Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Alison Thewliss Excerpts

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The hon. Gentleman points out exactly why I am saying that we are seeking the best possible access that we can obtain—full stop.

[Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)]

The Secretary of State may be interested to know that this morning Glasgow City Council launched with its partners a report on Brexit and the Glasgow economy; it is a far more comprehensive report than we received today from him. It has six key asks, among them clarity on long-term funding beyond 2020 for higher education and infrastructure. It also calls for the acceleration of the capital for the city deal for Glasgow. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether he intends to go beyond simply consulting local government on the impact of Brexit, and will he engage and actually respond to the concerns of local government, which is responsible for implementing so much of EU law?

[Mr Davis]

We will be engaging with local government—including on that report, I imagine. I say this to the hon. Lady, however: beyond 2020 there will be a new EU budget round. As it stands, it is not at all clear that that will be as generous as the current one. I do not think that she should extrapolate based on today’s numbers.