Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral evidence of the Permanent Secretary of HMRC of 23 May and 5 June 2018 to the Treasury Committee, whether he had seen prior to the publication of the estimated figures of £17 billion to £20 billion for the cost of the maximum facilitation model in a letter to that Committee on 5 June 2018 (a) submissions and (b) briefing papers on those figures; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of those estimates.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is undertaking a wide range of cross-Whitehall analysis in support of all aspects of our EU exit negotiations and preparations.
In assessing the options for the UK's future customs relationship, the Government will be guided by what delivers the greatest advantage to the UK and by our strategic objectives:
Keeping trade with the EU as frictionless as possible;
Avoiding a ‘hard border’ between Northern Ireland and Ireland;
Establishing an independent international trade policy.
We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within Government.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral evidence of the Permanent Secretary of HMRC of 23 May and 5 June 2018 to the Treasury Committee, whether he has seen briefing papers on the estimated figures of £17-20 billion on the costs of the maximum facilitation model; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of those estimates.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis contributes to our exit negotiations with the EU, helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within government.
By leaving the Customs Union and establishing a new and ambitious customs arrangement with the EU, we will be able to forge new trade relationships with our partners around the world, and maintain as frictionless trade as possible in goods between the UK and EU, providing a positive and powerful voice for free trade.
In assessing the options for the UK's future customs relationship with the EU, the government will be guided by what delivers the greatest economic advantage to the UK and by our strategic objectives:
To keep trade with the EU as frictionless as possible;
To avoid a ‘hard border’ between Ireland and Northern Ireland;
To establish an independent international trade policy.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect on London of the UK leaving the customs union.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is committed to positive and productive engagement with the Mayor of London and all local government within the UK, and will continue to work closely with them to understand the implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Ministers from across Government have also carried out extensive engagement on EU exit with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK, including those headquartered in London.
The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position.
In March 2018, the Global Financial Centres Index showed London retained its position as the leading global financial centre, for the third year in a row, ahead of New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. We will be seeking a bold and ambitious partnership which ensures that London maintains this world-leading position.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect on London of the UK leaving the single market.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is committed to positive and productive engagement with the Mayor of London and all local government within the UK, and will continue to work closely with them to understand the implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Ministers from across Government have also carried out extensive engagement on EU exit with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK, including those headquartered in London.
The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position.
In March 2018, the Global Financial Centres Index showed London retained its position as the leading global financial centre, for the third year in a row, ahead of New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. We will be seeking a bold and ambitious partnership which ensures that London maintains this world-leading position.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect on London of the UK leaving the customs union.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is committed to positive and productive engagement with the Mayor of London and all local government within the UK, and will continue to work closely with them to understand the implications of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Ministers from across Government have also carried out extensive engagement on EU exit with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK, including those headquartered in London.
The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would reveal our negotiating position.
In March 2018, the Global Financial Centres Index showed London retained its position as the leading global financial centre, for the third year in a row, ahead of New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. We will be seeking a bold and ambitious partnership which ensures that London maintains this world-leading position.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many of his Department's staff he plans to have working on environmental and climate change negotiations in each of the next three years.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department for Exiting the EU now has over 200 staff, and is growing fast. The overall size and scope of the new Department, including staffing and budget, are regularly reviewed. We will ensure we are appropriately staffed to deal with all aspects of the forthcoming negotiation.
The Department has welcomed staff on secondment with relevant expertise, including on the environment, and it will continue to have a close working relationship with all relevant Departments, in particular Defra as the lead on environmental policy. I am committed to working closely with my Ministerial counterparts, and recently appeared at the Environmental Audit Committee alongside Therese Coffey, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.