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 UK's ability to agree international trade deals after leaving the EU in the event that it is still a member of the EU Customs Union.

During the implementation period, participating in a customs union should not preclude us from formally negotiating — or indeed signing — trade agreements. Although, of course, they would not enter into force until the implementation period has ended.

After the implementation period, the whole of the UK will be leaving the Customs Union and Single Market and implementing our own independent trade policy. There has been no change to that position.