Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will ensure that Vauxhall Ellesmere Port has the same trade arrangement for (a) tariff and (b) non-tariff barriers after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK is the third largest European car producer with its competitiveness underpinned by using a highly integrated European supply chain to support just-in-time production. We want British companies, including automotive, to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours.

Negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, greater in scope than any such agreement before, is a priority for the Government as we leave the EU. We want tariff-free trade with Europe, and for cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible. The UK starts from a unique position – where our rules and regulations are the same as the EU, and where we share a commitment to high regulatory standards. The terms of our future trading relationship with the EU are a matter for the negotiation, however we are confident that a future partnership between the UK and the EU is in the interest of both sides, so we approach the negotiations anticipating success.