Baroness Quin

As you will be aware, the Balance of Competences Review concluded in December. It was the most comprehensive analysis of the UK’s relationship with the EU ever undertaken. The review involved a large number of Departments across Whitehall to produce 32 reports. The Review was based on the evidence and views received through widespread consultation with interested parties from across society. Across the whole review, departments received close to 2,300 evidence submissions. Departments held over 250 events, attended by around 2,100 stakeholders.

It was important that what is an unprecedented examination of EU membership was done with appropriate time and care. But the government is also very conscious of the need to ensure value for money in everything it does.

(1) Staff time

Between 2012-2013, the Balance of Competences Review Team in the Department was staffed by the equivalent of one Grade 7 (salary range £47, 545 - £55,882), and one intern (salary range £23,869 – £27, 281) dedicating 100% of their time to the review to project manage 7 BIS led reports and 1 joint report. Between 2013 – 2014 this was reduced to one Grade 7. Between 2012 – 2014 one Deputy Director (salary range £62,000 - £117,800) dedicated 20% of their time as the senior reporting officer for the review. All other work on the review was allocated, according to need, to existing staff within the Department. Therefore, providing a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

(2) Printing costs

Printing and publication for the 8 Departmental reports, was coordinated centrally but paid for by the Department, with the exception of the Single Market Report which was printed in-house. Printing and publication costs for all 8 reports totalled £32,821.94. The costs for all 32 reports was £133, 053 This figure was a partial figure, covering the printing of some, but not all, reports across the whole review.

(3) Running of Engagement events

Each policy team in the Department held a wide range of engagement events over the 2 years; the department did not incur any costs for the running of these events. The facilities for hosting these events were either provided by other Government Departments or by business partners or were held on department premises at no extra cost to the department.

(4) Witness

From centrally held figures, we understand that across the whole of the Balance of Competences Review witness expenses amounted to approximately £2,255.00.

(5) Publicity

The Department did not incur any publicity costs as we published the reports and the call for evidence via email, social media and the Government website.

(6) All other associated costs

Between 2012 – 2014 the Department commissioned research and analysis to form part of the literature review to provide the reports with legal analysis to ensure the reports were neither too analytical or too speculative and political, but instead adhere to the agreed treaties. The cost for all 8 reports was £108, 738.28.

Department officials incurred some additional associated costs due to travel to meetings and stakeholder events in the UK. Some officials also incurred costs related to events in Brussels. We estimate that the additional travel costs incurred amounted to less than £300.

The budget and main regulations governing European Union cohesion policy for the 2014-20 programming period were agreed formally in December 2013. The focus now is on effective implementation.

As you will be aware, the Balance of Competences Review concluded in December. It was the most comprehensive analysis of the UK’s relationship with the EU ever undertaken. The Review involved a large number of Departments across Whitehall to produce the 32 reports. The Review was based on the evidence and views received through widespread consultation with interested parties from across society. Across the whole review, departments received close to 2,300 evidence submissions. Departments held over 250 events, attended by around 2,100 stakeholders.

It was important that what is an unprecedented examination of EU membership was done with appropriate time and care. But the government is also very conscious of the need to ensure value for money in everything that it does.

Lawyers in the Cabinet Office European Law Division of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department coordinated legal work on the Review. According to the Department’s time recording information, they spent a total of 192.5 hours on the Review between October 2013 (the earliest date from which this information is available) and December 2014. This consisted of 81 hours at Director level (salary range £85,000 to £162,500), 57 hours at Deputy Director level (salary range £62,000 to £117,800), and 54.5 hours at Grade 6 level (salary range £60,000 to £73,100).

Lawyers in other parts of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department provided legal services to a range of Government Departments in the course of the Review. They did so as part of their normal work, and did not separately record time spent on the Review. Providing a full breakdown of staff time and costs would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

The Department did not incur any other costs arising from the Review.

The Attorney General’s Office did not incur any costs in the Government’s Balance of Competence review.

In line with his responsibilities in the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Prime Minister carefully considered and approved the report, and is content that its publication would not prejudice the functions of those bodies that safeguard our national security.

We acknowledge the public’s interest in the publication of the report; however the report itself is the property of the independent ISC. As such it is not for the Government to publish it; it is for the ISC to lay it before Parliament. Once a new Committee has been established, it will be up to them to choose when they wish to publish it. The process to establish a new Committee has already begun.

