Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts

Thursday 2nd November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Baker]

In due course, when we have left the European Union and we are fully free to operate our own independent trade policy, I look forward to the debates in this House on all these matters.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

4. What assessment he has made of the economic effect on Scotland in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

[Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP)]

17. What assessment he has made of the economic effect on Scotland in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Robin Walker)]

The Government are committed to the best possible deal for the whole United Kingdom, a deal that works for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England. We have been engaging with the Scottish Government and have been clear from the start that the devolved Administrations should be fully engaged in this process. The Government are undertaking a broader range of sectoral analysis covering the entirety of the UK economy, including Scotland.

[Martyn Day]

A London School of Economics report concluded that Scotland faces losing £30 billion in the event of a hard Brexit. Will the Minister advise how that compares with the Government’s own Brexit impact assessment for Scotland, and when will it be published?

[Mr Walker]

As we have said, the Government are undertaking a wide-ranging analysis covering the entirety of the UK economy, including Scotland. This will ensure that we take into account the individual circumstances of each part of the UK to inform our negotiating strategy. With regard to the content of that analysis, we have to reflect on the implications of yesterday’s motion and how best we meet the requirements set by the House for information to be passed on to the Select Committee, keeping in mind the fact that the documents they have requested do not exist in the form suggested in the motion.