Leaving the EU: UK Ports (Customs) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Leaving the EU: UK Ports (Customs)

Paul Sweeney Excerpts
Monday 19th March 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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With regard to Euratom’s remit over the kinds of isotopes that the hon. Lady is referring to, nothing in our relationship with Euratom, or our lack of involvement with it going forward, will affect the ability of those isotopes to move between mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.

Paul Sweeney Portrait Mr Paul Sweeney (Glasgow North East) (Lab/Co-op)
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The difference between a customs partnership and a customs union strikes me as a distinction without a difference. However, if there is a difference, and the Government are eschewing a policy of maintaining any form of customs union after Brexit, why did the Minister’s officials place a clause in the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill leaving it open to the Government to create a customs union after Brexit?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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One of the reasons for that relates to our Crown dependencies and overseas territories, where we may need to make arrangements to make sure that the whole deal functions effectively.