Seema Malhotra asks if Minister understands the impacts of Brexit

26th October, 2017

Yesterday, Secretary of State David Davis MP told Seema Malhotra MP that the Prime Minister had not read in full the government economic sectoral impact studies conducted into the UK leaving the European Union. Seema Malhotra MP has written to the Prime Minister to seek clarification on the matter.

Seema Malhotra MP, said:

“We are on the brink of the biggest change to our country’s economy for generations. It is staggering to hear David Davis suggest the Prime Minister has not even read the most important reports the Government has undertaken on the economic impact of Brexit. Theresa May has a responsibility to Parliament and the country to get Brexit right and ensure the ongoing prosperity of British businesses and families. The Prime Minister must clarify whether she has read the reports, or if David Davis is mistaken.”

The transcript of the Committee exchange on 25th October 2017 is as follows:

Seema Malhotra: Could I ask you another question? You have answered that question; that was very helpful. Has the Prime Minister seen the impact assessments that have been published, yes or no?
Mr Davis: The details of them? Sorry, did you say “have been published”?
Seema Malhotra: Sorry, I am just asking whether she has seen the impact assessments. A yes or no answer is fine.
Mr Davis: Which ones? I will give a proper answer; I do not give yes/no answers.
Seema Malhotra: I mean the impact assessments that you have not published.
Mr Davis: That we have not published?
Seema Malhotra: Yes.
Mr Davis: She will know the summary outcomes of them. She will not necessarily have read every single one. They are in excruciating detail.
Seema Malhotra: Has the Cabinet seen the analyses?
Mr Davis: No, they will not have. They will have seen the summary outcomes. That is all.
Seema Malhotra: I imagine there may have been interest expressed if they covered the areas of other Secretaries of State.
Mr Davis: They would have elements of their own departments. Of course they will have a view of anything their own department is responsible for, yes.