Oral Answers to Questions

Patrick Grady Excerpts

Thursday 15th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)]

4. What recent progress he has made in negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

[Stephen Gethins (North East Fife) (SNP)]

5. What recent progress he has made in negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davis]

I could be just as pithy as my right hon. Friend and say yes.

[Patrick Grady]

Does the right hon. Gentleman foresee a scenario in which the deal negotiated is so mind-bogglingly positive that all the other European Union states want that kind of relationship as well, and the European Union itself implodes? Or does he accept that membership is the best possible relationship we can have with the European Union, so any new settlement will be disadvantageous compared with what we have now?

[Mr Davis]

Those who made a decision on the last part of the hon. Gentleman’s question were the British people—17.5 million of them—and they decided that that was not the case. Let me respond to the first part of his question, however, because he does have a serious point. Certainly in the institutions of the European Union, and in some member states, there are concerns that if we are too successful that will be tempting to others. I do not believe that that is a real fear, because we have unique circumstances—the English language, our historic traditions, our world network, our island status, our law—that other countries do not have. That is no fault of their own; they just do not have those advantages. That is what will allow us to make the best of this situation.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Baker]

Well, yes, but, of course, it is a rule taker. Its economy is substantially different from our own and it is outside the customs union. We just need to make sure that we follow a path that suits our economy, and that is the path set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

[Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)]

On what date were officials first instructed to begin drafting amendments to clause 11 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill?

[Mr Robin Walker]

We have been working on clause 11 of the Bill for some weeks and months; we have, of course, been discussing our approach with the devolved Administrations. It was always our ambition to achieve agreement on those amendments with the devolved Administrations.