Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have estimated the financial impact on taxpayers of setting a new streamlined customs arrangement once the UK has left the EU; if so, when they expect that impact to manifest; and how long they estimate it will take to put in place the new arrangements.

The government has undertaken a significant amount of work to assess the economic impacts of both approaches highlighted in the recent Future Customs Arrangements paper, but parliament has voted not to disclose material that could damage the United Kingdom’s position in its negotiations with the European Union. When assessing all options for the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the government will be guided by what delivers the greatest economic advantage to the UK.

The precise nature of a new streamlined customs arrangement, including implementation time, will be determined through negotiations. As set out in the Government's paper in August, the government believes that a model of close association with the EU Customs Union for a time-limited interim period would help both sides to minimise unnecessary disruption and allow for a smooth and orderly transition to any new arrangement.