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 potential merits of a future Association Agreement for the UK with the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister has been clear that we’re seeking a deal that works for the whole of the UK – not an off the shelf solution. For instance, we are seeking a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement that is of greater scope and ambition than any such existing agreement.

As the Government has already made clear, we are undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work that will contribute to our exit negotiations, help to define our future partnership with the EU, and inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.