Oral Answers to Questions

Felicity Buchan Excerpts

Thursday 16th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab)]

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Government’s preparations for the end of the transition period.

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to ensure business readiness for the end of the transition period.

[Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC)]

What recent progress the Government has made on negotiating the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Gove]

I understand the frustration that many businesses will have felt as deadlines that were set during the previous Parliament shifted as a result of votes in Parliament, but we now know that, as a result of the general election, the transition period will end on 31 December. There are many “no regrets” actions that businesses should undertake, and I had the opportunity to talk to the chief executives of a number of leading businesses yesterday to make sure that that message was put across in a collaborative way.

[Felicity Buchan]

The withdrawal agreement stated that both parties would endeavour to conclude equivalence decisions by June 2020. Will my right hon. Friend give the House an update?

[Michael Gove]

I appreciate how hard my hon. Friend works on behalf of businesses, including financial services, in her constituency. We have completed our side of the bargain—we have provided the European Union with the information that it needs for its own autonomous decision on equivalence—and we await that decision with eagerness.