Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they were involved in the EU decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on imports of United States products into the UK; whether they supported that decision; and what estimate they have made of the effect of such tariffs on consumer prices in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Fairhead
We are deeply disappointed that the US has taken this unjustified decision, particularly on grounds of national security. These unilateral trade measures have weak foundations in international law, and they are not consistent with the US Department of Defence’s own judgment in an investigation that was conducted on the basis of national security.
The UK has been involved throughout EU discussions on addressing the potential trade imbalances that these measures could create. The Government supported these measures in the Trade Barriers Committee on 14 June, alongside all other Member States.
It is not possible at this stage to estimate accurately the effect of these tariffs on consumer prices. Countermeasure tariffs will make imports of these products from the US more expensive for consumers and user industries, however US businesses may choose to absorb the cost of increased tariffs rather than pass them onto consumers. This could induce consumers and users to switch to alternative suppliers or reduce their consumption. This would reduce US exports of these products to the EU and UK.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what Sterling to Euro exchange rate they are using to calculate the value of any financial settlement arising from the Brexit negotiations.
Answered by Lord Bates
The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including determining the sterling and euro values of the financial settlement, will be a matter for the withdrawal agreement as part of the Article 50 process. The UK government is committed to working with the EU to determine a fair settlement for Britain’s exit and the best deal for UK taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the effect on the UK economy of no deal on Brexit would be better or worse than the UK remaining in the EU.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
This Government is determined to deliver on the decision taken by the people of the UK in last year’s Referendum. The Government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work to assess, across a range of scenarios, the economic impacts of exiting the European Union. It would not be appropriate, however, to publish details that could undermine the UK's negotiating position with the EU.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 January (HL4755), whether the range of tools available to Transport for London to deal with congestion and vehicle pollution includes the power to limit the number of private hire vehicles which it licenses; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As indicated in the answer of 31 January, the Government’s view is that although Transport for London (TfL) do not have the power to limit the number of private hire vehicles (PHVs), other mechanisms are available to address concerns regarding the operation of the taxi and private hire sector. Therefore there are no current plans to amend primary legislation in order to permit any licensing authority, including TfL, to cap the number of PHVs licensed.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 January (HL4755), whether any authority has the power to limit the number of private hire vehicles licensed to operate in London; and whether they have received any representations from the Mayor of London on the need for such powers.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government supports choice for consumers, and wants to see both taxis and private hire vehicles prosper in London and across the country. As indicated in the answer of 31 January, the Government’s view is that although powers to limit the number of private hire vehicles do not exist, other mechanisms are available to address concerns regarding the operation of the taxi and private hire sector.
The Government has met with representatives of the Mayor on this issue.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of levels of congestion and pollution in London, whether they will take urgent steps to ensure that Transport for London has powers to limit the numbers of private hire vehicles they license, if possible without legislation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government supports choice for consumers, and wants to see both taxis and private hire vehicles prosper in London and elsewhere. The Mayor and Transport for London, together with the police and local authorities, have a range of tools available to them to deal with congestion and vehicle pollution. Effective use of these tools will allow both licensed taxi and private hire vehicles to lawfully meet the demands of London’s travelling public.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the increase in road congestion and the construction of Cycle Superhighways in London, how they will ensure that fire, ambulance, and other emergency service vehicles are able to use Superhighways in the event of a terrorist attack or other major incident.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
London’s cycle superhighways are the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). Emergency service vehicles operating under blue lights will always find the safest and fastest way possible to arrive at a major incident or terrorist attack. This could mean using any part of the highway, including, where necessary and where the road layout allows this, part of a cycle superhighway.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about whether government documents are being issued by EU member states to those seeking asylum in countries in the Schengen area while they await a decision on their application for asylum.
Answered by Lord Bates
Under Article 6 of the Reception Conditions Directive 2013/13, EU member states are required to ensure that asylum applicants seeking international protection within their territory are provided with a document showing their status as an applicant or testifying that person is allowed to stay in the member state whilst the application is pending or being examined.
The process for issuing such a document will vary from country to country.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether EU member states within the Schengen area are issuing a standard form of passport or other document to those they accept as asylum seekers or whether individual countries decide on the format to use; whether they have examined any sample of such document; and if so, whether they will place in the Library of the House any examples they may have.
Answered by Lord Bates
Under Article 25 of the Qualification Directive asylum seekers accepted as refugees in an EU member state will be issued a refugee status travel document, in the form set out in the Schedule to the Geneva Convention, for the purpose of travel outside their territory unless there are compelling reasons of national security or public order which prevent this.
It is normal practice for member states to distribute specimen documents between states. All specimen documents are stored securely in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Higgins (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that migrants rescued from drowning by the British Navy in the Mediterranean are no longer disembarked in the European Union, in order to discourage migrants from travelling in unseaworthy vessels provided by people smugglers.
Answered by Lord Bates
As set out in the Government’s response to written questions HL2307 and HL2339 under international law the UK has a duty to not return people who are rescued at sea to countries where they would be at risk of serious harm. Migrants rescued in the Mediterranean must therefore be disembarked at the nearest safe country.
The Government, however, maintains that the link must be broken between getting on a boat and automatically achieving residence in the Europe. The UK continues to push for action through the EU and UN to tackle the causes of illegal migration in order to discourage people from making these dangerous journeys. The UK is pursuing and disrupting the organised crime groups profiting from the people smuggling trade, including through the creation of an Organised Immigration Crime Task Force.
Migrants who do reach the EU need to be registered, screened and processed when they arrive to control their movement as well as to distinguish between those in real need of international protection and economic migrants. The UK is supporting the EU ‘Hotspots’ initiative which will help give effect to this.
The UK is leading the way for a sustainable and effective approach to the migrant situation and at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8 October the Home Secretary reiterated that in order for EU Member States to focus their resources on helping those in genuine need, an effective returns system for those not found to be in need of international protection is vital.