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David Davis on Brexit: UK's plan still being worked on David Davis on Brexit: UK's plan still being worked on
(35 minutes later)
The government's plan for Brexit negotiations will not be published until February at the earliest.The government's plan for Brexit negotiations will not be published until February at the earliest.
Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs there was a lot of research and policy work to be done before it was ready.Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs there was a lot of research and policy work to be done before it was ready.
Mr Davis said he wanted to be "as open as we can be" without undermining the UK's negotiating position.Mr Davis said he wanted to be "as open as we can be" without undermining the UK's negotiating position.
The minister also said if no final agreement was reached a transitional deal could be struck "if it is necessary and only if it is necessary".The minister also said if no final agreement was reached a transitional deal could be struck "if it is necessary and only if it is necessary".
The government has said it will notify the EU of its intention to leave - beginning the two year process of talks on its exit - by the end of March at the latest.The government has said it will notify the EU of its intention to leave - beginning the two year process of talks on its exit - by the end of March at the latest.
In response to pressure from Labour and some Tory MPs, ministers agreed last week to give more detail of their negotiating aims before starting the exit negotiations.In response to pressure from Labour and some Tory MPs, ministers agreed last week to give more detail of their negotiating aims before starting the exit negotiations.
'Smooth and orderly''Smooth and orderly'
Appearing before the Commons Select Brexit committee for the first time, Mr Davis was asked by its chair Hilary Benn when the plan would be released. Appearing before the Commons Select Brexit committee for the first time, Mr Davis said the "broad outline" of the UK's objectives were known but the detail had to be filled in.
He declined to name a specific date but ruled out it happening in January. Asked by its chair, Labour MP Hilary Benn, when the plan would be released, Mr Davis would not be drawn on a specific date but ruled out it happening in January.
"The reasons for setting the final possible date, 31 March (for triggering the Article 50 process of leaving the EU), were numerous but one of them was the determination to carry out all of the policy work first, consult properly and then bring something to Parliament," he told MPs."The reasons for setting the final possible date, 31 March (for triggering the Article 50 process of leaving the EU), were numerous but one of them was the determination to carry out all of the policy work first, consult properly and then bring something to Parliament," he told MPs.
"It won't be next month. The policy work is still under way and there are quite a few decisions that have to be made.""It won't be next month. The policy work is still under way and there are quite a few decisions that have to be made."
Officials, he said, were conducting "sectoral analysis" of the impact of Brexit in 57 areas likely to feature in the negotiations, highlighting home affairs as one area where more preparation needed to take place.Officials, he said, were conducting "sectoral analysis" of the impact of Brexit in 57 areas likely to feature in the negotiations, highlighting home affairs as one area where more preparation needed to take place.
Transition terms
Asked about the likely scope and length of the plan, he said anything which jeopardised the UK getting the best possible deal from the negotiations would be left out. The test, he said, would be "will releasing information be hazardous or not? If it is not, we will release it".
He told MPs that his goal was a "smooth and orderly" exit from the EU and - on trade - "maximum market access with minimum of disruption" to British firms.He told MPs that his goal was a "smooth and orderly" exit from the EU and - on trade - "maximum market access with minimum of disruption" to British firms.
Pressed about whether he agreed with Chancellor Philip Hammond who has expressed his support for transitional arrangements for a limited period to cushion the impact of leaving the EU, he said he would not rule anything out at this stage.Pressed about whether he agreed with Chancellor Philip Hammond who has expressed his support for transitional arrangements for a limited period to cushion the impact of leaving the EU, he said he would not rule anything out at this stage.
He told the committee that an interim arrangement could be struck "if it's necessary, and only if it's necessary" but that a deal was "all negotiable" within the 18-month framework currently suggested by European Union negotiators.He told the committee that an interim arrangement could be struck "if it's necessary, and only if it's necessary" but that a deal was "all negotiable" within the 18-month framework currently suggested by European Union negotiators.
"We need to know where we are going before we talk about a transition"."We need to know where we are going before we talk about a transition".
Asked whether such a situation could involve the UK paying the EU to maintain access to the single market for a short period of time, he said this was an option but added "keeping something open does not mean we are doing it".Asked whether such a situation could involve the UK paying the EU to maintain access to the single market for a short period of time, he said this was an option but added "keeping something open does not mean we are doing it".