Debates between David Davis and Robert Courts during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Robert Courts
Thursday 14th December 2017

(6 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Davis Portrait Mr David Davis
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That would all be fine if I could commit the European Commission to doing the same. Unfortunately, it tends to depend on how long the negotiation takes. As the hon. Lady has seen in the last six or seven months, the process has not been entirely predictable.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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Does the Minister share my passion for environmental protection, and does he agree that our leaving the European Union gives us the opportunity to go further and faster?

Leaving the EU: Parliamentary Vote

Debate between David Davis and Robert Courts
Thursday 26th October 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

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David Davis Portrait Mr Davis
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Unlike the hon. Gentleman, I respect the views of 17.5 million people, and I intend to uphold them.

Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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Does the Secretary of State agree that since the Florence speech there has been a change of tone in EU capitals, and that Mr Barnier is far from alone in wanting to see progress towards a good deal as soon as possible?

David Davis Portrait Mr Davis
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My hon. Friend is exactly right. The Florence speech had a massive impact, frankly, on the attitudes in the capitals of the European Union and, indeed, within the Commission. Certainly, Mr Barnier, Mr Juncker and Mr Tusk have all said as much.

EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between David Davis and Robert Courts
Tuesday 5th September 2017

(7 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Courts Portrait Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)
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Michel Barnier has said that his

“state of mind…is to reach an agreement”

with the United Kingdom. In the Secretary of State’s experience, is the good will that is required to reach a negotiated settlement present?

David Davis Portrait Mr Davis
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Of course it is. The simple fact is that all the negotiators on the other side want to reach a deal, not just out of generosity and altruism to us, but because it is in their own interest to do so. The second thing to say is that, as other people have pointed out, these are simply the negotiators. At the end of the day, they are not the final decision makers. That falls to the Council and it very much has every reason to do a deal.