Information relating to individual adverts in specific locations is only obtainable at disproportionate cost.

Her Majesty’s Government did not place any adverts in Le Monde on 23 February.

“Get Ready for Brexit” campaign activity has taken place in all 27 EU countries to make sure citizens and businesses have the facts they need to know about the steps they need to take to be ready for when the UK leaves the EU.

The overall costs of the public information campaign will be published monthly on a rolling basis as part of routine government transparency.

Cabinet ministers have visited the North East of England on a number of occasions since the Referendum. The Government is committed to positive and productive engagement with key business stakeholders and local government in the North East, as well as all of the UK, to understand the potential impact and opportunities presented by EU Exit.

In Great Britain, working hours are governed by the Working Time Regulations, which set the maximum working hours and minimum rest breaks workers are entitled to. All workers are entitled to a minimum of 20 minutes’ rest break if they work at least six hours, which may be paid or unpaid depending on the employment contract. Some workers such as shift workers may be entitled to ‘compensatory rest’ if they don’t have the right to specific rest breaks.

Payment for rest breaks is a matter for individual contracts.

Companies House does not hold any information on how many companies have set up (1) companies and (2) distribution hubs, in the EU since 1 January, and the number of jobs that have been created in the EU as a result.

The deadline for implementing the EU Copyright Directive is 7 June 2021. The United Kingdom left the European Union on the 31 January and the transition period will end on 31 December 2020. Therefore, the United Kingdom will not be required to implement the Directive, and the Government has no plans to do so.

We are working closely with businesses across the country to help ensure they are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October, whatever the circumstances. This includes regular engagement with the automotive industry by both BEIS ministers and officials to discuss plans for no-deal.

Details of ministerial meetings with external bodies are published on the Gov.uk website of the relevant Department.

At the Autumn Budget 2017, my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer committed £3 billion over the next two financial years to helping departments, including the CMA, and the devolved administrations to prepare for our exit from the EU. As part of the Spring Statement 2018, my rt. hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced that the CMA has been allocated an additional £23.6m in 2018-2019 to prepare for EU exit.

DCMS does not track this information.

Beyond the transition period, the UK has set out its proposals to the EU in a range of areas, making clear that we want a Canada-style relationship, based on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement supplemented by other international agreements.

The government has made the decision not to seek participation in Creative Europe in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Prior to this decision, Ministers and officials engaged with relevant parts of industry and government-funded screen bodies including the British Film Institute.

Implementation of the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is required as part of the United Kingdom’s Withdrawal Agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, the UK will implement EU law adopted while it was a Member State where the implementation date falls within the transition period. After the transition period, the transposed measures in the Directive will become retained EU law and continue to apply to citizens and companies in the UK. Furthermore, the government has made a statutory instrument, the Broadcasting (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, to correct deficiencies in broadcasting legislation as a result of leaving the EU and ensure that Ofcom continues to have effective oversight of broadcasting in the UK.

Ministers and officials meet with their international counterparts, including the French and German governments, on a range of issues, including work to tackle online harms.

Many of the UK’s international partners are developing new regulatory approaches to tackle online harms. As set out in the Online Harms White Paper, the Government will continue to share experiences and work with partners internationally as we develop our own approach.

The government has been engaging extensively with the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) and its members to discuss the impact of Brexit on international broadcasters based in the UK.

Over the past year, DCMS has hosted a number of ministerial roundtables on the topic of Brexit, attended by the COBA members. Ministers and officials have also held regular bilateral meetings with financial and policy teams from a variety of international broadcasting firms regarding the implications of our exit from the EU for these companies. COBA has been instrumental for enhancing the government’s understanding of sector’s priorities and concerns relating to EU Exit.

As set out by the recently published Brexit White paper, the UK is seeking the best possible arrangement for broadcasting that will work for the broadcasting sector, and we are committed to continue working with COBA members to understand their needs and concerns.

The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at lunchtime and other times of the school day. The Standards aim to ensure that the right foods are available for children every day and restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, including high sugar foods and confectionery.

Diets high in calories and saturated fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) are associated with an increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Government dietary advice, based on recommendations from The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and depicted within the Eatwell Guide, already shows that many foods that would be classified as ultra-processed are not part of a healthy, balanced diet as they are HFSS.

SACN has concluded that observed associations between ultra-processed foods and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content.

