Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) automotive, aerospace, medicines and agri-foods sectors and (b) all businesses to plan and prepare in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Supporting the long-term competitiveness of UK industry and business is a priority for ministers across Government. Through the Automotive Sector Deal, the Faraday Battery Challenge and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles for example, we are ensuring the UK remains internationally competitive post Exit, and continues to be a world leader in the development of emerging automotive technologies.
We remain focused on ensuring our smooth and orderly withdrawal from the EU with a deal. However, as a responsible Government we are engaging extensively with all sectors of the economy to understand their needs and help mitigate the impacts of a no deal exit. In the last year, DExEU ministers attended approximately 200 engagements with business and civil society stakeholders. We have published approximately 750 pieces of no deal communications since August 2018, including 106 technical notices. When necessary we will continue to update our advice on how people should prepare.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to ensure appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary checks are in place to avoid customs delays to onshoring perishable foodstuffs and medicines in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK currently ensures appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary checks are in place at the border through the use of the EU’s TRACES import notification system. In the event of a no deal, the UK will lose access to this system. To prepare for this scenario, the Government has developed the UK’s own import notification capability.
This capability was in place for exit on 12 April and will be in place for exit on 31 October. This will ensure resources are targeted appropriately, so that sanitary and phytosanitary checks can continue to protect the UK from risks to public health while delays at the border are minimised.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that measures that have been bilaterally negotiated and agreed on sovereign bases, Gibraltar, security measures, air transport, and medicines are maintained; and whether he intends to introduce primary legislation before the summer recess for that purpose.
Answered by Robin Walker
This government has been clear that we do not want a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, it is the responsible thing to prepare for all eventualities. We have therefore ensured we are ready to cooperate with European partners in areas such as security, air transport and medicines, and that the whole UK family, including Gibraltar and the Sovereign Base Areas, will be prepared in the event of a 'no deal'. All the primary legislation necessary for no deal is in place, and work continues to ensure that we are ready for that scenario, while remaining focused on our priority, which is to leave with a deal.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals before the summer recess to maintain the rights of EU citizens living in the UK; and what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on maintaining the rights of UK citizens rights in the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has always been clear and steadfast in our commitment to protecting citizens' rights. The Government is already implementing its offer to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK and the EU Settlement Scheme opened fully on 30 March and to date, over 800,000 citizens have made an application.
The EU Settlement Scheme, has been implemented by the changes to Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules, which are made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971. These legislative measures are consistent with the Government’s commitment that in any scenario, EU citizens resident in the UK by exit day will be able to stay and continue living their lives broadly as they do now.
On 27 February, the House supported an amendment tabled by Alberto Costa MP to seek a joint UK-EU commitment to adopt Part II of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the outcome of negotiations. The Government has since written to Michel Barnier twice on this matter. On 21 June Michel Barnier responded to the Secretary of State’s most recent letter of 17 June and we are carefully considering our response.
Asked by: Andrea Leadsom (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent steps he has taken with the European Commission to ensure that there is not a hard border on the island of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union has regularly met with the EU Commission to discuss preparations for leaving the EU.
The Government has been clear that the unique social, political and economic circumstances of Northern Ireland must be reflected in any arrangements that apply in a no deal scenario. We are absolutely committed to upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and would do everything possible to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
In a no deal scenario, the UK Government is committed to entering into discussions urgently with the European Commission and the Irish Government to jointly agree long-term measures to avoid a hard border and to limit the impact of a no deal exit on life on the island of Ireland.
We have confirmed a unilateral approach to checks, processes and tariffs to do all we can to avoid a hard border. The UK Government would not introduce any new checks or controls on goods crossing from Ireland to Northern Ireland, including any new customs declarations for nearly all goods.
The UK temporary tariff regime would therefore not apply to goods crossing from Ireland into Northern Ireland.
We would need to apply a small number of measures strictly necessary to comply with international legal obligations, protect the biosecurity of the island of Ireland, or to avoid the highest risks to Northern Ireland businesses - but these measures would not require checks at the border.