Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what institutional mechanisms for future involvement in EU foreign policy cooperation they envisage for the UK after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On leaving the EU, the UK will pursue an independent foreign policy. The future security partnership with the EU should respect both the EU's decision-making autonomy and the UK's sovereignty, and enable us to combine our efforts to the greatest effect where this is in our shared interest. We aim to be able to consult regularly with the EU, deliver operationally through EU mechanisms where this is in our shared interest, and work together on developing defence, cyber and space capabilities.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they have given to the government of Gibraltar regarding Gibraltar’s access to the EU Single Market for services after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to the economy of Gibraltar in negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms they have established to facilitate regular consultation with the government and people of Gibraltar in relation to Brexit negotiations.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government is clear that we will fully involve Gibraltar as we leave the EU, to ensure their interests are properly taken into account. We have established the quarterly Joint Ministerial Council (Gibraltar EU Negotiations) to deliver on this commitment. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Robin Walker MP chaired the sixth meeting of the JMC (GEN) on 8 March, with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister for Europe alongside the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Attorney General of Gibraltar. This is underpinned by extensive official-level engagement, including through working groups on key priorities such as financial services.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of proposals to restrict access to prescription-based vitamin D maintenance, whether they will undertake a study into how such proposals might affect at-risk groups, as set out in NICE Guidelines 56-2, and in particular those in the at-risk groups on low or fixed incomes.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
NHS England undertook a study into how the proposals in the consultation Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: A Consultation on guidance for CCGs might affect at-risk groups by accompanying the consultation with a full Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment. The Impact Assessment, Equality and Health Inequalities – Full Analysis Form – Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care sets out how the proposals may affect groups protected by the Equality Act 2010 and those people on low income and ethnic minorities, including those at-risk groups, as set out in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Copies of the consultation and Impact Assessment are attached.
In the summer months most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight on the skin. It is also found in some foods – oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified foods – such as most fat spreads and some breakfast cereals.
The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances states that vitamins and minerals should be prescribed only in the management of actual or potential vitamin or mineral deficiency, and are not to be prescribed as dietary supplements. We understand that NHS England’s current consultation is in line with this. Prescribing vitamin D for maintenance would be classed as a treatment for prevention or as a dietary supplement.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions members of the Cabinet have held on the impact of Brexit with (1) business, and (2) local government, representatives of the north east of England in the last three months.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings are planned to discuss the impact of Brexit on the north east of England between Ministers and representatives of (1) business, and (2) local government.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers from the Department of Exiting the European Union have visited the North East of England on a number of occasions since the Referendum. On the 26 January, the Secretary of State visited Tees Valley Port, where he gave a speech setting out the UK’s vision for the Implementation Period and met local business leaders to discuss the opportunities for the Tees Valley from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
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.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to ensure that no region of the UK will see economic growth reduce as a result of Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are committed to getting the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that works for all parts of the UK.
We continue to engage with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy, and all regions and nations of the UK, in order to inform our negotiations.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held, in conjunction where appropriate with the devolved administrations, with representatives of the UK's sheep farming industry about finding new export opportunities for that industry post-Brexit.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Defra Ministers and officials have regular meetings with the devolved administrations and with representatives of the UK’s sheep farming industry to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the sheep sector.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held, in conjunction where appropriate with the devolved administrations, with representatives of the UK's sheep farming industry about maintaining and increasing sheep meat exports to the EU post-Brexit.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Defra Ministers and officials have regular meetings with the devolved administrations and with representatives of the UK’s sheep farming industry to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the sheep sector.