New Partnership with the EU

Debate between David Davis and Tom Pursglove

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

As the right hon. Lady knows, I have history in this area. They are completely separate entities, and the latter has nothing to do with this.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

I wholeheartedly welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and that of the Prime Minister. Steel production is hugely important in Corby and east Northamptonshire, so will he pledge to continue to consult widely on the future of the steel industry to make sure we get these arrangements right, because this is a vital and strategically important industry for our country?

[Mr Davis]

The short answer is yes.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Tom Pursglove

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. It is the fact that 17.4 million people voted for us to leave the European Union that makes me confident that we can carry this through both Houses of Parliament.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

You left it a long time to put me out of my misery, Mr Speaker. I am struggling somewhat, because we hear from Opposition Members and some in the country that, on the one hand, we need certainty for businesses—I agree with that and so do Ministers—and then, on the other hand, that they want to drag the whole process out with talk of next summer for invoking article 50. Has my right hon. Friend got on any better than I in understanding and deciphering exactly where they are coming from?

[Mr Davis]

Listening to my hon. Friend’s question, I am reminded of the biblical comment that the first should be last and the last should be first. He asks a first-class question. He is right that it is impossible to work out what they are trying to do unless one assumes that they are trying to foil the interests of the British people.

Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Tom Pursglove

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The hon. Gentleman clearly has not been paying attention. The words I used were that we will obey all the conventions and laws that apply to the signing, reform or removal of European treaties. I suggest that he goes and looks those up.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that the voices of agriculture, industry and business more generally are heard as part of our Brexit negotiations, and to ensure that their needs are fully understood?

[Mr Davis]

First, there have been a number of consultations and discussions with those people. This whole exercise is an all-Government operation. That means that the individual Departments will deal directly with them. Secondly, the Treasury moved unusually quickly to ensure that they knew that their current round of funding was underpinned, for example under pillar 1 of the common agricultural policy. The Government are taking this matter extraordinarily seriously and they have no reason to worry.