Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans for a new regime for state aid and competition rules to be covered by a future deal between the UK and the EU.

The Government is aware that the EU negotiating mandate explicitly refers to state aid and competition in the context of any future trade agreement between the EU and UK. This future relationship is subject to negotiation. While the Government cannot speculate on outcomes at this stage, any future regime will be on the principles of open markets and fair competition.

As the Prime Minister made clear in her speech in Florence the UK shares with the EU “the same set of fundamental beliefs; a belief in free trade, rigorous and fair competition, strong consumer rights, and that trying to beat other countries’ industries by unfairly subsidising one’s own is a serious mistake.”