Exiting the EU: New Partnership

Debate between David Davis and Madeleine Moon

Thursday 2nd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The Welsh Committee—sorry. He is appearing before the Committee on 14 February, I believe. We are taking the interests of Wales extremely seriously. We will operate this negotiation so that no part of the UK loses—that is the aim.

[Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab)]

If we are leaving the single market and the customs union, will the Secretary of State give a guarantee to my workers at Ford and at Tata Steel, who make the steel for Nissan cars? Two thirds of both Ford and Nissan cars are exported to the EU, so will he guarantee that they will have tariff-free access to the EU markets? Or is this only a promise to negotiate and seek?

[Mr Davis]

This is a negotiation, but if the hon. Lady reads the White Paper, she will see that it sets out that European exports of goods and services to us total £290 billion, whereas ours to them are worth £230 billion. So they clearly have a strong interest—as strong an interest as we do—in tariff-free goods access, because for them goods are a much bigger part of it as well. The disparity is more than £60 billion, so there is every reason to expect that we will succeed in what we are intending to do, which is protect the jobs of her constituents.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Madeleine Moon

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. The whole purpose of our strategy is to get the best outcome for all people in Britain.

[Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab)]

Does the Secretary of State accept that people voted to leave or to remain for all sorts of reasons? When they read that question on the ballot paper, however, very few of them wanted to vote to reduce the power of the judiciary to hold the overweening power of the Executive to account. Very few of them voted to reduce parliamentary democracy and the right of Parliament to discuss Government policy. Is it not therefore right that the Government come back to this House and seek authority to trigger article 50?

[Mr Davis]

We have done none of those things. The simple truth is we are waiting on the judgment, and we will obey what the Court says.

Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Madeleine Moon

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

My right hon. Friend will of course always influence decisions in this House.

[Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab)]

The Secretary of State has said that he will provide some certainty and clarity. I have had an email from a general practitioner in my constituency saying that a lady who has lived there for over 40 years is having mental health problems as she is concerned about being deported. Parents have contacted me saying that their children are awake at night worried that they are about to lose their mother or their father who is an EU citizen.

[Mrs Moon]

It is absolutely imperative that we have some clarity. A glib individual on the Government Benches claims I should reassure them. I have done that, but they need reassurance from the Government, because I do not have such a power. May we at least have clarification that those who have lived in this country for over five years will have an automatic right to remain? They need it, and it is only right that citizens should have such clarity.

[Mr Davis]

I can give such people absolute clarity: that is the law. Being in Britain for more than five years means that they have indefinite leave to remain. Being in Britain for more than six years gives them the right to citizenship.