Business secretary Greg Clark says “no chequebook” was involved in keeping Nissan in the UK
All that fuzzy goodwill over Nissan announcing it was building not one, but two new models in Sunderland after months of uncertainty has faded pretty fast.
Not for everyone, of course, but the comment that Nissan chief executive made saying he had received "support and assurances" from the government gave rise to some scepticism.
Ministers have declined to confirm reports hat a written promise was made to protect the Japanese company from any bumpy Brexit consequences. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said the government should set out just what it did promise.
Read more: Bye bye Brexit blues? Nissan's staying in Sunderland
But business secretary Greg Clark said on speculation over financial compensation or possibly state aid: "There's no chequebook, I don't have a chequebook."
Speaking on BBC Question Time, the business secretary said: "The important thing is that they know this is a country in which they can have confidence they can invest. That was the assurance and the understanding they had and they have invested their money."
"I can't be any clearer," he added. "The dialogue we've had with Nissan, as we do with other companies, is a reassurance that we are determined to get the British industrial sector the best possible deal."
The deal secures 7,000 jobs in the UK and also marked a big coup for the government, after Nissan had warned it was considering halting investment in Britain should Brexit cause undue turbulence. Its Sunderland factory makes almost one in three cars built in the UK.
Earlier this month Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn visited the Prime Minister to discuss Brexit. He said after the meeting he was "confident the government will continue to ensure the UK remains a competitive place to do business".
Read more: Nissan has given a ringing endorsement of Britain, says Theresa May
Senior Nissan Europe executive Colin Lawther reiterated that his company had received "no special deal", though other auto firms are keeping a watchful eye over the proceedings. Toyota said it trusted the government to provide "fair treatment".