Leaving the EU: Airbus Risk Assessment

Iain Stewart Excerpts
Monday 25th June 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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As I have said to colleagues across the House, Airbus and other companies in the sector, like many other companies, have been very consistent in their approach for many months, including in evidence to Select Committees on which some Members in the Chamber sit. This has caught the country’s attention now, but it is consistent with what the company has been saying for some time.

Iain Stewart Portrait Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con)
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I declare an interest, having visited the Airbus headquarters recently. Airbus has a manufacturing facility in Alabama, USA, which is outside the customs union. It exchanges products, parts and labour without impediment. Does that not give us hope for the future?

Greg Clark Portrait Greg Clark
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In the context of Europe, the company’s arrangements are remarkably effective. It combines products from neighbouring EU countries and, in many cases and in many markets, beats the competition hands down. Why would we want to disturb something that works?