Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts
Wednesday 20th December 2017

(6 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chloe Smith Portrait Chloe Smith
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I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that we in this House want to see no new borders inside the United Kingdom. We think that the Union is a precious thing that must be preserved. I will also just note, as I did to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Tony Lloyd), that the relationship that we have with the Irish Government and that we want to continue to have with them should be one of close partners. We should work together to ensure the prosperity of the people in Northern Ireland, and I shall leave it to the Irish Government to continue to hold that strong relationship with us.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I will call the hon. Gentleman on the understanding that his question consists of a single short sentence.

Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman
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Given that the vast majority of trade goes from the Republic to the north in terms of coming to the UK, can my hon. Friend confirm that we will have no need for a hard border and that the only prospect of a hard border is if the EU sets one up in southern Ireland?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Well done.