Select Committee
Parliament

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Labour's Stephen Kinnock asks about a potential no-deal scenario and its impact on the Port of Dover, which the committee visited last week.

There have been warnings that an additional two minutes of customs checks could lead to 17 miles of tailbacks at the port.

"How do you feel is the state of the preparedness in that particular context?"

David Davis says that there would need to be a work-around created, promising to publish some components of the government's contingency planning on the issue in the future.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Jonathan Djanogly asks whether the UK will have to accept new EU laws during the transition period.

"It takes two to five years for laws to make it through the process," says David David, adding that any laws that take effect during the two year transition period would already have been agreed by the UK.

Select Committee
Parliament

"Can I ask you about the content of the final deal," continues Pat McFadden.

"Is the Ceta agreement what the government is aiming for?" he asks.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) is a free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada.

Mr Davis responds by saying that the prime minster has made it plain that the UK is looking for a bespoke agreement.

"We want tarrif free access for goods, and free access for services with non-tarrif barriers when we can get them."

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Pat McFadden asks David Davis to comment on a letter from Conservative Chris Heaton-Harris to university vice-chancellors, asking for details of Brexit courses.

"I haven't seen it," Mr Davis replies.

"I'm not going to comment on other colleagues activities that I haven't seen myself."

Select Committee
Parliament

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Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg asks about "the money" and whether David Davis agrees with a House of Lords report that concluded the UK would have no legal obligation under EU law to pay a financial settlement, if we left without a deal being agreed.

"I think no is a step too far," says David Davis.

The Brexit secretary continues by telling Mr Rees-Mogg that the "thrust of your argument is right" but that the UK's position from day one of negotiations was that the issue of money was less around legal obligations, and more about moral arguments.

Select Committee
Parliament

Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse asks whether the UK's future deal with the EU would have to be completed in a year's time in order to allow time for the 27 other countries to ratify it before 2019.

David Davis tells her that he's working towards ensuring the deal is agreed with the Counil and Commission by 2019.

"I would not be mortified if the ratification process ran into the transition period," he adds.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Peter Bone asks why membership of the EU shouldn't just be extended until March 2021.

"We did actually have a referendum, you may have missed it," quips David Davis.

Select Committee
Parliament

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The DUP's Sammy Wilson asks why a transitional arrangement is necessary "if we know the end destination".

David Davis repeats the three reasons he gave to Hilary Benn a few minutes ago.

"You've mentioned that there are some issues that need to be addressed," continues Mr Wilson.

"How long do you see a transitional arrangement going on?"

"Not very long," says Mr Davis, explaining that one of the reasons for keeping things similar to the status quo is to cut down the time needed.

Select Committee
Parliament

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"The PM seemed to suggest recently that agreeing the deep and comprehensive partnership would have to come before the agreement of the implementation period," continues Hilary Benn.

"What we are intending to do is get the form of the implementation period agreed quickly," says David Davis.

He suggests that there will be guidance on the implementation period in December.

Mr Davis adds that the government wants to conclude the overall negotiations by the end of March 2019.

He says that there are three reasons for the implementation period; to give the UK government longer to put in place any changes it needs to put in, to give European countries time to put in place structures they need, and to give businesses time after the deal is agreed to implement any necessary changes.

And the Brexit Secretary says he believes a trade deal will be agreed before March 2019.

BBC News UK

The UK has voted to leave the European Union. It is scheduled to depart on 29 March, 2019.

Talks are currently taking place on three aspects of how Brexit will work - focusing on how much the UK owes the EU, what happens to the Northern Ireland border and what happens to UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK.

The UK wants to talk about future trade relations - and a plan for a two year "transition" period to smooth the way to post-Brexit relations. But the EU says they will not talk about the future until enough progress has been made on the other issues.

Read more here.

Select Committee
Parliament

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"A great deal has happened since you last appeared before us," says chair Hilary Benn, as David Davis takes his seat.

He begins by asking whether the UK will have the same access to the single market during the implementation period.

"We don't want there to be a big change from going out of membership of the union and the implementation period," Mr Davis tells the committee.

"So yes, is the answer."

Select Committee
Parliament

The committee is chaired by Labour’s Hilary Benn.

The other members of the committee are:

Mr Peter Bone, external Conservative

Joanna Cherry, external Scottish National Party

Mr Christopher Chope, external Conservative

Stephen Crabb, external Conservative

Mr Jonathan Djanogly, external Conservative

Richard Graham, external Conservative

Peter Grant, external Scottish National Party

Wera Hobhouse, external Liberal Democrat

Andrea Jenkyns, external Conservative

Stephen Kinnock, external Labour

Jeremy Lefroy, external Conservative

Mr Pat McFadden, external Labour

Craig Mackinlay, external Conservative

Seema Malhotra, external Labour (Co-op)

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg, external Conservative

Emma Reynolds, external Labour

Stephen Timms, external Labour

Mr John Whittingdale, external Conservative

Hywel Williams, external Plaid Cymru

Sammy Wilson, external Democratic Unionist Party

Select Committee
Parliament

The Brexit Committee will shortly begin its evidence session on the progress of the UK’s negotiations on EU withdrawal. The committee will be hearing from Brexit Secretary, David Davis.

In this inquiry, the committee is looking at the priorities and positions of the UK government and of the Commission, the remaining 27 EU countries and the European Parliament.

Also of interest are the structure and sequence of the negotiations and whether the Brexit department and the rest of the government have the capacity to manage the negotiation process effectively.

Welcome to another busy day at Westminster, as we cover debates, legislation - and PMQs later today.

First though, we're heading to the committee rooms...

House of Lords
Parliament

As peers continue to debate the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill we'll leave our coverage for tonight.