Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Burghart Excerpts

Thursday 4th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Barclay]

I know from my time as a Health Minister that the hon. Lady always asks very pertinent questions in respect of health matters. She will be well aware of the statement issued by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which said how well prepared the NHS was. It has been our priority to ensure that we maintain the supply of medicines and to ensure that the NHS is a priority in our contingency planning. That is the responsible thing for a Government to do.

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

3. What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department’s preparations for the UK to leave the EU.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Robin Walker)]

Since its formation, our Department has spent £25 million in 2016-17 and £58 million in 2017-18, and it has budgeted £96 million for 2018-19, but of course the Government have also allocated substantial sums to fund departmental preparations and preparations by devolved Administrations for EU exit.

[Alex Burghart]

I thank the Minister for his answer. Has his Department conducted any analysis of the costs of running a second referendum, and will he confirm that a second referendum is not Government policy?

[Mr Walker]

I can certainly confirm the latter. A second referendum would create further uncertainty and division. We do not think it is the right way forward.

Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Burghart Excerpts

Thursday 6th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

I always agree with my governmental colleagues.

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

16. What steps the Government are taking to prepare contingency plans for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

17. What steps the Government are taking to prepare contingency plans for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

[Alex Burghart]

I welcome the Secretary of State, along with my great friend the Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng), who takes his rightful place on the Government Front Bench. Will the Minister set out specific examples of what the Government have done in their no-deal preparations? Does he agree that the actions he has outlined are far better than the zero pounds that the shadow Chancellor committed to prepare for no deal?

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

The whole House will be aware that we have passed a lot of critical legislation, including the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act 2018 and the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. We have signed key international agreements, including new bilateral nuclear co-operation deals with the US, Australia and Canada. We are recruiting new staff to prepare for the day the UK leaves the EU, including more than 600 new Border Force officers in addition to 300 officers deployed by the end of this year.

EU Withdrawal Agreement: Legislation

Alex Burghart Excerpts

Tuesday 24th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

That is one of the issues that needs to be discussed in the context of the future relationship, but the hon. Lady raises the importance of our getting the best deal on that relationship in tandem and in parallel with the withdrawal and exit terms.

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

I congratulate the Secretary of State on his statement. Several constituents who are EU nationals have raised concerns with me about their rights after we leave the EU. Will he therefore tell the House what he intends to do to spread the message that is in the White Paper so that EU nationals are aware of the steps that the Government are taking?

[Dominic Raab]

There is the substance of the rights, which we have set out and made clear in the White Paper, and a mechanism and procedures will also be available to EU nationals. We will ensure that that information is widely disseminated both through materials and through the work that the Home Office will be doing in the coming weeks and months.