THE government has no idea what it will cost to leave the EU without a deal, Brexit Secretary David Davis admitted yesterday.

In a combative session before MPs on the Exiting the EU Committee, Davis said the government was expecting Royal Assent for invoking Article 50 today to begin the withdrawal process.

But under questioning from committee chair Hillary Benn, he said no economic assessment of the impact of leaving the EU without a trade deal has been made.

He also said the vital farming sector could face tariffs of 40 per cent on exports if Britain is left subject to World Trade Organisation rules and UK travellers to EU nations may lose healthcare protection. And the minister also revealed there are no plans for official discussions with devolved governments before the starting gun is fired.

Despite this, Davis insisted the new political reality is “not as frightening as some people think” and told the committee a good deal is possible, stating: “From talking to member states’ foreign secretaries, finance ministers and prime ministers, there is a growing determination to get a constructive outcome.”

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But following the session, Scottish Brexit Minister Michael Russell said: “It is deeply concerning that the UK Government is still unable to answer basic questions about a whole host of vital issues.

“The possible impact is becoming clear, with possible 40 per cent tariffs on farm products and the threat of UK citizens losing healthcare rights in other European countries.

“This is exactly why the people of Scotland deserve a choice between a hard Tory Brexit and becoming an independent country.

“I do not hold David Davis personally responsible for the shambles of what has happened, but his lack of answers today is symptomatic of the shambles that the Tory Brexit has turned into.”

Davis told MPs the government can introduce measures to mitigate issues like farming export tariffs and it would be pointless to calculate their economic impact before then.

He said estimates by the Leave campaign had not been “very robust” and, when pressed about his own department’s work, said no report to his “satisfaction” had been created.

Davis said he has told Cabinet colleagues to prepare for the “unlikely scenario” of a no-deal result, but said he was “trying” for a “free trade, friction-free, open agreement”. On reliable forecasts, he said he may be able to produce some in one year’s time, adding: “When we have finished making the Lego blocks, we will build the house.”

Theresa May has already indicated that “no deal is better than a bad deal”. Explaining her position, Davis said: “She said that because in the emotional aftermath of the referendum, there were lots of threats of punishment deals and all the rest of it. We had to be clear that we could actually manage this in such a way as to be better than a bad deal, and that is true.

“I can’t quantify it for you yet. I may well be able to do so in a year’s time. It’s not as frightening as some people think, but it’s not as simple as some people think.”

Labour committee member at McFadden accused Davis of having “mortgaged the country’s economic future to a soundbite”.

He responded: “I have a fairly clear view of how it will work out, I just haven’t quantified it yet.

“On the one hand, we have the aim of a good comprehensive free trade agreement. In the event we don’t get that or there is no conclusion, we will have a fairly extensive contingency plan, which is already under way.

“And we will have, whatever happens, a sharply improved access to the rest of the world off the back of a large number of free trade agreements which will be coming into effect shortly after we leave, or some of them will be.”

In a heated exchange with the SNP’s Joanna Cherry, Davis indicated there may be “conversations” with devolved governments before Article 50 is triggered, but not official talks.

Accusing Cherry of “political point-scoring”, he said: “I’m afraid the stance of the Scottish Government has been a very political one, not necessarily in the interest of the people they represent.”

When the Edinburgh South West MP said she did not “want to reduce this to a political rammy”, he responded: “You are doing very well so far.” Cherry responded: “The Scottish Government was elected on 46.5% of the vote at the last election in Scotland and has produced a White Paper. I am asking you whether your Governments will do the Scottish and Welsh Governments the courtesy of a written response.”