Exiting the EU: Costs Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Exiting the EU: Costs

Stephen Timms Excerpts
Wednesday 29th November 2017

(6 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I assure my hon. Friend that the payments that will potentially be made—as we have discussed, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed—will absolutely provide value for money.

Stephen Timms Portrait Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)
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My hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham East (Mr Leslie) is right in his question to highlight the serious difficulties the country faces. I hope it is true that agreement has been reached on the costs of exit, so that the negotiations can move on to the next stage. Does the right hon. Lady agree that it is essential to the UK’s national interest that the European Council agrees at its meeting next month that enough progress has been made to move on to discussions about future trade?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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We absolutely want to secure movement on to the next stage of the negotiations. That is very important. Ultimately, it takes the UK and the EU27 to agree on that. It would be wrong to take the approach of the Opposition and say that we would agree to any deal, regardless of what it was. We have to look at and prepare for all eventualities.