Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

EU Withdrawal: Opportunities for UK Businesses

Thursday 23 September 2021 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Joanna Cherry inquired about the Department's assessment of the impact of Brexit on UK businesses.
  • Patricia Gibson criticized the Government's Brexit policy, citing negative impacts on the Scottish food and drink sector.
  • Felicity Buchan questioned the EU's willingness to address issues related to rules of origin with UK businesses.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joanna Cherry SNP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on business opportunities for UK companies. The context is the government's claim that leaving the EU has provided new freedoms and opportunities, which contrasts with concerns about negative effects.

Question

What recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on opportunities for UK businesses?

Answer from Michael Ellis

Our exit from the European Union has given us the freedom to conceive and implement rules that put UK businesses first. Only last week, the Government announced further reforms to reduce burdens on businesses, which I am sure the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Patricia Gibson) and her party will welcome, to help unleash innovation and propel economic growth across the whole United Kingdom.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific recent assessment of Brexit's effect on business opportunities.

How: We Are Focused On Positive Outcomes

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Scotland Brexit
Context

The question highlights the negative impact of Brexit on Scotland's food and drink sector, citing economic losses and trade barriers. The context includes industry warnings about long-term damage.

Question

Back here on planet Earth, rather than a sea of opportunity we are drowning in Brexit despair, as the Scottish food and drink sector is sacrificed on the altar of this hard Tory Brexit, at a cost of £2 billion on pre-pandemic levels, with extensive trade barriers, extra red tape, labour shortages and damage to Brand Scotland. Industry figures are warning that they will not come close to making up the EU market losses. How do the UK Government plan to mitigate the damage that they have caused to Scotland's economy?

Answer from Michael Ellis

Our exit from the European Union provides us with positives, although I know that the hon. Lady and her party wish to focus on negatives. The relentless negativity of the Scottish nationalists really is a wonder to behold. The fact of the matter is that the opportunity to think boldly about how we regulate gives us the freedom to conceive and implement rules that will put the United Kingdom—all constituent parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England—first.

Not addressed: The questioner's request for a mitigation plan was not addressed.

How: Focusing On Positives Instead Of Negatives

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Q3 Joanna Cherry SNP
Scotland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The question discusses a major export business in the constituency relocating to an EU member state due to massive delays and procurement issues stemming from Brexit. The context includes multiple correspondences with Ministers without resolution.

Question

A major export business in my constituency is in the process of relocating to an EU member state, taking with it scores of highly skilled jobs. As a result of Brexit, it has faced massive delays for shipments and EU member states preventing their public authorities from procuring from it. The rest of its export market has been killed off because of shocking delays by the UK's Export Control Joint Unit. Despite numerous correspondences and meetings with Ministers, I have not been able to get those delays reduced. Minister, here is the evidence from my constituency of Edinburgh South West, in Scotland. The UK Government are strangling thriving businesses in Scotland. What should I tell my constituents?

Answer from Michael Ellis

What the hon. and learned Lady ought to tell her constituents is that we have, thanks to global Britain, established a new points-based immigration system on migration, and we are replacing the common agricultural policy. She can tell them that we are taking back control of our territorial waters. She can tell them that we have been striking bilateral trade agreements with 60 countries so far, with more on the way.

Not addressed: The questioner's request for specific actions regarding business issues was not addressed.

How: Providing Unrelated Information

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Q4 Felicity Buchan
Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses specific issues with rules of origin for businesses in the constituency. The context involves seeking clarity on the EU's willingness to address these anomalies.

Question

I apologise that this is a rather detailed question, but a few businesses in my constituency are having issues with specifics on rules of origin. Will my right hon. and learned Friend update the House as to the willingness of the EU to sit down and iron out these anomalies?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The trade and co-operation agreement provides for zero tariffs and zero-quota trade with the EU while also allowing us to regulate in a way that suits the UK economy and our businesses without being bound by EU rules. The trade and co-operation agreement includes appropriate rules of origin, as my hon. Friend mentions, to support tariff-free trade across all sectors.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner's specific ask about the EU's willingness was not addressed directly.

How: Stating General Benefits Of Agreement

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