Debates between Jeff Smith and Steve Baker during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeff Smith and Steve Baker
Thursday 2nd November 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Baker Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Steve Baker)
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A future partnership between the UK and the EU is in the interests of both sides and I am confident that we will secure a good deal. A responsible Government should prepare for all potential outcomes, and we are undertaking work across a range of scenarios. We will share as much information as possible, but we will not walk into this negotiation risking our negotiating position.

Jeff Smith Portrait Jeff Smith
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The Government are hiding the true facts about Brexit from the British people. Using this information, the Government are making contingency plans for a failure to make a trade deal, but how can businesses, public services and devolved Administrations make their plans if they do not have the same information?

Steve Baker Portrait Mr Baker
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The hon. Gentleman mentions “true facts”, but there seems to be some misunderstanding about what the sectoral analysis is. It is not a series of 50-plus quantitative forecasts and, even if it were, forecasts could not be said to represent true facts. We have made our position clear and we will continue as we have set out.