Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the oral evidence of the Permanent Secretary of HMRC of 23 May and 5 June 2018 to the Treasury Committee, whether he has seen briefing papers on the estimated figures of £17-20 billion on the costs of the maximum facilitation model; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of those estimates.

The Government is undertaking a wide range of continuing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. This analysis contributes to our exit negotiations with the EU, helps define our future partnership with the EU, and informs our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks. We have been clear the Government will not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work that is being carried out within government.

By leaving the Customs Union and establishing a new and ambitious customs arrangement with the EU, we will be able to forge new trade relationships with our partners around the world, and maintain as frictionless trade as possible in goods between the UK and EU, providing a positive and powerful voice for free trade.

In assessing the options for the UK's future customs relationship with the EU, the government will be guided by what delivers the greatest economic advantage to the UK and by our strategic objectives:

• To keep trade with the EU as frictionless as possible;

• To avoid a ‘hard border’ between Ireland and Northern Ireland;

• To establish an independent international trade policy.