Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Prime Minister on 2 March stating that "our access to each other's markets will be less than it is now", and to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on 24 January 2017 (HC Deb, col 169), when the decision not to secure "comprehensive free trade agreements...and customs agreements" with the EU "that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have" was made.
Answer
Negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership with the EU is a priority for the Government as we leave the EU. We want to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with our European neighbours, as well as to negotiate our own trade agreements around the world.
As the Prime Minister reiterated in her Mansion House speech ‘we both want good access to each other’s markets and we want competition between us to be fair and open.’
The agreement we reach with the EU must respect the result of the referendum. It was a vote to take control of our borders, laws and money. We are committed to securing a bold and ambitious economic partnership with the EU that is of greater scope than any such existing agreement.