Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on the operations of bed manufacturers in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) the rest of the UK of leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.

BEIS engages regularly with UK based businesses and trade associations across a range of sectors including consumer goods. We understand the concerns of these businesses about retaining frictionless trade and want all manufacturers across the UK, including in West Yorkshire, to thrive now and in the future.

To help us engage effectively, we have set up sector-specific EU Exit panels. The first consumer goods panel will be taking place in early November and all consumer goods activity in the UK, including furniture manufacturing, is represented.

The Government has been clear that the best outcome is for the UK to leave the EU with a deal and why, following months of intensive work and detailed discussions, we proposed a third option for our future economic relationship, based on the frictionless trade in goods.

At March European Council, the UK and EU agreed that during the implementation period, the UK would be treated as a Member State for the purposes of international agreements, including trade agreements.

This provides certainty and confidence for business that there will be no disruption to existing relationships underpinned by international agreements as we move into the Implementation Period.