Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the speech by the King of the Netherlands to both Houses of Parliament on 23 October; and what steps they are taking to safeguard the current rights of Dutch citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the Netherlands after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcomed the King's remarks, particularly that Brexit does not mean goodbye, but merely a new start in the close, historic relationship between the UK and the Netherlands. That is a view we share.
Safeguarding citizens’ rights is our first priority for negotiations. The draft Withdrawal Agreement will provide certainty about the rights of UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK going forward. We are implementing this agreement through the EU Settlement Scheme and are working with Member States, including the Netherlands, to understand how they will do the same.
Asked by: Lord Steel of Aikwood (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the rights of British citizens living in the EU set out in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
There has been no change to the rights and status of British citizens in the EU, or EU citizens in the UK, as a result of the referendum.
The Prime Minister has been clear that during negotiations she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living here, and the only circumstances in which that would not be possible is if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return.