Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Internal Market Bill: Diplomacy

Tuesday 13 October 2020 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We continue to work with the EU in the Joint Committee to resolve outstanding issues in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol.
  • The measures in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill are defensive, precautionary and proportionate, to safeguard the integrity of the UK.
  • My role is to promote the voices of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure all four nations achieve the best for the whole United Kingdom.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Northern Ireland Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

No specific event or statistic was mentioned, but it pertains to the ongoing debate over the legality and diplomatic ramifications of the UK Internal Market Bill.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential effect of the UK Internal Market Bill on the effectiveness of UK diplomacy?

Answer from Dominic Raab

We continue to work with the EU in the Joint Committee to resolve outstanding issues in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The impact of the Bill on UK diplomacy was not addressed, only a statement about working with the EU was provided.

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Q2 Alan Brown SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question references previous statements by the Foreign Secretary and mentions legal proceedings against the UK for breaking international law, as well as criticism from US Congress.

Question

Given that a Cabinet member admitted the UK Internal Market Bill breaks international law, 27 EU countries have begun legal proceedings against the UK, and both sides of Congress in the US say they will not support a Bill that breaks the rules-based order, when will the Foreign Secretary acknowledge this reality?

Answer from Dominic Raab

No, I do not agree with that. The measures in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill are defensive, precautionary and proportionate, to safeguard the integrity of the UK. I was in Washington recently and had very constructive conversations on both sides of the aisle on the hill.

Not addressed: The question about the UK acting as a rogue state was not directly addressed, instead focusing on the defensive nature of the bill and recent US meetings.

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Q3 Martin Docherty SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question mentions a constituent facing custody without charge, and the issue of disrespected international laws by the UK Government.

Question

How will the Secretary of State remind the Republic of India of its obligations under international law, given that his own Government have so flagrantly disrespected it?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I am afraid I just do not accept the assertion and I do not accept the equivalence. We engage with the Indian Government right across the world. I have never had the pushback the hon. Member describes.

Not addressed: The question about reminding India of its obligations was not directly addressed, instead focusing on discrediting the assertion and describing general engagement practices.

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Q4 Patricia Gibson SNP
Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

The question builds on previous debate about the Bill and its implications for international law.

Question

Can the Secretary of State specifically outline how and in what ways he believes the United Kingdom International Market Bill strengthens the international credibility of the UK?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I thank the hon. Lady. As I have made clear, the Bill is a defensive, precautionary measure to safeguard the integrity of the UK. Perhaps she would like to listen to Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who said on 5 October that 'the United Kingdom has really shown itself as an example to the whole world'.

Not addressed: The question about strengthening international credibility was not directly addressed, instead focusing on a quote from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

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Q5 Thomas Tugendhat Con Tonbridge
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Business & Trade
Context

The question relates to ensuring that all parts of the United Kingdom are represented and valued in future international trade agreements.

Question

Will he recognise, however, that his role is to promote the voices of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland together to make sure all those four nations achieve the best for the whole United Kingdom?

Answer from Dominic Raab

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have just signed a deal with Japan, and we are looking at a second one with South Korea and scoping talks with Vietnam to represent the businesses and consumers of all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Answered
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