No Deal planning left 'very late in the day'

• Exiting the European Union Committee

Chair of the Brexit Select Committee, Hilary Benn MP, said:

"Ministers have left their No Deal planning very late in the day. A lot of questions remain to be answered, and they seem to be relying on continued co-operation with the EU without any indication of what would happen if this was not forthcoming.

A failure to reach agreement with the EU will also mean no transition period so all this uncertainty could be just seven months away.

These papers tell us three things. First, they confirm that No Deal - far from being better than a bad deal - would be very damaging economically. Businesses that export to the EU would face the cost and bureaucracy of customs, safety and security and rules of origin declarations for the first time, and in certain sectors, tariffs.

Secondly, there is no guarantee for British citizens living in other EU countries about the future of their pension payments.

Thirdly, there is still no clarity on how the return of a hard border in Northern Ireland will be avoided, and ministers have simply told businesses to seek advice from the Irish Government. This is an extraordinary abdication of responsibility.

Having wasted two years, these papers show exactly why No Deal is unacceptable and why ministers must now ensure that an agreement is reached with the EU which provides a transition period and protects jobs, trade and investment."

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