Legislating for UK Withdrawal from the EU

Debate between David Davis and Rachael Maskell

Thursday 30th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

I did not know that the hon. Gentleman had a horse, but let me say this to him: his entire approach—his entire assessment—is just plain wrong.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

Paragraph 3.20 of the White Paper refers to the need to trade off scrutiny for speed, whereas paragraph 3.13 states that the Government do not want to their ability to adapt EU law to be unduly constrained. Are the Executive creating a democratic deficit by using secondary legislation? How can they justify that?

[Mr Davis]

We are not going to create a democratic deficit. This is a White Paper, and that is what we are here to discuss, with Parliament.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Rachael Maskell

Thursday 9th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

May I push the Secretary of State further on the answer he gave my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer) regarding frictionless trade? Is the Secretary of State saying that trade tariffs remain on the negotiating table?

[Mr David Davis]

No, what I am saying—or what I was saying to the hon. Lady’s hon. and learned Friend—is that plenty of countries around the world have very light-touch customs arrangements, which would be consistent with a comprehensive free trade agreement.