Contributions
550 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandHow are you, Mr Speaker? It has been so long. I met with Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin during my visit to Switzerland in February. Together we signed the UK-Switzerland trade…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandThe countries my hon. Friend mentions are for new free trade agreements, whereas of course the agreement with Switzerland was a continuity agreement. In fact, it was an unusual…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandSometimes one wonders how small people can actually become in this House of Commons. The Swiss deal is not small, it is not insignificant; it is worth over £32 billion a year.…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandI half-expected to see my right hon. Friend on the Front Bench with us this morning given the turn of events, but he is absolutely right that this is an important agreement. Over…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandThere are a number of technical interactions and some small technical issues that we shall continue to talk to the Swiss Government about. Of course the trade agreement itself is,…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTrade and Investment: SwitzerlandOf course a number of those who are engaged in trade continuity discussions with the UK are waiting to see what we will do in terms of Britain’s approach to the EU. They will be…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Health Services and Legal ActionI am not sure what the connection was between some of those points. Let me be clear that, through ISDS, investment claims can be made only in respect of established investments;…14 Mar 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Health Services and Legal ActionIt would be absolutely ridiculous of any Minister to try to tell businesses what they can and cannot do. I can tell the hon. Gentleman, though, that last year foreign direct…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI take the opportunity to praise the work of the Fairtrade organisation, which is so well led and co-ordinated by my very good friend Lord Price. It is essential that we look at…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis is an issue that the Government take seriously because we want to ensure that British companies have the right to trade where we think it is appropriate and where the British…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I have already said, the Government will ensure that all future trade agreements continue to protect the United Kingdom’s right to regulate public services. It could not be…14 Mar 2019HANSARDFuture Trade Deals: NHS and Other Public ServicesWe have looked widely at what other countries are doing, particularly when they have similar legislatures and legal systems, but what we have set out in the Command Paper is a…14 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionWe need to keep some balance in this debate. [ Interruption. ] I am not giving way—13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionThe Father of the House already had more time to make his contribution than I have had today. I want to answer the very direct question I was asked by the right hon. Member for…13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionMr Speaker, I have made it clear that in the nine minutes available to me, which I accepted in order to allow more Members time to speak, I will not be giving way. For much of…13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI am not giving way. The alternative is to revoke article 50 and have no Brexit at all, with unavoidable and unforeseeable consequences. This motion focuses on the date of 29…13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionThis has been a useful debate, if not unpredictable in its contributions. My right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Dame Caroline Spelman) made one of the key points in her…13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionPharmaceutical companies are ensuring— [ Interruption. ] I am not taking interventions. Pharmaceutical companies are ensuring adequate stocks and increased air freight capacity.…13 Mar 2019HANSARDLeaving the European Union: Temporary Tariff RegimeThe Government wish to inform the House about plans to implement a temporary tariff regime in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 29 March 2019. The Government…13 Mar 2019HANSARDUK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionFor me, what we are engaged in is the most important democratic debate in this country’s history. The British people have given our Parliament a clear instruction. It is time for…13 Mar 2019