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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/15/uk-defends-asking-firms-in-border-consultations-to-sign-secrecy-deals
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| UK defends secrecy deals for firms involved in border consultations | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government has defended asking businesses to sign secrecy agreements in private discussions about the UK’s future border arrangements with the EU, which reportedly include laying out scenarios for a no-deal Brexit. | The government has defended asking businesses to sign secrecy agreements in private discussions about the UK’s future border arrangements with the EU, which reportedly include laying out scenarios for a no-deal Brexit. |
| Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are reported to have been signed with logistics companies and industry bodies who have been part of a consultation on the future UK border, according to Sky News. | |
| Companies and industry groups are reported to have been asked to sign the agreements during private discussions with the government, held in order to give officials clearer data on what is being transported over the border, as well as to ask for their response to possible future post-Brexit scenarios, including no deal with the EU. | Companies and industry groups are reported to have been asked to sign the agreements during private discussions with the government, held in order to give officials clearer data on what is being transported over the border, as well as to ask for their response to possible future post-Brexit scenarios, including no deal with the EU. |
| The government said the agreements were enabling practical planning discussions with stakeholders, who operate systems and processes at the border. | The government said the agreements were enabling practical planning discussions with stakeholders, who operate systems and processes at the border. |
| The Guardian has been told that the NDAs have not been confined to haulage companies and trade industry bodies, but applied across other industries that could be affected by Brexit. | |
| One managing director said the chair of their manufacturing industry group had signed an NDA prior to discussions with the environment and business departments. | One managing director said the chair of their manufacturing industry group had signed an NDA prior to discussions with the environment and business departments. |
| “The chair of the group meets with government officials but is not permitted to discuss what was said, in any form, with the companies who make up the membership,” the director said. | “The chair of the group meets with government officials but is not permitted to discuss what was said, in any form, with the companies who make up the membership,” the director said. |
| “He returns confirming he’s been to meetings but forbidden to say anything about how or if industry questions were answered, what form future trading may take or any other aspect they discussed. So Brexit planning and strategy, if there is any, remains hidden.” | “He returns confirming he’s been to meetings but forbidden to say anything about how or if industry questions were answered, what form future trading may take or any other aspect they discussed. So Brexit planning and strategy, if there is any, remains hidden.” |
| MPs have said the government proposals in discussions should be made public, given that parliament is set to vote on both the trade bill and the taxation (cross-border trade) bill in the coming months. | MPs have said the government proposals in discussions should be made public, given that parliament is set to vote on both the trade bill and the taxation (cross-border trade) bill in the coming months. |
| The Labour MP Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, which has been highly critical of the preparation for border crossings, told Sky News the agreements were unusual and normally only used with commercial contracts, not in consultations with stakeholders. | |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: “Non-disclosure agreements are absolutely standard practice for the government to use. They are crucial to an exchange of information and opinion on options and scenarios between ourselves and business. | A Downing Street spokesman said: “Non-disclosure agreements are absolutely standard practice for the government to use. They are crucial to an exchange of information and opinion on options and scenarios between ourselves and business. |
| “They ensure all planning negotiations and decisions are based on what is most appropriate for the UK to ensure a safe and secure border.” | “They ensure all planning negotiations and decisions are based on what is most appropriate for the UK to ensure a safe and secure border.” |
| HMRC also insisted the agreements were standard practice, and that they protected commercially sensitive information provided by operators, but Hillier said they “shackle organisations that might want to criticise or comment on Brexit”. | |
| Labour is believed to be considering further options to press the government on what it has disclosed to businesses. The shadow Brexit minister Paul Blomfield said there was “no legitimate reason why ministers should be instructing businesses to sign these non-disclosure agreements”. | |
| “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the government is trying to hide the fact that they have no plausible plan for protecting British trade and manufacturing,” he said. | “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the government is trying to hide the fact that they have no plausible plan for protecting British trade and manufacturing,” he said. |
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| Labour’s Chuka Umunna, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said: “This is a shocking and very serious development. The government is sharing its plans for Britain’s borders with companies, collecting data on the impact of their plans and then making those companies sign gagging agreements to withhold the information from parliament and the British people. | Labour’s Chuka Umunna, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said: “This is a shocking and very serious development. The government is sharing its plans for Britain’s borders with companies, collecting data on the impact of their plans and then making those companies sign gagging agreements to withhold the information from parliament and the British people. |
| “It is undemocratic and makes a complete mockery of parliamentary sovereignty. MPs must be provided with this information in order to reach an informed view on the customs and trade bills which are currently making their way through the House of Commons.” | “It is undemocratic and makes a complete mockery of parliamentary sovereignty. MPs must be provided with this information in order to reach an informed view on the customs and trade bills which are currently making their way through the House of Commons.” |
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