Extract from questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office: UK Preparedness: End of Transition - Dec 17
Friday, 18 December 2020 09:09
Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD): A great deal of concern
has been expressed to me by local businesses in Edinburgh West, and
there are national concerns among industries such as the Whisky
sector, about the difficulties businesses are having with things
like not knowing how they should label products given that there
is, as yet, no clarity about our future relationship with the
European Union. Anything that the Government can do to extend the
period of adjustment would be appreciated...Request free trial
(Edinburgh West) (LD): A great deal of concern has
been expressed to me by local businesses in Edinburgh West, and
there are national concerns among industries such as the
Whisky sector, about the
difficulties businesses are having with things like not knowing how
they should label products given that there is, as yet, no clarity
about our future relationship with the European Union. Anything
that the Government can do to extend the period of adjustment would
be appreciated by businesses and would help to offset the Scottish
National party drive towards breaking up the United Kingdom, about
which I know the Government share my concern.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the
Cabinet Office (): The hon. Lady is absolutely right; we need
to do everything we can to support businesses in Scotland and
elsewhere. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
International Trade is doing everything she can to help the
Whisky sector, not least through
discussions with the US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer.
More broadly, we want to make sure, in the free trade agreement
that we seek, that there can be a smooth glide path for businesses
in Scotland and elsewhere. I look forward to continuing to work
with the hon. Lady. She has been a consistent voice for Scotland’s
businesses, both in the House and before she came to the Commons,
and her advocacy, free of any partisan agenda, is something of
which her constituents should be proud.
|
