Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Thursday 26th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

My hon. Friend is right. Britain is a leading power in NATO and will continue to be after we leave the European Union.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

Will my hon. Friend visit Dorset to speak to our businesses and hear their concerns, and also to discuss the manifold and great opportunities that Brexit will provide?

[Mr Robin Walker]

I would be delighted to do so. We are getting out and talking to businesses across the country. I look forward to visiting businesses in my hon. Friend’s constituency.

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Thursday 1st December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We need to speed up, as progress is very slow. I want an extremely short, one-sentence question from Mr Michael Tomlinson.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

On article 50, does the Secretary of State agree that it is right to appeal from the High Court, that it is inevitable that this would end up in the Supreme Court and that this constitutional point needs to be resolved?

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this point is wider than just the issue of article 50; it goes right to the heart of the operation of the Crown prerogative.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr David Davis]

The function of my Department and this strategy is to bring back the control of migration to the British Government and the British Parliament. That will be exercised in the national interest. That means that we would expect to see pretty free movement of highly talented labour and, in other aspects of the economy, it is not in the national interest to cause labour shortages. Therefore, businesses should be aware that this is not shutting the door; it is taking back control.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

On reciprocal rights for United Kingdom and EU citizens, does the Secretary of State agree that the Prime Minister is absolutely right to be seeking an early resolution, and to be already speaking with individual member states?

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right and that is why we have taken this strategy. I hope that, at the end of the day, there will be unanimity so we can get early movement.

Article 50

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

I refer the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) to the answer I gave earlier.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

The independence of the judiciary must be supported and upheld and—I do not say “but”; I say “and”—the Court itself recognised that the case had both political and legal aspects, and that they must be assessed elsewhere, namely in this place. Will the Secretary of State therefore reassure my constituents that he will respect the will of the people and lead us out of the EU?

[Mr Davis]

The aim of our strategy is not only to respect the will of the people and to carry out the national instruction in the national interest, but to respect the laws of our country.