Written Statements

Monday 11th January 2016 Written Statements

Monday 11 January 2016

Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)

Monday 11th January 2016 Written Statements

[The Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry)]

My noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Maude of Horsham) has today made the following statement.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) met twice in Nairobi during the 10th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The first meeting of the FAC (Trade) took place on the 15 December before the formal opening of the WTO ministerial. The second meeting of the FAC (Trade) took place on the 19 December just before the conclusion of the ministerial. At both meetings, the Council adopted conclusions. Both sets of conclusions are attached to this statement.

The Nairobi ministerial was the first WTO ministerial conference in Africa. WTO members agreed a series of ministerial decisions on agriculture, on cotton and on development, the latter focussed on the interests of the least developed countries.

The decisions in agriculture are on export competition, on public stockholding, on a special safeguard mechanism for developing countries and on measures related to cotton. Decisions were also made relating to preferential treatment for least developed countries in services and in rules of origin.

The ministerial met UK objectives in agreeing substantive outcomes on export competition in agriculture, on cotton, and on development while leaving the way open for WTO negotiations to proceed more flexibly post-Nairobi. The ministerial also welcomed two countries acceding to the WTO, Afghanistan and Liberia.

Within the EU, the expectation is that Council will confirm its position on the Nairobi package at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, under the Dutch presidency, on 18 January 2016.

It is also available online at: http://www.parliament. uk/writtenstatements.

[HCWS456]

Neighbourhood Planning

Monday 11th January 2016 Written Statements

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Brandon Lewis)]

On 9 July 2015, I extended for a period of six months the criteria for consideration of the recovery of planning appeals to include proposals for residential development over 10 units in areas where a qualifying body has submitted a neighbourhood plan proposal to the local planning authority or where a neighbourhood plan has been made (Hansard HCWS90); and I am now extending that period for a further six months from today.

[HCWS457]

Smith Commission Agreement

Monday 11th January 2016 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

On 27 November 2014 the Smith Commission published its heads of agreement on the devolution of further powers to the Scottish Parliament. The Smith Commission agreement was the first time that all five of Scotland’s major political parties came together to agree the constitutional future of Scotland and was an historic achievement.

In addition to the provisions requiring legislation which are being taken forward in the Scotland Bill, the Smith Commission agreement identified a number of areas for further consideration between the UK and Scottish Governments. In the period since the Smith Commission, the UK and Scottish Governments have held discussions on these matters. The attached table provides information on work in these areas.

The agreement also identified a number of areas where non-legislative action was required. Discussions on the agreement of a new fiscal framework for Scotland and work to strengthen intergovernmental working are on-going. The attached table provides an update on other such areas, including the agreement of memorandums of Understanding in relation to the BBC and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Attachments can be view online at:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/

[HCWS458]