal. If the Withdrawal Agreement and the framework for our future relationship are not approved by the House of Commons, the Government will be unable to ratify the withdrawal agreement. As a matter of international law, the EU Treaties will cease to apply to the UK on 29 March 2019. .