Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab) [V]: We all know the
tremendous additional challenges that our businesses face in
exporting goods to the EU, nowhere more so than the chemicals
industry, which supports thousands of jobs on Teesside. The ideal
situation would be for the UK to remain part of the EU
REACH—registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of
chemicals—framework, thus accessing the services of the European
Chemicals Agency, but Ministers seem to think differently...Request free trial
(Stockton North) (Lab) [V]: We all know the
tremendous additional challenges that our businesses face in
exporting goods to the EU, nowhere more so than the chemicals
industry, which supports thousands of jobs on Teesside. The ideal
situation would be for the UK to remain part of the EU
REACH—registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of
chemicals—framework, thus accessing the services of the European
Chemicals Agency, but Ministers seem to think differently and that
could cost us £1 billion a year. How will the Government protect
our chemicals industry going forward?
The Minister for Trade Policy (): Our
chemicals industry is extremely important and we are well aware of
the issues in the industry with all its trade partners. I remind
the hon. Gentleman that the EU deal is the responsibility of the
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, but I am sure that the
chemicals industry will make its voice heard at the Brexit business
taskforce. The Government stand ready to assist the industry,
which, as the hon. Gentleman rightly says, is vital for our future
prosperity.