The Ministerial team is working with departmental officials on plans to deliver manifesto commitments, including making quick progress to deliver breakfast clubs in every primary school. The department’s aim is to deliver better life chances through a system which works for all.  As part of this, and as with all government programmes, the department will keep its approach to school food under continued review.

I can confirm that a response to the correspondence dated 24 July 2023 from the Noble Lady was sent on 21 August 2023.

The Secretary of State for Defra met with ministers from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and DAERA on 16 September at their Inter-ministerial Group meeting. The group agreed to enhance joint scientific research and local field trials to tackle pollution of culturally and economically important water bodies, which could support efforts to protect and restore the River Tweed.

Defra officials regularly discuss how the provisions of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are implemented with both European counterparts and other international partners. This includes at regular meetings of the CITES Standing Committee which was last held in November 2023.

Following overwhelming support to our consultation last summer, which received almost 9,000 responses, on 16 April the Government laid before Parliament new regulations that will place management practices for hedgerows on agricultural land into legislation. These practices include a cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds during this period, and a 2m buffer strip around a hedge where green cover must be established and maintained to protect the health of the hedge and the wildlife that use it.

Financial support for the permissive access options within agri-environment schemes was withdrawn by Defra Ministers as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2010. Existing agreements under the original Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and Higher Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS) were allowed to run their course to expiry, with final agreements ending by 2021.

Since 2010, agreements providing about 31,000 kilometres of CSS and 27,500 kilometres of HLS permissive linear access paths (footpath, bridleway/cycle routes, reduced mobility access and upgrades to existing paths) have expired along with 5500 ha (CSS) and 4000 ha (HLS) of permissive open access. These 58,500 km of paths and 9,500 ha of open access were present on about 3600 sites. Agreement holders with permissive access options were initially encouraged to continue offering access, if practicable, without payment, but we do not have any record of the extent to which this occurred. During 2021/22 Natural England, on behalf of Defra, will be conducting research to determine what happened to access provision after the end of Stewardship agreements to help inform future public access provision within schemes.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment was carried out at the time that the 2015 rules were introduced. While no financial help is available for upgrading or replacing small sewage discharges regulated under General Binding Rules, the Environment Agency will agree a reasonable timescale with the owner where it identifies that improvements are required.

Ministers and officials from my Department and across Government continue to engage broadly across all sectors - including the services industry - and across the UK to hear the business’ priorities and issues relating to our exit.

Representatives from services, including insurance, and other industries met with the Secretary of State and all the ministers in my Department to discuss the proposals made in the White Paper at Chevening House on 20 July.

The proposals outlined in the White Paper set out an ambitious and credible proposition for a close future relationship on financial services with the EU. This would provide stable and predictable access to each other’s markets, while recognising that the UK and the EU will exercise autonomy over regulatory decisions through domestic equivalence processes, and protect financial stability.

Ministers and officials from my Department and across Government continue to engage broadly across all sectors - including the financial services sector - and across the UK to hear the business’ priorities and issues relating to our exit.

The Secretary of State and all the ministers in my Department met with business leaders from across the economy to discuss the White Paper at Chevening House on 20 July. This included a deep dive session on financial services with major firms and financial institutions, which included discussions on the proposed new economic and regulatory arrangement.

In addition, ministers and officials in the Treasury continue to engage closely with firms across the Financial Services sector on the White Paper and wider EU exit issues.

The proposals outlined in the White Paper set out an ambitious and credible proposition for a close future relationship on financial services with the EU. This would provide stable and predictable access to each other’s markets, while recognising that the UK and the EU will exercise autonomy over regulatory decisions through domestic equivalence processes, and protect financial stability.

The Government has been clear that we are leaving the Single Market when we leave the EU. We are discussing this matter with the Government of Gibraltar through the Joint Ministerial Council (Gibraltar EU Negotiations) chaired by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Robin Walker MP. We are fully involving Gibraltar as we leave the EU, to ensure their interests are properly taken into account.

The UK Government is working closely with the Government of Gibraltar to agree Gibraltar’s particular priorities in EU exit. Through this work, we know that Gibraltar also values its strong trade with the UK, particularly in financial services and online gambling. We are discussing all these issues with the Government of Gibraltar through the Joint Ministerial Council (Gibraltar EU Negotiations). Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Robin Walker MP chaired the most recent meeting of the JMC (GEN) on 8 March where we agreed a series of measures, including on the economy, detailed in my Written Ministerial Statement of 15 March.