House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Chris Leslie says 12% of the UK's trade could be "thrown into chaos" because of a "failure" to roll over EU trade agreements with countries outside the bloc.

He says the international trade secretary previously bragged about how easy it would be to achieve these agreements.

He asks why expectations were raised so high when "the reality was so disappointing".

He requests an "accurate update" on how many other trade agreements will be lapsing, and what the consequences would be of this.

He asks when the government will "face reality" and admit that "admit Brexit is not going well, and presents a clear and present danger".

House of Lords
Parliament

Business kicks off in the Lords at 11am this morning with oral questions on Brexit, progress towards the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland and the prosecution of grooming gangs.

The final oral question concerns ensuring a sufficient supply of insulin after Brexit.

After that, peers will consider the ability of local authorities to deliver essential services, social and human rights issues in the Philippines, and the threats presented by climate change.

House of Commons
Parliament

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International Trade Minister George Hollingberry says the UK currently participates in around 40 free trade agreements with over 70 countries as part of the EU.

These include economic partnerships, association agreements, trade agreements with countries closely aligned with the EU, and more conventional free trade agreements, he adds.

He says the government is "committed to ensure the benefits are maintained through a smooth transition", and is in discussions with other countries in order to do this.

Image source, AFP

Brexit questions come to an end – Labour’s Chris Leslie now asks an urgent question about efforts to roll over EU trade agreements after Brexit.

In 2017, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said around 40 EU trade deals would be replicated by the UK before Brexit so there would be no disruption to trade.

However none of these deals have yet been rolled over, although the Department for International Trade says some agreements are at an “advanced stage”.

The UK has reached an initial agreement with Switzerland to replicate the existing EU-Switzerland arrangements "as far as possible”.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer asks whether the prime minister is seeking binding changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement, or "still less, clarifications".

Stephen Barclay says people still don't know what Labour's position is, especially as they aren't engaging with the government.

"Even Len McClusky" is taking part in discussions, he adds. He asks whether Labour is still committed to its manifesto commitment to leave the EU.

Sir Keir replies: "that was the definition of a non-answer".

He says Labour wants a "comprehensive customs union, and a single market deal" - a predicts there would be a majority of MPs in favour of this approach.

He asks whether the PM intends to put the deal to MPs again, and if so when.

Mr Barclay says the government will need to secure the support of MPs for whatever deal is agreed.

He suggests the shadow Brexit secretary's personal policy is remaining in the EU by triggering a second referendum, which isn't consistent with the Labour policy.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says it is right to acknowledge the "substantial defeat" the government faced over its Brexit deal last week.

He says the prime minister continues to engage with MPs on a way forward, although Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has "not accepted the invitiation" to join talks with Theresa May.

He says the government has "worked to address immediate concerns about the deal", and continues to seek a deal which can receive cross-party support.

Conservative MP Jeremy Lefroy raises concerns about the services industry if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, as it makes up a large proportion of the UK's economy.

Mr Barclay says 80% of the UK's economy is services, and the opportunity to have a good relationship with the EU on services is "clear in the political declaration".

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP MP Martyn Day asks whether the government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to hold a second referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says the government will not hold a second referendum and is not bringing forward any legislation to do so.

Mr Day says the prime minister is to return to Parliament in a week's time and expects MPs to vote on her motion for what happens next with Brexit, after rejecting the PM's deal earlier this month.

He asks why, if MPs can have a "second vote", why is it not acceptable for the public to do the same.

Mr Barclay says some MPs do not want a second vote and it is "not a great look to the public" to say "we got it wrong three times, but let's give it a fourth go".

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Bob Blackman asks what steps the government is taking to secure citizenship rights for UK citizens residing in the EU and EU citizens residing in the UK after Brexit.

Brexit Minister Robin Walker says the prime minister announced this week that the government will scrap the £65 application fee for EU citizens seeking settled status in the UK, and the government wants "valued members of our community to stay".

Lib Dem Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake says the waiving of the £65 charge is "welcome", but it still leaves EU citizens as "second-class citizens in the country they call their home".

He asks whether the government will be covering admin costs incurred in the application process.

Mr Walker says the government is investing "substantial resources" in ensuring that the scheme works for EU citizens.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston asks what the government has done to o-operate with other EU countries over planning for a no-deal Brexit.

Brexit Minister Chris Heaton-Harris says it is in the UK and EU's mutual interest to discuss contingency plans for all scenarios, and the government is pleased with the EU's decision to cooperate on this.

Labour MP Hilary Benn, who chairs the Brexit committee, says the possibility of a no-deal Brexit has caused a "slow and damaging hemorrhage" to business confidence.

He calls for government to say the UK will not leave the EU without a deal, under any circumstances.

Mr Heaton-Harris replies that Mr Benn's question begs the question of why he is not supporting the prime minister's deal, which he says offers businesses stability.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Barry Sheerman says the government's Brexit preparations for farmers have been "sufficient", but not enough planning has been done to aid international businesses.

He says on many national newspaper front pages today there are stories of "hundreds of businesses moving to the Netherlands and Ireland".

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says "timing is of the essence" for businesses, who face decisions over their no-deal planning "and those decisions are real".

He says many backbench amendments which have been tabled to next week's Brexit motion "seek to delay uncertainty".

The MPs who tabled them need to question how this is helping businesses, he adds, who want the "certainty and stability" provided by the prime minister's deal.

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP MP Philippa Whitford kicks off today's questions, asking what recent discussions have taken place with the devolved administrations on the UK leaving the EU.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says he has met with members of the devolved administrations "as a priority", and the prime minister has regular meetings with first ministers.

