Oral Answers to Questions

Alberto Costa Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)]

8. What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in other European countries on the timetable for the UK leaving the EU.

[Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire) (Con)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the outcome of the EU referendum.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)]

Since becoming Foreign Secretary, I have engaged with many of my counterparts across Europe and beyond, including partners as far afield as Turkey and Japan. Those discussions have of course touched on the outcome of the referendum and the Government’s plans to enact the result.

--- Later in debate ---

[Boris Johnson]

The people of Scotland obviously had a referendum in 2014 and voted convincingly to remain in the United Kingdom. This was a United Kingdom decision. We will continue the negotiations as a United Kingdom, and we will get a fantastic deal for this country and a strong deal for the EU—both a strong UK and a strong EU.

[Alberto Costa]

The Honourable Luigi Di Maio, the deputy speaker of the Italian chamber of deputies, whom my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) and I met three weeks ago, confirmed in yesterday’s edition of The Times that Britain should retain access to the single market and control its migrants. Will the Foreign Secretary reciprocate by confirming on Italian media the welcome comments made by the Honourable Luigi Di Maio? Will he also confirm that Italians continue to be welcome across the United Kingdom?

[Boris Johnson]

Tutti gli Italiani sono benvenuti a Londra.