Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Hollobone Excerpts

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[George Hollingbery]

The matter of trade policy is a reserved power.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of the implications for the responsibilities of his Department of including UK membership of the EU customs union in the EU-UK political declaration.

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

8. What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the UK’s continuing membership of the EU customs union.

[The Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox)]

The Government’s intention, as provided for in the political declaration, is to secure a tariff-free trading relationship with our European partners, alongside an ambitious independent trade policy with the rest of the world. A customs union would prevent the UK from varying its tariffs and could leave the UK subject, without representation, to the policy of an entity over which MPs had no democratic control.

[Mr Hollobone]

If we were to be part of the EU customs union after Brexit, the United Kingdom, as the world’s fifth biggest economy, could kiss goodbye to any realistic chance of an independent trade policy. For this very good reason, being a member of the customs union was ruled out in the last Conservative party manifesto. Were this to become Government policy, would not the Secretary of State and his entire ministerial team be honour bound to resign?

[Dr Fox]

It is very clear that we do not want to see a customs union being put in place for one of the reasons that my hon. Friend has already given, which is that, with us as a third country, the EU would be able to negotiate access to the UK market—the world’s fifth biggest market—without any due consideration of the impact on the United Kingdom. We would find ourselves in a totally new trading position in that access to our market would be traded for us.

--- Later in debate ---

[Guy Opperman]

This Government believe, as have every preceding Government, that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention, and it is not this Government’s policy to make split payments by default. However, we are looking at the proposed Scottish pilot and, at the same time, by the end of the summer all jobcentres will have domestic abuse specialists to support work coaches and raise awareness.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Who is impacted more by the introduction of universal credit: women or men?

--- Later in debate ---

[Victoria Atkins]

The hon. Lady may have heard my answer to a previous question. We will consult in the summer on sexual harassment in the workplace and I would encourage her and all colleagues across the House to contribute to that consultation.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Against the background of the highest ever level of employment in our country’s history, which employment rate is growing faster—male or female?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

Both are growing, but female in particular.