David Frost tells leaving the EU committee that he is a special advisor to the PM, with respnsibility for negotiating future relationship. Says policy set by PM and cabinet committee, and works in that framework

Bone says in past we have had a DexEU minster and a civil servant - politician did accountability and civil servant “got on with it”. Asks if Frost reports to PM. Syas yes, and also to cub committee.

Thats Cabinet committee! - says we have meetings when we have to. Bone asks who he reported to when PM incapacitated? Frost says some tasks were delgated to Dominc Raab (but doesnt confirm he reported to Raab)

Bone asks about his relationship with Dominc Cummings - asks if he has to go through Cummings to get to PM. Frost says he has never recieved an instruction from Cummings

Says he speaks to PM more than every two weeks, says he speaks to Cummings more often, but with proviso that these are unusual times

Bone asks if Brexit negotiations would collapse if Cummings not involved in process. Frost says well established machinery would continue as normal

David Frost says a small number from his team of a but 40 was redeployed to Covid 19 duties, but says the majority have come back (his team is 40–45, supplemented from toehr Departments for negotiating sessions).

Frost says UK negotiating mandate was not a blank sheet of paper to start with, but drew extensively from existing EU FTA’s notably Cananda and Japan, and offers made to Australia and NZ. Says FTA have become more ambitious in last decade

Frost says Fisheries ask form EU is uniquely tied to other issues. Says Barnier has hinted that EU position “may not be wholly realistic”

Frost repeats view that EU is stil coming to terms with fact that large country on its border that does not want to work with EU system. If we are to get agreement will have to be understood on EU side.

On Barnier : its the job a good negotiator, and he is one, to assess the view of the other side”. Says its important that EU keep aside some political time for Brexit talks as well as MFF and econ reform agenda.

Frost says it is not a practical difficulty in terms of time if a tariff based agreement is required with Eu, belived both sides can pivot away from zero tariff approach in time for agreement by end of year. Adds that both sides still want zero tariff