First, can I start by saying that it is encouraging to see the contingency plans outlined by the Cabinet Secretary—sorry, the Cabinet Minister—in response to a ‘no deal’ Brexit? Because what has come out of the referendum issue is that politicians have spent an enormous amount of time arguing against the decision of the British people and very little time in preparing for our future outside the EU. But does the Cabinet Secretary not accept that what has not been considered is the ability of our business community to work out solutions to problems? And, indeed, through all the consideration and debates by politicians, it seems to have been a very neglected factor. So, let me quote Mr Duncan Buchanan of the Road Haulage Association:

‘Whatever deal you come up with, we are not going to support one type of deal, whether it is a free trade agreement, or Chequers, or staying in the single market, or the customs union. This is not for us as a trade body to recommend, it is purely a political thing. Whatever landscape you give us to work with, we will find ways of working with it. That is what supply chains do. That is what the whole logistics industry does. Whether we are in Europe, or we are trading with Turkey or China, or wherever, there are systems that can be put in place. Where we are now is the worst of all worlds, because there is no preparation at all.’

Now, does the Cabinet Secretary not agree that by far the greatest tonnage of goods entering Europe for the UK is containerised and that individual containers are not inspected, but travel through customs on declared manifests? As the Port of Rotterdam boasts in its port brochure, almost all freight travels through the port by an automated process. This includes freight from all parts of the globe. There is nothing to prevent all British and European ports adopting the same automated process. Almost all freight transferred between Canada and the USA is done by early manifest declarations, allowing for selected cargo checks only—no hold-ups, no huge lorry queues. Scare stories of rotting goods and huge queues at British and Irish ports are just that—scare stories—and it is disingenuous of Members of this Chamber to engage in such tactics. 

Again, Minister, will you not accept that all of us in this Chamber have to acknowledge one important factor: that it is as much in the interests of the people of Europe that they have ease of access to our markets as it is for us to theirs? But that does not have to include open borders for everybody who chooses to come here. Other than in Europe, no other country in the world allows such access, yet all trade successfully across the globe.

Lastly, Minister, on the matters of driving licences and car insurance, I have the advantage over the Minister in that I travelled extensively in Europe before we were members of the European Union, and I can assure him that green cards were absolutely no obstacle to travel and there were no insurance issues. So, I urge you, Minister: please don't cancel any arrangements you may have to drive on the continent over the coming years, no Brexit deal or not.