Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of levels of economic cooperation with the EU on businesses.

The message we are getting from businesses is clear: they are facing more barriers and increased costs as a result of how we left the EU. For example, in a survey published by the British Chambers of Commerce in December 2025, more than half of its exporting members disagreed that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was enabling their business to grow or increase sales.

The deals we are striking with the EU will bring down barriers that stop businesses trading and investing with our closest partner and biggest market. The food and drink deal and emissions trading agreements alone will add up to £9 billion a year to the UK economy by 2040.