Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Williamson Excerpts

Thursday 12th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Dr Fox]

The Government are of course extremely concerned about any perceptions of instability. We will consult widely, particularly when it comes to new free trade agreements, but of course the greatest threat to stability, particularly in Scotland, is the insistence of the Scottish Government on threatening a second referendum on independence.

[Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab)]

2. What plans he has to facilitate exports from car manufacturers after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Trade (Mark Garnier)]

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union will be leading negotiations on our trade relationship with the EU, aimed at the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours, including for the automotive sector. The UK will also be able to negotiate our own trade agreements around the world, and it is a high priority that we achieve the best possible deals with global partners. We are in close contact with stakeholders across the automotive industry to that end.

[Chris Williamson]

Last month, in a speech to the Bank of England, the Prime Minister described the free market economy as

“the greatest agent of collective human progress ever created.”

In view of the Prime Minister’s ideological objection to Government intervention, will the Minister say how the highly skilled workforce at Toyota in Derbyshire will be able to find comparable employment, in the event that of Toyota relocates thanks to the Government’s botched Brexit negotiations?

[Mark Garnier]

I know the hon. Gentleman stands up for those constituents of his who work at the Toyota plant, but we need to look more carefully at what Toyota is doing. It has made a £240 million investment in the Burnaston factory, to make a commitment to the UK after Brexit, and that has been supported by a further £21.5 million from the Government, who are also committed to the workers he describes in his constituency.