Question
Our defence and our economy are closely tied, and both depend on our relationship with our closest neighbours. The Prime Minister wants to have an “honest conversation” with the public about Brexit, and that begins with an honest assessment of its damage. The Conservatives’ hard Brexit is costing the Treasury up to £90 billion a year in lost tax revenues. The biggest lever we could pull to reverse that damage would be to join the single market and a customs union. That would deliver the revenues we need to cut taxes, grow our defence spending and invest in public services. The Prime Minister wants us to be led by evidence, so are the Government conducting their own impact assessment into the benefits of joining the single market and a customs union? If not, why not, and if so, can the Foreign Secretary confirm when it will be published?
Answer
I am not going to go all the way with the hon. Gentleman— [ Laughter. ] Sorry; that was an unfortunate turn of phrase. In all seriousness, we have had 10 years of looking at the status quo and the Brexit deal we have at the moment. That Brexit deal is not serving our country well enough, so Members of this House have to make a decision: do they think that the status quo is right and that we should hang on to it, or can we do better? I think the most important date for us in Government at the moment is 20 November, the day of our EU summit, where we will do better on trade, on defence and security, and on all the other issues. Parties on all sides have to decide what they think about this. Do they think the status quo is right? We think we can do better, and that is what we are going to do.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (4/100)
The reply does not answer any of the three parts of the question. It does not say whether an impact assessment of single market and customs union membership exists or is under way, does not give a reason for not carrying one out, and gives no publication date. The only date it mentions, 20 November, refers to an EU summit, not to any assessment, and the rest is general political comment on the current deal. The person who asked would most likely need to submit a follow-up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is the Government conducting its own impact assessment of the benefits of joining the single market and a customs union? | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply never says whether an impact assessment of single market and customs union membership exists or is under way. It only makes general claims that the current Brexit deal is not serving the country well and that the Government thinks it can do better, which is political framing rather than an answer about assessment work. |
| If the Government is not conducting such an assessment, why not? | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply does not state a reason for not conducting an assessment, and the opening lines are an evasive aside. It only urges Members to decide whether the status quo is right, which leaves the 'why not' unanswered. |
| If the Government is conducting such an assessment, when will it be published? | Not Addressed | Generic MISREADS QUESTION | No publication date for any assessment is given. The only date mentioned is 20 November as the EU summit, which is a different event from the publication timing the item asks about. |