Lords EU Committee to question David Davis and Lord Darling on Brexit negotiations

The session with Lord Darling forms part of the Committee's inquiry, Brexit: deal or no deal. The session with Mr Davis is the latest of his regular appearances before the Committee on the progress of the Brexit negotiations, and will also include questions on transition and the prospect of ‘no deal'.

The Committee will question Lord Darling at 14:05 on Tuesday 31 October in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords. Questions are likely to include:

• What are the most significant stumbling-blocks to an agreement being reached? How can these be overcome?
• Is the Government doing enough to prepare for the possibility of ‘no deal'?
• What would be the implications, either positive or negative, if there were to be ‘no deal' on the future UK-EU trade relationship?
• How likely are jobs and activity to relocate away from the UK, and where will they relocate to? What will the scale of such relocation be?
• Has the Prime Minister's Florence speech, taken with subsequent announcements, provided clarity on the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations?
• Is a transition arrangement a necessary component of any lasting agreement, and if so, why? Is it in both sides' interests for a transition arrangement to be agreed?
• What are the necessary components of a transition arrangement?

The session with David Davis will start at 16:05 in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords. Questions are likely to include:

• Why have we not been able to reach an agreement on the financial settlement, and how can the current impasse over the financial settlement be resolved?
• How can we move beyond expressions of intent to identifying practical solutions to resolve the Irish land border question, particularly regarding the free movement of goods?
• What does ‘no deal' mean in practice? What would be the consequences for the UK, good and bad, if there were to be no deal under Article 50?
• What is the response to the opposition of the US and other countries to the joint UK/EU proposal on future tariff rate quotas?
• The Prime Minister has affirmed that the UK will seek an implementation period of approximately two years. What is the purpose of this period, and how will it work in practice?
• What are the key elements of the "new, deep and special partnership with the European Union" that the Government is seeking?
• To what extent are divisions within the Cabinet, combined with the party balance in the House of Commons, hampering the Government's ability to negotiate effectively?