Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether discussions have taken place with EU officials on the adoption of a customs union since the vote on the Withdrawal Agreement on 15 January 2019.

The Government’s position on customs is as set out in the Political Declaration and we seek to further agree these proposals in the next phase of the negotiations.

The UK and the EU will put in place ambitious customs arrangements, using all facilitative arrangements and technologies, which meet the objectives and principles set out in the Political Declaration, including recognising the development of an independent trade policy by the UK beyond the economic partnership with the EU.

The Government has been clear in it's customs proposals that we want an independent trade policy, which is not possible inside a customs union.