Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Cunningham and Kwasi Kwarteng

Thursday 16th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

T2. It is three years since the EU referendum and the chemical industry on Teesside and beyond is still nervous about the future. That is having a major impact on jobs and investment. Time and again, I have raised this issue with Ministers, and time and again they have failed to provide the assurances needed; what has the Brexit Secretary got to say now?

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

I am very pleased that the hon. Gentleman has raised that question. I have not visited his constituency exactly, but I have been to Teesport and seen many representatives of the chemicals industry, and the one thing they are very anxious to do is create some certainty: they want this phase of the Brexit process to be completed and feel we should back the deal and back the withdrawal agreement. They have, unlike many Opposition Members, accepted the result of the referendum and want to move forward with this process.