Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Lewell-Buck and Suella Braverman

Thursday 1st February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU customs union on the economy.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Suella Fernandes)]

The Government conduct an extremely broad range of work on EU exit issues and will continue to do so, which means that all decisions, including those on the EU customs union, are supported by many analyses. Leaving the customs union liberates the UK to establish new and fruitful trade deals with the rest of the world, as well as pursuing a new trading relationship with the EU that retains as frictionless a trade as possible in goods.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck]

From that answer, it is clear that no assessment has been made. We have had it confirmed again this week that the north-east retail and manufacturing sector will be hardest hit in all scenarios. It is clear—is it not?—that nearly 200,000 workers in my region who work in these sectors are facing grim futures because of this Government’s inability to get their act together.

[Suella Fernandes]

One advantage—although there are many—of leaving the customs union is that Britain can be a champion for global free trade again for the first time in 40 years. Free trade through mutually beneficial partnerships has historically ushered in productivity, innovation, consumer choice, growth and prosperity—something I hope that the hon. Lady will encourage.