Oral Answers to Questions

Roger Mullin Excerpts

Thursday 1st December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Roger Mullin (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (SNP)]

15. What recent discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the Government’s plans for the UK leaving the EU.

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

The Government are absolutely committed to working with the Scottish Government, alongside the other devolved Administrations, as we formulate plans for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. That includes working through the new Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations, which had its first meeting last month and is due to meet again on 7 December.

[Roger Mullin]

Can the Minister outline the benefits of Scotland securing full membership of the single market post-Brexit?

[Mr Jones]

I find it extremely difficult to see how one part of the United Kingdom could remain part of the single market while the rest did not. I refer the hon. Gentleman to what the First Minister of Wales said only the other day:

“I don’t see how there can be separate market access arrangements for the different nations within the UK that share the same land mass.”

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jones]

I can confirm that. We had a debate very recently in which that point was reiterated several times.

[Roger Mullin (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) (SNP)]

T8. Following the Chancellor’s statement, will the Secretary of State point to the precise page on which we can find the Brexit bonanza in either the autumn statement or the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast?

[Mr David Davis]

I recommend to the hon. Gentleman the comments of the shadow Chancellor, who said that Britain should grasp the opportunities available and use Brexit to transform society. Sadly, the shadow Brexit Secretary does not help.