Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 27th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I have great respect for the hon. Gentleman, but I am afraid that his question is wholly misconceived. We have absolutely no intention of doing anything other than honouring the withdrawal agreement, honouring the protocol that we have signed, and making sure that we achieve the political declaration’s aim of ensuring that we have a comprehensive free trade agreement with no tariffs, no quotas and no quantitative restrictions.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend think the EU has spotted that we have actually left and no longer need to negotiate our terms of release?

[Michael Gove]

My right hon. Friend has made a very good point. There are a range of views—a spectrum of opinions—in European capitals, but I think that the pennies, the pfennigs and the centimes are dropping as a result of the Prime Minister’s speeches and the lecture given recently by the Prime Minister’s sherpa David Frost.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Why does my right hon. Friend not prevent enterprises from bidding for Government contracts unless they can demonstrate a record of having paid their suppliers on time?

[Penny Mordaunt]

Companies do have to demonstrate that, and if existing suppliers do not comply with the targets we have set, they will be booted off the supplier list.