Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

EU Trade Negotiations

Thursday 11 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Michael Fabricant questioned whether Michel Barnier lacks flexibility due to constraints from the other 27 EU countries.
  • Rachel Reeves asked the Government to guarantee no dilution of standards in trade talks with the US.
  • Mr Gove affirmed the government's commitment to maintaining high animal welfare and environmental standards in British farming.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Fabricant Con Lichfield
Brexit
Context

MP Fabricant critiques the EU's rigidity in negotiations, emphasizing the need for agility.

Question

Is not the real problem that Michel Barnier has absolutely no room for manoeuvre because he has to do what has been agreed with the other 27 countries? Is not that lack of agility and flexibility the very reason we have decided to leave the EU and why companies such as Nissan and Unilever are centring their operations here in the United Kingdom?

Answer from Michael Gove (The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

My hon. Friend puts it perfectly, and his question is its own answer. I do not think we have heard any sage of Lichfield since Dr Johnson who has put things quite so well.

Answered
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Q2 Rachel Reeves Lab Wolverhampton Southwest
Brexit Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

Ms. Reeves questions the consistency of statements made by different ministers regarding the maintenance of high animal welfare and environmental standards.

Question

She asks if the Government can guarantee that there will be no dilution of these standards, despite the Paymaster General's statement about trusting consumers, and presses for clarity on whether such standards are a red line in trade discussions with the US.

Answer from Michael Gove (The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Mr. Gove asserts that UK products meeting high quality standards will be used in ovens, emphasizing the government's commitment to maintaining high animal welfare and environmental standards characteristic of British farming.

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