Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Victoria Atkins and Tommy Sheppard

Tuesday 21st March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) (SNP)]

13. What recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of withdrawal from the EU on the economy.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Victoria Atkins)]

It remains challenging to separate the effects on the UK economy of Brexit and of wider global trends, such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, that add pressures on trade, prices and the wider economy. The Government have been working to take advantage of leaving the EU, including through the Edinburgh reforms, new freeports and the opportunity to shape new trading relationships with the rest of the world.

[Tommy Sheppard]

It is not that difficult, is it? Last week, the Office for Budget Responsibility published its report and, at the bottom of page 46, it says quite clearly that the OBR predicts that Brexit means that the UK economy will shrink by 4% and trade will go down by 15%. Is it not time to get over this denial phase and actually admit that Brexit has caused irreparable harm to the UK economy? Or is the OBR wrong?

[Victoria Atkins]

If I may, I will gently point out to the hon. Gentleman that the OBR has previously stated that it is too early to reach definitive conclusions. The Government are focused on seizing the opportunities provided by Brexit, including the world’s biggest zero-tariff, zero-quota trade deal. Indeed, Scotland itself will benefit from 71 new trade deals secured with non-EU countries and control of our fishing waters. I hope that the hon. Gentleman also welcomes the £8.6 million invested in Scotland’s festival economy at the Budget last week.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Victoria Atkins and Tommy Sheppard

Thursday 15th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Victoria Atkins]

I think that this is where we, as a society, need to make it very clear that we do not expect women to be shouted at in the street or have very unpleasant things said to them. I know there are Members of this House who suffer such abuse on a daily basis on social media. That is simply unacceptable, so I join the hon. Gentleman in saying to everyone in this House that how we use our language really matters and that we must ensure our young people grow up with that clear message, too.

[Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) (SNP)]

2. What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on women.