Preparations for Leaving the European Union

Debate between Lord Gove and Tom Brake

Monday 21st October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

It absolutely is. If we secure the withdrawal agreement Bill, there will be absolutely no need for us to worry about those particular circumstances, but for the reasons that I outlined earlier, we are negotiating hard with individual EU member states. I particularly commend Spain, where we have the largest number of UK expats, for making sure that there will be fully reciprocal arrangements on healthcare.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

Will the Minister confirm that, in a no-deal scenario, no patient will have their treatment delayed or cancelled if they are dependent on radioisotopes?

[Michael Gove]

Yes, and there is a specific arrangement to ensure that radioisotopes can be flown into East Midlands airport.

Preparations for Leaving the EU

Debate between Lord Gove and Tom Brake

Tuesday 8th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

The Government’s business readiness fund, which sets aside just £15 million to help businesses, will be more than washed away by the cost to business of—according to the Financial Times—an extra £15 billion, 1,000 times more. Is this not just another example of the Prime Minister’s attitude towards business?

[Michael Gove]

The business readiness fund has been well subscribed by organisations such as the Institute of Directors and the Federation of Small Businesses, to make sure that businesses are prepared for life outside the EU.

The leave campaign made the position clear, and people voted for us to leave both the single market and the customs union. Yes, leaving the customs union means new customs procedures with the EU, but it also means that we have opportunities to strike new trade deals with other countries, and to be a champion for freer trade across the world. Freer trade reduces prices for consumers in this country, and also helps the developing world. I should have thought that supporting the poorest in this country, and supporting the poorest globally, would recommend itself to the Liberal Democrats.

Brexit Readiness: Operation Yellowhammer

Debate between Lord Gove and Tom Brake

Wednesday 25th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

It was a pleasure to meet my right hon. Friend and other Kent MPs earlier this week. More than 80% of the hauliers who ply their trade through the short strait come from EU countries, which is why we have created offices in those EU countries to provide hauliers and traders with information, why we have published guidance in more than 10 EU languages, and why we are contacting traders in the UK who use those hauliers to make sure they are ready. Steps are also being taken to ensure that the traffic management in Kent under the aegis of the Kent resilience forum is as effective as possible. That said, further steps do need to be taken, and I hope to update him and the House as they are taken.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

How will the British people be safer than ever before if we lose access to EU crime-fighting databases in a no-deal scenario?

Leaving the EU: Preparations

Debate between Lord Gove and Tom Brake

Tuesday 3rd September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

My right hon. Friend makes a very good point. The Labour party said on page 24 of its 2017 manifesto that it was committed to leaving the European Union and respecting the referendum result, and the overwhelming majority of Labour Members—not all—voted for article 50, which set this year as the legal default date for departure from the European Union. I absolutely respect the rule of law, and so should the Labour Members who voted to leave the EU.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

There are widespread reports that the Secretary of State is seeking to sanitise the Operation Yellowhammer documents. Can he confirm that any ministerial demand that civil servants water down Operation Yellowhammer would break the ministerial code, that no civil servants risk being disciplined if they refuse to undertake this work and that they will be covered by whistleblower legislation?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Gove and Tom Brake

Thursday 20th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

The law of the land must always be enforced without fear or favour.

[Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD)]

6. What assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on food security of the UK leaving the EU.