Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to ensure that businesses in the North East have the ability to (a) export and (b) trade with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Political Declaration sets out a plan for a free trade area for goods, including no tariffs, with ambitious customs arrangements. However, as a responsible government, we are planning for all scenarios.
We are supporting trader readiness through 106 technical notices, communications from HMRC to businesses, and the cross-government Partnership Pack. The Border Delivery Group and Border Force have also visited key locations in the North East to discuss no deal planning.
Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement on the economy in the North East.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Government’s analysis, ‘EU Exit: Long-term economic analysis’, considers the long run economic impact of the new relationship with the EU after the economy has adjusted to the changes.
The analysis shows that every region, including the North East, would be stronger than under a no deal scenario.
Asked by: Stephen Hepburn (Independent - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with ports in the North East of England; and what was discussed in those meetings.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
Ministerial colleagues and I continue to engage widely across the country, to discuss the priorities and issues of all interested parties as we leave the European Union.
The Secretary of State delivered a major speech on the implementation period at Teessport on 26 January, and met with stakeholders there.
Details of ministerial engagements are published on GOV.UK in the quarterly departmental transparency returns.