Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Rushanara Ali Excerpts
Tuesday 1st October 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—
Rushanara Ali Portrait Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)
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1. What recent assessment he has made of the economic effect of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

Helen Hayes Portrait Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)
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11. What assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the risk of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

Sajid Javid Portrait The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sajid Javid)
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We would prefer to leave with a deal, and we continue to work energetically and determinedly to get a better deal, but the Government are turbo charging their preparations to ensure we are ready to leave without a deal on 31 October. All necessary funds have been made available. The fundamentals of the British economy are strong: real wages are growing; employment is at a record high; and unemployment is at an historic low.

Rushanara Ali Portrait Rushanara Ali
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The Government’s Yellowhammer document, or base case scenario, states that there will be job losses, that food supplies will decrease and that financial services and law enforcement data and information sharing will be disrupted. Last night, we heard about customs clearance zones in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the Brexit Secretary has admitted that there is insufficient time to complete the work. The Government spent £100 million on a PR campaign called “Get Ready for Brexit”. Is it not time that the Chancellor admitted that the Government are far from ready for Brexit and instead are heading for causing chaos in our country?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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The hon. Lady will appreciate that the uncertainty around Brexit has caused businesses significant concern. They want to see the Government deliver Brexit and leave on 31 October, and that is what we will do. Significant preparations have been made for a no deal, including trade agreements reached, increases in personnel at Border Force and more than 600 statutory instruments laid in this Parliament. If she wants to help, she should support the Government in getting a deal.