Ms Whitford asks about the accessibility of medical products after Brexit, stating that a list of critical drugs was only supplied to the Scottish government in December, despite the UK government beginning to stockpile medicine supplies in the summer.

Mr Barclay says medicines and medical products "are our number one priority" in terms of the supply of goods, and notes that the extra ferry capacity that has been purchased has been done so "very much with that in mind".

House of Commons
Parliament

Hello and welcome to our coverage of what’s going on in Westminster.

The day begins shortly, when ministers at the Brexit department face a scheduled questioning session.

There will then be two urgent questions: the first on efforts to roll over EU trade deals after Brexit, and the other on a report about the supervision of sexual offenders.

After this, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom will announce next week’s parliamentary timetable.

This afternoon MPs will debate Holocaust Memorial Day and treatment for people who have ME.

Finally, Labour Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah will lead the adjournment debate, on the management of Newcastle United.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Analysis from Mark D'Arcy

Nothing has changed. Again.

All the main actors at PMQs struck their usual poses. It was striking that the House was not packed out in the way it used to be for PMQs, as the usual questions got the usual answers.

And while minute scrutiny of the Prime Ministerial language might reveal a couple of micro-hints that she is not utterly against a customs union, or utterly certain of leaving on March 29th, May-watchers need to beware of over-interpreting every variation in her language.

So, beyond the standard exchanges of barbs between the big three players, May, Corbyn and Blackford, what nuggets of meaning can be excavated from today’s 40 minutes?

The two Brexit questions from Tory backbenchers highlighted well-known tensions; Andrew Rosindell wanted no backsliding on the date of Brexit, and the PM seemed to give him what he wanted; Peter Bone wanted a purge of remainer ministers, and was probably not helped by sitting a couple of places from one of his targets, Margot James.

The result was that he sat down to growls and grumbles, rather than slaps on the back. He got a roar from some colleagues, but also mutterings of “rubbish” from others.

Then there were some powerful backbench questions on other matters (ie non-Brexit issues). Sarah Jones spoke about the risks to residents of tower blocks covered by the kind of cladding involved in the Grenfell disaster, and her question kept the attention of the House, despite its length.

John Mann had a harrowing tale of a teenage constituent who took his own life after a mental health crisis and Lucy Allan asked about an inquiry into the Telford child sexual abuse case.

Labour's Liz McInnes highlighted the decline of the high street and Tory Rachel Maclean highlighted the importance of screening for cerviacal cancer.

A reminder that there is more going on in Britain than Brexit...

Select Committee
Parliament

Asked about a short term extension of Article 50, Mr Barclay says both the prime minister and members of Parliament have been clear about the date on which the UK leaves the EU.

The date of 29 March as exit day is enshrined in law, he says, pointing out that it is also sometimes forgotten that extension is "not a unilateral decision". It's not guaranteed the EU would allow an extension.

Extension would require MEPs standing for election, he says, which would be "deeply damaging to our democracy". It would also "prolong the uncertainty".

Select Committee
Parliament

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Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay says the supply of medicines and medical products is the "absolute priority" in no deal preparations.

There has been "significant" work done on this by both the Department of Health and also the Department of Transport, as well as by his own department and the Cabinet Office.

Increased preparation has also been about ensuring businesses are aware of technical notices and other information, such as through social media advertising.

A significant amount of work has been done, he says, but adds that "I wouldn't overstate it because not all of the no deal preparation is within our control".

House of Commons
Parliament

The day started with Wales questions, followed by a lively PMQs where every other question seemed to be on Brexit and the parliamentary deadlock over what should happen next.

Jeremy Corbyn accused Theresa May of having an "open door" but a "closed mind" when it comes to cross-party talks.

Then there was an urgent question on the courts IT failure - the government blamed the failure on a faulty routing server, which has now been replaced.

The Commons agreed swiftly to all Lords amendments to the Tenant Fees Bill, then moved to an adjournment debate on fire safety and cladding.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Housing Minister Kit Malthouse says he wants to "dispel the idea that the government is complacent" on fire safety and cladding, as "an enormous effort is being invested into getting this right".

A tragedy like Grenfell should never have happened in 2017, he says, and the government is determined to ensure it never happens again.

He says the government has funded "a comprehensive testing programme" of cladding, and has given fire and safety rescue services aid to "apply interim measures" to all buildings where flammable cladding exists.

The government has invested £400m to aid local authorities in the removal of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding, he adds, admitting that it some cases the process has been "slow".

He notes there are 56 private buildings with ACM cladding where the owners' plans are "unclear", which has fallen from over 200 in June last year, and the government has commissioned a testing programme on non-ACM materials.

"We do need a systemic overhaul," he says, "but this will take time".

Image source, Ge

Tory MP Stephen Barclay was appointed Brexit secretary in November 2018, following the resignation of Dominic Raab in opposition to the withdrawal agreement.

Prior to this, Mr Barclay spent a year as a minister of state in the health and social care department. He's been MP for North East Cambridgeshire since 2010.

Before becoming an MP, he worked as a banking executive at Barclays (no relation).

You can read more about him here.

Select Committee
Parliament

Stephen Barclay says the EU have said they want to be clear on what the UK is asking for, which in his view "presupposes" that they are open to further discussion on the withdrawal agreement.

Asked about negotiation aims regarding the backstop plan for the Irish border, he says it is important to recognise that "there are issues for both sides".

The central focus is now finding "what it is that will carry the confidence" of MPs, he says.