Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any final financial settlement with the EU resulting from Brexit will represent the UK's accumulated obligations; and if so, how much the accumulated obligations represent; and whether they will publish a breakdown of those obligations.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have agreed a fair financial settlement with the EU as part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement which reflects the UK paying its share of the outstanding EU commitments made during the period of our membership. Our estimate, based on reasonable assumptions and publically available data, falls within the range of £35bn-£39bn, and the National Audit Office confirmed in April 2018 that these assumptions were reasonable.
Details of the basis on which that figure was reached can be found in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, published on November 14th, 2018. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also provided details to the Treasury Select Committee in January 2018, including a breakdown of the components of the settlement.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Brexit negotiations will necessitate any UK citizens who do not reside in the UK, without property in the UK but with property in the EU, to relocate to the UK after Brexit; and if so, whether they have plans to recompense such citizens for any losses incurred as a result.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In December 2017, we reached a fair and reciprocal agreement with the EU on the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, as set out in the draft legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement.
The agreement confirms that any UK national resident in the EU by December 2020 will be able to stay and continue living their lives broadly as they do now in their current Member State of residence. This agreement provides UK nationals living in the EU more certainty about residence, healthcare, pensions and other benefits. We are currently implementing this agreement in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme and are working with Member States to understand how they will do the same.
Should a UK national decide to return to the UK, details on access to services such as healthcare and social security in the UK can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure the continuity of rights for all EU citizens after Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and UK nationals living in the UK, is her first priority for negotiations.
We have reached an agreement with the EU on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, as set out in the draft legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement. The agreement confirms that all EU citizens legally resident in the UK by December 2020 will be able to continue living their lives broadly as now.
The Home Office published a Statement of Intent on 21 June, providing further details about how EU citizens and their families can obtain settled status. The process will be straightforward and streamlined and we will support applicants to get the right outcome.
We have published a White Paper on the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill which will implement the Withdrawal Agreement we reach with the EU in UK law. This sets out the detail on how the Bill will legislate for key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the agreement on citizens’ rights.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure both Houses of Parliament are able to scrutinise fully any implementation period following Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The degree of scrutiny Parliament wishes to give to ongoing EU business is of course a matter for Parliament. It will be for both Houses to determine the level of scrutiny they will want to undertake during the implementation period, on the basis of the detailed arrangements for the period agreed between the UK and the EU.
The Government supports a strong scrutiny process, and will continue to support and facilitate this for as long as EU legislation will continue to affect the UK. We are happy to engage in dialogue with the relevant committees as to how this may best be achieved.