Brexit supporters marching against a second referendum (Picture: Getty Images)

The Government has commissioned 58 studies about the impact of Brexit – but hasn’t published any of them.

Brexit Secretary David Davis provided a House of Lords committee with a list of industrial sectors covered by the studies, which was then tweeted by Sky News political editor Faisal Islam.

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But he made clear the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) will continue to resist pressure to release the impact studies into the likely effect of leaving the EU.

He told the Lords EU External Affairs Sub-Committee: ‘We will not publish anything that would undermine the Government’s ability to negotiate the best deal in the national interest.’




In a letter to committee chair Baroness Verma, he said that around 88% of the UK’s economy was covered by the 58 sectors, which range from advertising, aerospace and agriculture to telecommunications, textiles and tourism.

David Davis has provided a list of commissioned studies to the House of Lords (Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, a member of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee, said the publication of the list was ‘long overdue’.

But she added: ‘The Government’s lack of transparency remains a key concern.

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‘A key principle in policy development and decision-making is to engage a diverse range of voices in order to have the best analysis and make the best decisions. That’s why we have debate and democracy.

‘The Government’s reference to needing to conduct Brexit policy-making in a ‘safe place to allow for design and deliberation to be done in private’ seems to be more about keeping Parliament and the public in the dark.

‘Parliament is not here to give the Government a blank cheque on Brexit, but to assist in achieving the best deal for our economy and society.’

Faisal Islam tweeted that there were 58 unpublished reports on Brexit (Picture: Getty Images)

A UK Government spokesman said: ‘The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of analysis to support progress in the negotiations and ensure we ready for Brexit whatever the outcome.

‘This list details the 58 sectors that are used in the analysis and covers the breadth of the UK economy

‘Clearly, this analysis is closely tied to our negotiating position and it would undoubtedly be detrimental to our interests in the negotiation to publish it.

‘The Government has been clear on this point, and Parliament has voted not to disclose material that could damage the United Kingdom’s position in its negotiations with the EU.’

The full list of studies commissioned by the Government 1. Advertising and marketing 2. Aerospace 3. Agriculture, Animal Health and Food and Drink manufacturing 4. Architecture 5. Asset Management 6. Audit and accounting 7. Automotive 8. Aviation 9. Broadcasting 10.Bus and coach transport 11.Business services 12.Catering: retail and wholesale 13.Chemicals 14.Construction and Engineering 15.Consumer Goods 16.Crafts 17.Defence 18.Design: product, graphic, and fashion design 19.Electricity market, incl. renewables 20.Electronics 21.Environmental Services: waste 22.Environmental Services: water 23.Film, TV, video, radio and photography 24.Fintech 25.Fisheries 26.Gambling 27.Gas market 28.Higher Education 29.Insurance and pensions 30.IT, software, and computer services (incl. video games) 31.Legal Services 32.Life Sciences 33.Machinery and equipment 34.Maritime/ports including marine equipment 35.Market infrastructure (financial services) 36.Medical devices 37.Medical services and social care 38.Museums, galleries, and libraries 39.Music, performing and visual arts 40.Nuclear 41.Oil and fossil fuel production (including gas) 42.Payment services and systems 43.Pharmaceuticals 44.Post 45.Professional services 46.Publishing 47.Rail including manufacturing 48.Real Estate 49.Retail 50.Retail and corporate banking 51.Road haulage and logistics 52.Space 53.Steel and other metals/commodities 54.Technology (ICT) 55.Telecommunications 56.Textiles and Clothing 57.Tourism 58.Wholesale markets and investment banking

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