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Mr Davis said a transition period featuring the EEA or EFTA - of which Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland are all members - would "in many ways, the worst of all

outcomes" once Britain leaves the EU. He later suggested that ruling out staying in the customs union and single market for a temporary spell after Brexit was "clear Government

policy". Speaking during the Brexit debate, Tory former cabinet minister John Whittingdale said continued membership of the single market "would negate many of the advantages of

leaving the European Union". Mr Davis replied: "The simple truth is that membership of EFTA, for example, which would be one way to retain EEA membership, would do just exactly

that. "It keeps us in the EFTA, it would keep us within the requirements of free movement, albeit with some limitations, but none of those have worked so far. "So, in many ways

it's the worst of all outcomes. "We did consider it, I gave it some considerable thought maybe as an interim measure, but it seemed to me to be more complicated, more difficult and

less beneficial." Mr Davis told MPs the government had given it "some considerable thought, maybe as an interim measure" but that it would not seek to join EFTA. He said it

would be a "more complicated, more difficult and less beneficial" option to join the association and that the Government wanted to design a separate transition deal. Mr Davis also

confirmed the UK "will no longer participate in the EEA agreement once it leaves the European Union" and that the government is considering whether it needs to take formal steps to

"confirm our withdrawal”. He said: "We are considering what steps if any we might take to formally confirm our withdrawal from the EEA agreement." MPs heard the UK will not

stay in the single market or customs union during a transition period, but might look to have similar arrangements with the EU. A number of senior MPs have urged ministers to consider

maintaining Britain's current trading relationship with the EU for a period after Brexit. Labour MP Pat McFadden asked Mr Davis why the Government would not want to stay in those

institutions, saying: "What is the purpose of a transitional arrangement that undermines the very stability and continuity it's supposed to achieve?" Mr Davis replied:

"We're starting from the aim of maintaining as much continuity as is necessary. “We may well seek a customs arrangement for that period and a similar arrangement on single market

provisions, but we cannot make that decision ourselves." Chris Bryant, Labour MP and leading supporter of Open Britain said: "David Davis is very good at taking options off the

table, but doesn’t seem to bother putting any options on the table. “The idea that he can rule out every possible transitional arrangement except for a yet to be defined bespoke arrangement

is mad, given that the talks are stuck in the mud and we have just a year left before the final Brexit deal must be finalised." DAVID DAVIS SLAMS LABOUR OVER BREXIT

'AMBIGUITIES' During his appearances at the despatch box, Mr Davis said there is a "very good prospect" of Britain negotiating bespoke transitional arrangements with the

EU for a period after Brexit. He added that he hoped any transition would be as close as possible to the UK's existing trade relationship with the EU, but said this did not mean Britain

staying in the single market or customs union in the longer term. Conservative John Stevenson (Carlisle) asked if the UK would consider rejoining the EFTA and the EEA with "suitable

and appropriate" amendments and modifications. Mr Davis replied: "We considered this in some detail prior to (the Prime Minister's) Lancaster House speech and came to the

conclusion that one, it doesn't actually meet the requirements of what the British people voted for, and also it's not as easy to negotiate as an alternative bespoke transitional

arrangement may be."