UK minister admits no assessment done on Brexit with no trade deal
Davis says prospect of no agreement 'not as frightening as people think'
There had been no assessment so far of the economic impact of Brexit without a trade deal, the minister in charge of the UK's departure from the European Union admitted on Wednesday.
With only two weeks to go before the government's self-imposed deadline to trigger the formal negotiation process with the EU, David Davis stunned a committee with his lack of grasp across several subjects in his portfolio.
Under examination from a cross-party committee of MPs, Davis said his department had also not looked at the implications of health care for Britons travelling in the EU.
Neither had it considered the effect on data transfer, which has major implications for the tech industry, he told the committee.
The minister also said the concept of an exit from the negotiations without any sort of deal was “not as frightening as some people think”, and that “I can’t quantify it for you yet. I may well be able to do so in a year’s time.
Furthermore he warned that UK dairy and meat producers would face tariffs of up to 40% under World Trade Organisation rules.
Asked whether an economic assessment had been done after the referendum vote last June, Davis said: “Under my time, no.”
Cabinet ministers have been warned by Davis that there was a real chance of talks with other members of the 28 nation bloc breaking down.
Economic impacts did not have to be measured on “a piece of paper with numbers on it”, he told the committee.