Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the EU Council of Ministers to consider (1) extending the mandate of current UK MEPs beyond the end of June for the length of the implementation period, and (2) the possibility of UK MEPs having Observer Status for that period; and whether they have given any consideration to appointing MEPs for a mandate of two years from 30 June.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Once the UK leaves the EU we will no longer have elected representatives in the European Parliament. Any extension of MEP’s mandate would not be in line with the EU Treaties.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) car manufacturers, (2) bricks, tiles and ceramics manufacturers, and (3) farmers and the food industry concerning the impact of the absence of tariffs on those groups in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ministers engage broadly with each of these sectors, including via government-led sector councils with the farming and food sector, regular meetings of the Automotive Council and roundtables with the manufacturing organisation EEF that include bricks, tiles and ceramics manufacturers. In the discussions, we engage on priority issues for each sector.
We are working to develop the UK’s independent tariff policy in accordance with the provisions contained within the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act. We are looking at a full spectrum of options for tariffs post EU Exit and will consider carefully the evidence available to us before making a final decision in the interests of UK industry and consumers.
The Government is committed to an open and liberal economy that works for everyone, offering protection from possible price impacts of a no deal scenario and avoiding exposure to unfair competition.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency plans are in place regarding customs and immigration arrangements at Calais in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government does not want or expect a no deal outcome. In any scenario, the government’s objective is to ensure that movement through ports is as frictionless as possible.
In the unlikely event we do not reach an agreement with the EU, HMRC will continue to apply an automated, risk-based approach to customs checks. This means any increase in the number of checks will be kept to a minimum. For passengers travelling to the UK from Calais, Border Force will continue to carry out security and identity checks on 100 per cent of passengers. While the EU may choose to impose third country controls it is not clear how soon these would come into effect.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to negotiate observer status for the UK in each of the EU institutions to take effect from 29 March 2019.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
After 29 March 2019, the UK will no longer be a Member State of the EU. The UK will no longer sit at the European Council table or in the Council of Ministers, and will no longer have Members of the European Parliament.
However, as set out in the agreement endorsed by the March European Council, representatives or experts from the UK may continue to attend meetings of certain EU committees, agencies, and other bodies during the implementation period, where the presence of the UK is necessary and is in the interests of the Union, or where the discussion concerns acts addressed to the UK and its citizens.
No decisions have yet been made on our future relationship with the EU's bodies after the implementation period. The Government is considering very carefully a range of options, but where there is a demonstrable national interest in pursuing a continued relationship with an EU body, we will carefully examine whether we should pursue this. This will be a matter for negotiations.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will consult business and other interested groups on EU regulations that come into force during the transition period; and what assurance they intend to provide concerning the possibility of regulatory changes occurring both during the transition period and following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We continue to engage regularly with companies and industry representatives across the economy, to discuss their priorities, inform our negotiating position and prepare for our departure from the EU.
The UK and the EU agreed in March that during the implementation period, EU rules and regulations will remain in place in order to provide continuity and certainty to businesses and citizens.
We currently have a robust system in place for the transposition of EU legislation, that includes stakeholder consultation. That will remain in place during the implementation period.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the certification of professional qualifications to be agreed through mutual recognition under the Brexit negotiations for doctors, lawyers, architects and other professions.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As the Prime Minister set out in her Mansion House speech, the UK is committed to a continued system for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications as part of a bold and ambitious future economic partnership.
In December, the UK Government agreed in the Joint Report with the EU the continued recognition of qualifications for frontier workers and residents, where recognition decisions were received or where recognition procedures were ongoing, before the withdrawal date. This will include qualifications recognised under the MRPQ Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC), as well as lawyers practising under host title and approved statutory auditors, which are currently covered separately in EU legislation.
The Government is firmly committed to the agreement in December and we are working with the Commission to agree how they should be translated into legal form in the Withdrawal Agreement. We are committed to turning the Joint Report into legal text as soon as possible and it remains our shared aim to reach agreement on the entire Withdrawal Agreement by October.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the status in the UK of European Court of Justice case law on EU legal instruments which remain in force in the UK after it leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK.The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the status in the UK of EU legal instruments to which the UK agrees between the bill to repeal the European Communities Act 1972 receiving royal assent and the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK.
The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their forecast timetable for negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU as regards food and farming.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Prime Minister has made clear we will trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017. It is in everyone's interests that we take time to establish a UK approach and clear objectives for negotiations. We have been clear that we will not provide a running commentary that might undermine our negotiating position.We continue to receive views across the range of the Department’s responsibilities following the outcome of the EU Referendum. Defra will be working on our future policies in this area, liaising closely with other key departments on future support for agriculture, animal welfare, and the food and drink industry. The Government will work with industry and the public to develop these new arrangements.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for UK case law (1) during the period following the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972, and (2) between the repeal of the Act and the date of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK.
The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.