Oral Answers to Questions

Robert Courts Excerpts

Thursday 27th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

13. What recent discussions his Department has had with the aerospace industry on the negotiations for the UK leaving the EU.

[Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)]

19. What recent discussions his Department has had with the aerospace industry on the negotiations for the UK leaving the EU.

[The Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Jones)]

Engagement with industry is a central element of our plan to build a national consensus around our negotiating position. The Department has been listening and talking to aerospace manufacturers and industry groups across the UK and internationally, including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, ADS and the aerospace growth partnership.

[Mr Jones]

Yes, indeed. Boeing has announced 100 new jobs at its facility at Gatwick. Aviation and the aerospace industry are vital parts of our economy, and we have no doubt that they will continue to thrive after we have left the European Union.

[Robert Courts]

I am grateful to the Minister for mentioning Airbus, which has a very large component at RAF Brize Norton in my constituency. Will the Minister please tell me what discussions he has had with such companies to reassure them that in a post-Brexit Britain, not only will their supply chains be secure, but they will be well placed to make the most of a global, outward-facing Britain?