Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further the answer by Lord Callanan on 29 October (HL Deb, col 1111), whether they will (1) withdraw their notice under Articles 2 to 5 of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, and (2) offer through the European Union Council continuing free trade under the World Trade Organisation, and residence and security to European Union citizens, before agreeing any financial settlement in the Brexit negotiations; and if not, why not.

The clear position of the Government is that our notice under Article 50 will not be withdrawn. We have agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. We have also agreed the broad terms of our future relationship as set out in the outline Political Declaration. Both sides are determined to conclude the full Political Declaration by the end of November, bringing the Article 50 negotiations to a close.