Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the cost to UK businesses of meeting rules of origin requirements after the UK has left the EU.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Our overall programme of work is comprehensive, thorough and is continuously updated. Estimating the cost of complying with rules of origin is challenging due to the variance of outcomes.

It is our objective to reduce as far as possible any additional compliance costs, or unnecessary administrative burdens, for such trade, in line with the Prime Minister’s objective of securing the most frictionless trade possible. We will continue to work with industry, as we seek to deliver this outcome.

We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within government. Ministers have a specific responsibility, which Parliament has endorsed, not to release information that could reveal our negotiating position.

The Government has confirmed that when we bring forward the vote on the final deal, we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an informed decision.