Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made with the EU for the European Health Insurance Card to continue to be used by British citizens when travelling within the EU.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The current structure of European Union rules and regulations will apply during the implementation period, and this includes cover under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme.
With regard to EHIC cover under the Withdrawal Agreement, where the United Kingdom, or an EU 27 Member State, is responsible for the healthcare of those within scope of the social security coordination part of the Withdrawal Agreement, such individuals will be entitled to EHIC cover for as long as they remain in scope. We have also agreed to protect the rights of individuals who are in a cross-border situation at the end of the implementation period, and entitled to an EHIC, to continue to benefit from that scheme for as long as that cross-border situation in the State they are in continues.
In the White Paper of July 2018, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the UK Government has stated that it is seeking agreement on reciprocal healthcare including continued participation in the EHIC scheme.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the insurance industry about their proposals for the services sector outlined in The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (Cm 9593), published in July.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with representatives of (1) the City of London Corporation, and (2) the City of London financial services sector about the proposals for the financial services sector in The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (Cm9593), published in July.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Commercial Broadcasters Association to ensure that international broadcasters and TV channels based in the UK will be able to continue to broadcast after Brexit as at present.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing extra resources to the Competition and Markets Authority as a result of the UK no longer being a member of the EU.
Answered by Lord Henley
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure UK participation in the European competition network after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government intends to ensure that UK competition authorities, such as the Competition and Markets Authority, can cooperate effectively and coordinate closely their activity with the European Commission and the competition authorities of EU Member States. This will be subject to negotiations with the EU and could be achieved through an agreed form of UK participation in the European competition network or through another mechanism.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have discussed the subject of the UK's future participation in the European Health Insurance Card scheme in their Brexit negotiations with the European Commission.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
We have agreed reciprocal healthcare arrangements for the purposes of the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. The current structure of EU rules and regulations will apply until the end of the implementation period, including the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme.
Individuals in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement will be entitled to reciprocal healthcare cover on the terms laid out under that deal.
Reciprocal healthcare rights for individuals not in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement will be a matter for further negotiation with the EU. We have been clear that we want all current and future United Kingdom EHIC holders to benefit from EHIC rights, subject to a reciprocal deal.
At every step of the negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that UK citizens can participate in the European Health Card scheme (1) during, and (2) after, the transition period following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
We have agreed reciprocal healthcare arrangements for the purposes of the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. The current structure of EU rules and regulations will apply until the end of the implementation period, including the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme.
Individuals in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement will be entitled to reciprocal healthcare cover on the terms laid out under that deal.
Reciprocal healthcare rights for individuals not in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement will be a matter for further negotiation with the EU. We have been clear that we want all current and future United Kingdom EHIC holders to benefit from EHIC rights, subject to a reciprocal deal.
At every step of the negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possible increases in travel insurance for UK citizens if the UK were no longer to be part of the European Health Insurance Card scheme after Brexit.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the possible increases in travel insurance for United Kingdom citizens if the UK were no longer to be part of the European Health Insurance Card scheme after Brexit.
However, the Department engages regularly with the Association of British Insurers and industry to discuss matters relating to reciprocal healthcare and this will continue.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government in which areas of foreign policy cooperation with the EU they hope to continue participating after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We intend to work closely on all existing areas of co-operation.