Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jo Platt and Steve Baker

Thursday 15th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baker]

My hon. Friend has become a relentless champion of the fisheries cause, as exemplified by his speech in the Chamber yesterday. He is a doughty champion of his constituents and of the fishing cause more widely. The Government share his impatience to leave the common fisheries policy. The view of the House has been made clear in questions on fisheries today. We will take that impatience to leave the CFP forward to our negotiations. As an independent coastal state, we will have control of our exclusive economic zone, be responsible for the management of natural marine resources in that area, and be able to control and manage access to UK waters, including fisheries.

[Jo Platt (Leigh) (Lab/Co-op)]

T5.     The Government document that the Exiting the European Union Committee released last week stated that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is“coordinating analysis of the impacts of a potential loss of 48 hour working week”.Why are the Government seeking to use Brexit as an excuse to steal workers’ rights?

Leaving the EU: Economic Analysis

Debate between Jo Platt and Steve Baker

Tuesday 30th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baker]

I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing that out.

[Jo Platt (Leigh) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Minister will be aware that I have submitted 23 questions to his Department asking what assessments the Government have undertaken—all to ensure that businesses and workers in my area are safeguarded. The Government have repeatedly refused to release even the titles of these assessments, so will the Minister confirm how many impact studies the Government have conducted and for how long he expects Members to have access to these documents before we vote on the final Brexit deal?

[Mr Baker]

I think that the documents that we put out and discussed at great length continue to be available to colleagues. As I have said, we will lay before both Houses the appropriate economic analysis before the decision is taken.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Baker]

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman can easily find a wide range of literature that will explain how to do a negotiation. But what one does not do when going into a negotiation is to place one’s cards face up on the table, and we are not going to do that.

[Jo Platt]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.