G20 Summit

Julian Lewis Excerpts

Monday 3rd December 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

As the hon. Lady will know, we are working on the continuity arrangements for the trade deals that currently exist between the EU and various countries around the world. It is not right to say that it is only by not having that trade relationship with the EU that we can have trade relationships around the rest of the world. There is a recognition, both in the political declaration and in the Government’s own proposals, that we can have a good trading relationship with the EU and good trading relationships, different from those that currently exist, with other countries around the world.

[Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)]

The Prime Minister’s mention of the World Trade Organisation reminds me that the Chancellor, in his Budget, wisely allocated £3 billion to £4 billion for practical preparations for exiting the EU on a WTO basis. Has each Department now received its allocated share of those funds? If not, why are they being held back?

[The Prime Minister]

The funds are not being held back, and Departments will receive notification of the allocation of the funds in the next few days.