Oral Answers to Questions

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of the implications for the responsibilities of his Department of including UK membership of the EU customs union in the EU-UK political declaration.

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

8. What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the UK’s continuing membership of the EU customs union.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Fox]

It is very clear that we do not want to see a customs union being put in place for one of the reasons that my hon. Friend has already given, which is that, with us as a third country, the EU would be able to negotiate access to the UK market—the world’s fifth biggest market—without any due consideration of the impact on the United Kingdom. We would find ourselves in a totally new trading position in that access to our market would be traded for us.

[Martin Vickers]

One of the principal benefits of Brexit is of course the ability to set our own trade policies, and many businesses in my constituency—it includes Immingham, the largest port in the country—want to take advantage of the freedoms that will be forthcoming. What additional support will the Secretary of State’s Department offer those businesses?

[Dr Fox]

I know that my hon. Friend has taken a very close interest in free ports. We are close to finalising a report on their potential benefits, and he will be one of the first with whom I will share that information.