We asked readers for their questions and concerns on Brexit so we could pass them on to Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay. We were flooded with questions, ideas and strongly held opinions.

Here are the Secretary’s responses:

From Simon Smith:

Considering the evidence proving that any form of “Brexit” will be damaging to the economy and to the future generations - do you feel it is democratic to deny a People’s Vote to the people whose futures are affected most by this decision? (i.e. young people who are now eligible to vote, but who were of an ineligible age to vote at the time of the June 2016 referendum?)

Response:

“We have been clear on many occasions that there won’t be a second referendum. I think it’s a trust issue. The referendum was the largest ever democratic exercise in the UK’s history and as an MP, I cannot stress how important I think it is to respect the will of the people and defend democracy.

At the heart of this is the unwritten contract between Members of Parliament and the public who elected them. It would be a betrayal of democracy to ask the public a question in this way and then ignore them and tell them they are wrong. As a Brexiteer, my position on the referendum is pretty obvious, but however people voted, now is the time to unite behind the deal which is going to provide the best future for our country.”

From Ian Montgomery:

Will you be voting with Theresa May for her ‘deal’?

Response:

“I’ve made it very clear that as a Brexiteer, I back the deal on the table that the PM has worked hard to negotiate - I wouldn’t have taken the job as Brexit Secretary if I didn’t believe in it. I’m going to vote for this deal as it delivers on all of the important issues people in Cumbria voted for.

For the first time in more than 40 years we will make our own laws and run our country without interference or rules imposed on us from another jurisdiction, decide who lives and works in this country and stop paying the EU vast amounts of money every year.

As I said in my answer to Simon, we will also be leaving the Common Agricultural policy, which will mean we can design new agricultural support policies for our farmers.”

From Lulu Parsons:

Our roads in Cumbria are already in a bad state and we’re often forgotten by Government up here, EU funds help us in so many ways. Will we lose access to the sort of funding we rely on up here?

Response:

“When we leave the EU we will be able to use funding according to our own priorities, rather than those set by the EU. The government is designing a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will reduce inequalities between communities once we have left the EU and are no longer part of EU Structural Funds. And this year, the Government has given Cumbria an extra £12 million for road maintenance, as announced in the Budget. This is on top of the £27 million it will receive in 2018/19 from the Department for Transport and Pothole Action Fund.”

From Nathan Scott:

How did an advisory referendum result of less than 5 per cent, representing less than 35 percent of the population become unchangeable Government policy?

Response:

“I think it’s a trust issue. You don’t ask a question and then ignore the answer. The referendum was the largest ever democratic exercise in the UK’s history and as an MP, I cannot stress how important I think it is to respect the will of the people and defend democracy.”

From Marc Skinner: If this is a good deal for the British people why are the MPs elected by the public to serve the public deserting Theresa May?

Response

“I can’t speak for other MPs but I’m a firm believer that this deal is a good one for our country now and for the future. I know that the people of Cumbria overwhelmingly voted to leave and the deal delivers on all of these issues. We’re going to end the annual payments to the EU, allow people to live and work here based on their skills and strike ambitious trade deals with countries around the world. All of these things are in the best interest of our economy.”

From Rachael Irving:

Cumbria’s economy heavily relies on farming, will this ‘deal’ see our farmers/ rural areas better or worse off... and how? What will happen to subsidies in the long term?

Response:

“This is a great deal for farmers and the rural economy. When we leave, we leave the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). That means we’ll be free to design new agricultural support policies that work for our farmers.

We have recently introduced our Agriculture Bill, which will allow us to reward farmers who protect the environment and free them to continue producing world-class food.The Bill includes a funding commitment for farmers until the end of this Parliament and proposes replacing the current subsidy system of Direct Payments with an ambitious new system based on paying ‘public money for public good’.

This system will reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental protection and the things that the public value but which the market does not sufficiently reward,such as the health and welfare of livestock.

This is also great news for Cumbria and the Lake District, where the local economy benefits from the amazing natural beauty which draws tourists to the area. By encouraging farming in a sustainable way - good stewardship, basically - we will also encourage the conservation of our beautiful landscapes and countryside.”

From Stephen Viola:

Scotland seems to be moving towards another independence referendum. If they win how would the Government support Cumbria considering the impact of that would be huge here?

Response:

“This issue was settled in 2014 when people in Scotland voted decisively to remain in the UK. What we have now achieved is a deal with the EU that the whole of the UK can get behind, and it’s one that works for Scotland and for Cumbria.

It’s a deal that delivers on the results of the referendum and protects the economy and security of the whole country.”

From Isabel Nicholson:

Stories in the media suggest our food prices will go up, can you assure us they won’t?

Response:

“Shoppers shouldn’t see any noticeable difference in the prices of what is on the shelves. Under the deal we’ve agreed with the EU, there’s no reason to expect a sudden change in the cost of your weekly shop, because the implementation period lets trade carry on just as it does at present. And beyond that, there will be a trade deal that keeps things simple - no tariffs, no quotas, nothing like that.

Also, most of our food comes from the UK or countries outside of the EU, so this wouldn’t be affected by Brexit. For example, last year, 50 per cent of the food consumed in the UK came from the UK.”

From Jonathan Graham:

Will Brexit make finding a new backer for the Moorside nuclear plant harder?

Response:

“It wouldn’t be right for me to speculate on a specific project., but to be clear, this is a good deal for Cumbria’s economy and the country’s economy. It is good for business and good for protecting jobs across the UK.

And the Government is clear that nuclear is key to ensuring continued energy security and availability in the UK. The UK remains an attractive prospect for foreign investment - it’s the top destination in Europe, and third in the world, for foreign direct investment.”

From Simon Smith:

The Prime Minister’s letter to the nation advocating her ‘deal’ claims a ‘brighter future’ ... but why is there no comparison with remaining in the EU?

Response:

“The country voted to leave the EU, and we’re focused on delivering on that historic democratic choice. There are many clear wins in the deal we have negotiated.

It’s the best deal for this country when it comes to protecting jobs and our economy, as well as allowing us to honour the referendum and realise the opportunities of Brexit. It provides an implementation period to provide time to adapt, a free trade deal with the EU, and the ability to strike trade deals around the world. It means we can deliver a skills-based immigration system that works for the UK and make our own laws in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast which will be enforced by the UK’s courts.

It also allows us to carve our own way in the world and set our own path once again. Cumbria specifically will benefit from the agreement we’ve reached on agriculture, which will see us leave the Common Agricultural Policy and be free to design new agricultural support policies that work for our farmers.”