Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when Ministers and officials of his Department last met with representatives of the UK automotive sector; and what assessment he has made of what Government assistance that sector will require in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Duddridge
DExEU Ministers and officials have regular ongoing engagement with the automotive sector, including world-leading manufacturers and representative bodies such as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The Secretary of State for Exiting the EU met with Honda in June. Separately, Ministers met with McLaren and Nissan Europe in June and July. Since 1st January 2019 DExEU Permanent Secretaries have met SMMT on four occasions (with the most recent meeting on September 20th).
HMG is committed to ensuring that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing after we leave the European Union. Adapting to new regulatory requirements takes time, so the Government will provide continuity in goods regulation for a temporary period after exit day. If UK manufacturers, distributors and importers continue to meet EU requirements, their goods can still be placed on the EU market. Furthermore, tariffs will not apply to car parts.. The Government will continue to apply zero tariffs to steel imports, ensuring the continuation of supply of a key material for UK production, especially in automotive. Tariffs will, however, apply to finished vehicles.
The Government has published technical notices on Placing manufactured goods on the UK market after Brexit and Placing manufactured goods on the EU market after Brexit, as well as making dedicated, tailored advice available for the automotive sector: The automotive sector and preparing for Brexit.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what preparations his Department is making for the UK leaving the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has been allocated to those preparations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
As a responsible Government, we’ve been preparing to leave the EU for nearly three years. We are putting in place a range of preparations for all scenarios and the Department for Exiting the European Union’s role is in part to deliver and legislate for the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU.
The Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This funding is to cover all exit scenarios and is in addition to departmental efforts to reprioritise from business as usual toward preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU. Work on no-deal exit preparations cannot be readily separated from other EU exit work, given the significant overlap in plans in many cases.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the EU chief negotiator has stated that the EU is willing to agree to the implementation of Article XXIV of the GATT in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
No such assurances have been sought from the EU, for a scenario where the UK leaves the EU without a deal, as the Government remains committed to seeking an agreement. The Government and the European Commission have been clear that our trading relationship must comply with WTO rules. GATT Article XXIV is the provision which allows WTO members to form free trade areas or customs unions, or to adopt an interim agreement necessary for the formation of a customs union or of a free trade area. It relates solely to trade in goods. Any preferential arrangement between the UK and EU under Article XXIV - whether temporary or permanent - requires the mutual agreement of both parties.