Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Brexit Opportunities Unit

Thursday 24 February 2022 · 6 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Brexit Opportunities Unit is delivering an ambitious programme to seize opportunities of Brexit for growth and innovation.
  • The Unit coordinates reforms with other Departments and gathers feedback from the frontline to inform review and policy.
  • The Minister will visit Cleethorpes to promote Brexit opportunities and enjoys looking forward to the local food.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Virginia Crosbie
Brexit
Context

The question is prompted by the need for updates on economic growth and innovation following Brexit. The MP seeks clarity on recent activities of the unit.

Question

What recent progress has the Brexit Opportunities Unit made in delivering growth and innovation?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

Her Majesty's Government are delivering an ambitious programme to seize the opportunities of Brexit and deliver growth and innovation across the United Kingdom. The Brexit Opportunities Unit co-ordinates those reforms in close partnership with other Departments, including by working towards our target to cut at least £1 billion of EU red tape to help businesses to innovate and grow.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific recent progress or achievements but commits generally to the goal of growth and innovation.

How: Copied What Has Been Done In The Past

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Virginia Crosbie
Brexit
Context

The MP highlights new facilities being set up by HMRC, Welsh Government, and Isle of Anglesey County Council in Holyhead to enforce post-Brexit port regulations, which will create employment. The question seeks guidance on how the Brexit Opportunities Unit plans to collaborate with these organisations.

Question

How will the Brexit Opportunities Unit work with those organisations to gather feedback on their operations that can then be used to inform the review and to inform regulation and policy?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

Once again, as so often, she is absolutely right: we will be driven by data and evidence from the frontline, not simply copying what has been done in the past. We therefore all look forward to seeing what happens at Holyhead.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific plan or framework for collaboration but expresses general commitment to using data and evidence from the frontline.

How: Copied What Has Been Done In The Past

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP supports Ukraine and questions why the Government have not taken opportunities to impose further sanctions on Russia following Brexit.

Question

Why have the Government not taken the opportunity before now to go further in their sanctions against Russia?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

If the hon. Lady has had a chance to look at the annunciator, she will have seen that the Prime Minister will be making a statement at 5 o'clock.

Not addressed: The answer does not address the question of additional sanctions against Russia but directs attention to a future PM statement.

How: Redirecting To A Pm Statement

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Scotland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The MP criticises the Minister for his dismissal of evidence regarding a £20 billion fall in UK exports to the EU over 20 months since Brexit.

Question

How can we trust him to deliver growth when he has hitherto been unable to accept the evidence of the ONS and the experience of just about every exporter in the UK who is losing business while drowning in a sea of paperwork and bureaucracy?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

I know that sometimes the SNP does not pay careful attention to public affairs, but the pandemic has had an effect on supply chains across the world and is one of many things that cannot be blamed on Brexit. I am delighted, however, that Scotland is reaping the rewards of Brexit and has decided to have a green freeport, which will be an enormous boost to the economy of Scotland.

Not addressed: The answer does not address the question about trusting the Minister but shifts focus to pandemic impacts and benefits of freeports.

How: Redirecting To Pandemic Impacts

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Scotland
Context

The MP criticises the Minister for issuing a public appeal for suggestions on what to do following Brexit.

Question

What was the best suggestion that he received? Will he be implementing it?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

I have received 1,800 recommendations from the wise readers of The Sun. I believe that the British people have an enormous amount of wisdom from which politicians, particularly politicians in Scotland, could benefit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specifics about the best suggestion or its implementation but acknowledges a large number of suggestions received.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Brexit
Context

The MP invites the Minister to tour the UK promoting Brexit opportunities.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend be touring the UK to promote Brexit opportunities, and if so, may I invite him to visit Cleethorpes in the near future?

Answer from Jacob Rees-Mogg

I look forward to visiting Cleethorpes in the not-too-distant future. There is a date in the diary, and I am looking forward to the finest food that Cleethorpes can provide when I go there to speak.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not confirm plans for a UK-wide tour but accepts an invitation to visit Cleethorpes.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email