EU Customs Union and Draft Withdrawal Agreement: Cost Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

EU Customs Union and Draft Withdrawal Agreement: Cost

Antoinette Sandbach Excerpts
Monday 22nd October 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Glen Portrait John Glen
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I have to say to the hon. Gentleman that I am not sure that my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (John Redwood) has a lot of faith in the Treasury on this, so I feel there is little point in taking that figure back to him.

Antoinette Sandbach Portrait Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury) (Con)
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What businesses in my constituency want is certainty and reassurance that the border will be as frictionless as possible. This is key to many sectors of prosperity in the north-west. Will the Minister confirm that the costs involved in temporary ongoing membership of a customs union will dramatically be outweighed by the benefits to business?

John Glen Portrait John Glen
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The Government have to reconcile the decision of the British people to leave the EU with, as my hon. Friend says, the need to make sure that the cost to business is as little as possible. That is why it is absolutely imperative that, when we secure the final outcome of the negotiations, it is good for business, good for the economy and good for jobs.