Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 10th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I could not be more grateful to the Minister.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

12. What recent discussions the Government have had with the incoming US administration.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)]

I have come back this morning from the United States, where I have been discussing these matters with the incoming Administration. It was clear that there is a wide measure of agreement between us over the challenges we face. I assure the House that our embassy in Washington and the Prime Minister’s office—No. 10—and officials at all levels are engaging with the incoming team to make sure that we work in lock step to build on those areas of agreement.

[Henry Smith]

In addition to talks with the incoming US Administration, what talks, specifically with regard to security and trade, did my right hon. Friend have with congressional leaders?

[Boris Johnson]

I have to say to the House that there was a huge fund of goodwill for the United Kingdom on Capitol Hill, and a very large measure of understanding that now is the time to do a free trade deal. They want to do it, and they want to do it fast. That understanding was most vivid and most urgent on the part of the incoming Administration.