Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 22 December 2017 to Question 118320, for what reasons there was no reference in the answer to conducting impact assessments of the effect on small businesses of the UK leaving the EU.

An Impact Assessment is typically an appraisal of costs and benefits of a policy intervention, published alongside new legislation or regulations. For example, the Government published an Impact Assessment alongside the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. We will continue publishing Impact Assessments to accompany legislation, where appropriate.

In the Answer of 22 December 2017, I highlighted the Government’s extensive engagement with small and medium sized businesses throughout the UK. For instance, through speaking regularly to the Federation for Small Businesses, including on the Business Advisory Group. We also emphasised the work of the SME Advisory Board.

The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across government, is undertaking a wide range of analysis to support our negotiations, covering the entirety of the UK economy, including small businesses. We will continue to this analysis, while being mindful of our specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that would expose our negotiating position.