Brexit: Commonwealth, Trade and Migration Debate

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Department: Department for International Trade

Brexit: Commonwealth, Trade and Migration

Lord Pearson of Rannoch Excerpts
Monday 13th March 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Portrait The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) (Con)
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My Lords, we will hear from the UKIP representative.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch Portrait Lord Pearson of Rannoch
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My Lords, do the Government agree that the EU single market will continue in long-term and irreversible decline, whereas the Commonwealth contains many of the markets of the future?

Lord Price Portrait Lord Price
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I thank the noble Lord for his question. I am not able to predict the future of any part of the world, but I can say that the UK’s trade outside the EU has grown more quickly in recent years. Over the last five years or so it has grown by 6% inside the EU but by more than 14% outside it. We therefore feel very optimistic that in a new world of trading more powerfully individually outside the EU we can boost UK exports.