Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patrick Grady and George Hollingbery

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[George Hollingbery]

I have visited the devolved Administrations several times and I talk with the Ministers on a regular basis. I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady that the devolved Administrations have a key part to play as we go forward and negotiate our free trade agreements. We are currently in negotiation with the DAs on putting together what is known as a concordat on how they will be implemented. The progress on that, to be quite frank with the House, has been disappointingly slow. From our end, we have not reached an agreed policy position, but we will do so shortly, and I am keen that the devolved Administrations are properly involved.

[Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)]

If all these trade agreements are going to be so glorious, irresistible and beneficial to the economy, why not simply give the devolved Administrations the power to express their consent through legislation for each of them?

[George Hollingbery]

The matter of trade policy is a reserved power.