Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks to the economic sustainability of the financial services sector in each constituent part of the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Government continues to undertake a wide range of ongoing analysis covering all constituent parts of the UK to inform the UK’s position for the negotiation with the European partners. A key part of that understanding is the differences across the UK and across all sectors of the UK economy.
We are committed to positive and productive engagement with the devolved administrations, local government and businesses as we seek a deal that works for the entire UK. Ministers and senior officials meet with financial services firms across the UK; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Robin Walker, recently met an insurance firm in Cardiff to discuss how EU exit will impact their company and the Welsh financial services sector. Financial services firms in all parts of the UK benefit from access to the European market and as we seek to negotiate our Future Partnership we will continue to engage all parts of the country.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the (a) Government and (b) EU position is on the enforceability of financial contract continuity after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
There is a shared interest for both the UK and the EU in ensuring that we avoid outcomes that impose unnecessary costs and disruption on individuals and firms as we leave the EU. The Government and the EU both recognise that our exit has the potential to impact the continuity of service provision. We have been clear that a deep and ambitious future partnership covering financial services – in combination with an agreement on a time-limited implementation period – is the best way to mitigate these risks.
The Government announced on 20 December 2017 that we will legislate, if necessary, to ensure that contractual obligations of EEA firms contracting with UK customers, such as those found in insurance contracts, can continue to be met. This would apply to in-bound firms only – the UK Government believes it in the interest of businesses and consumers in both the UK and the EU to ensure reciprocal arrangements are in place.
We are working, together with our regulatory authorities, to provide assurances for firms and consumers that we will deliver an orderly exit from the EU. We also welcome the fact that the European Central Bank and the Bank of England have recently agreed to convene a technical working group to mitigate risks to financial services posed by our exit from the EU. While this working group is separate from the ongoing negotiations with our European partners, it provides an opportunity for UK and EU authorities to discuss risks, gives reassurance for firms, and allows UK and European financial services regulators to work together to ensure a smooth and orderly exit.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on understanding the scrutiny and legislative roles of the UK Parliament; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
All civil servants have access to the central learning offer provided through Civil Service Learning. There are one-day workshops on Understanding Parliament, which are delivered at Foundation (introduction) and Practitioner (advanced) levels. Both of these workshops cover Parliament’s scrutiny and legislative roles. The Department for Exiting the European Union has delivered the Understanding Parliament Foundation and Practitioner training courses to 66 staff since April 2017.
As part of a blended approach to delivering training, and providing resources to help individuals while on the job, Civil Service Learning provides online resources, such as weblinks, guides and videos. There is an e-learning course on Understanding Parliament, and access to two comprehensive Open Online Courses (on Understanding Parliament and Select Committees) which have been produced in partnership between the House of Commons and Future Learn, a digital education platform owned by the Open University.
Fast Stream civil servants receive a Parliament workshop during their induction, covering the role of Parliament in scrutinising government policy. All Fast Streamers are expected to have attended this induction. For Policy Professionals, there is an optional workshop which focuses on the legislative process in both Houses, typical timetables and roles of Ministers, Bill Teams and civil servants in delivering legislation.
For Senior Civil Servants, a tailored one-day workshop, Leading in Parliament, is available, which covers Parliament’s role, powers and relationship with government, the day-to-day work of MPs and Peers. A workshop delivered jointly between Civil Service Learning and HM Treasury is provided for Accounting Officers. Civil Service Learning provides a workshop specifically for Senior Responsible Officers with responsibility for secondary legislation. Every department has an SCS Parliamentary Champion and there is a buddy system in place between Parliamentary Champions and senior House staff.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union has delivered the Devolution and Intergovernmental Working training courses on 11 occasions, to 74 staff since April 2017. A breakdown by grade is not available. These courses form a suite of learning and development opportunities within the Department for Exiting the European Union.
Introduced in 2017 as part of Fast Stream policy learning, Fast Streamers take part in a mandatory Devolution workshop as part of their Induction offer. Fast Streamers are also required to complete the online 'Devolution and Intergovernmental Working' e-learning product as mandatory e-learning within their first year on the Fast Stream programme. All Fast Streamers within the Department for Exiting the European Union are expected to have undertaken both the e-learning and induction workshop.
Civil Service Learning provide a range of central learning opportunities, including online and face-to-face training, for all civil servants on Devolution & Intergovernmental Working.
The online Devolution & Intergovernmental Working module is for all new and existing civil servants, launched in November 2016. Through four online tutorials, video interviews with senior civil servants, and ‘take back to the office’ activities, it explains how the different governments operating in the UK work together, covering devolution settlements, decentralisation, City Deals and intergovernmental relations, as well as the ‘Devolution Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements’.
The half day face-to-face Devolution & Intergovernmental Working workshop is also available to all civil servants. Building on the above online module, delegates learn from experienced professionals who have worked on a range of devolution matters about topics such as confidentiality, when to seek legal advice and the boundaries of devolution, where reserved and devolved powers meet.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the EU on maintaining membership of the EU’s Internal Energy Market after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
At the March European Council the EU adopted guidelines on the framework for the future EU-UK relationship. Discussions on the future relationship are now being taken forward.
As the Prime Minister set out in her Mansion House speech, while any agreement on our future relationship with the EU must respect the sovereignty of both the UK’s and EU’s legal orders, the UK would like to secure broad energy cooperation with the EU, including exploring options for the UK’s continued participation in the EU’s Internal Energy Market.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations of the report by Professor Volker Roeben, The feasibility of the of associate EU citizenship for UK citizens post-Brexit.
Answered by Suella Braverman
We have carefully considered the recommendations found in the report by Professor Volker Roeben, ‘The feasibility of the associate EU citizenship for UK citizens post-Brexit’.
However, our understanding of the EU treaty provisions is that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.
However, we know that in the future, many UK nationals will wish to continue to travel, live and work within the European Union, just as EU citizens will still wish to do so in the UK. We look forward to discussing our future relationship with the European Union, one which will work in the interest of both the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what consideration he has made of the effect of Article 70 (1)(b) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties on UK citizens retaining EU citizenship should the UK leave the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
EU treaty provisions make clear that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.
Article 70 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties is a default rule, which does not apply where the parties to a treaty agree arrangements relating to a particular party’s withdrawal. The UK and the EU will agree these arrangements under the Article 50 process, to be defined in the Withdrawal Agreement.
We know that in the future, many UK nationals will wish to continue to travel, live and work within the European Union, just as EU citizens will still wish to do so in the UK. We look forward to discussing our future relationship with the European Union, one which will work in the interest of both the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will take steps to preserve the rights, freedoms and legal protections for UK citizens enshrined in the Maastricht treaty.
Answered by Suella Braverman
EU treaty provisions make clear that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.
However, we know that in the future, many UK nationals will wish to continue to travel, live and work within the European Union, just as EU citizens will still wish to do so in the UK. We look forward to discussing our future relationship with the European Union, one which will work in the interest of both the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the European Parliament’s negotiating team for the UK leaving the European Union on the legal status of a proposed associate European Union citizenship should the UK leave the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Secretary of State regularly meets with ministerial counterparts from EU institutions and from other EU Member States. We have always said that we would be content to listen to any proposals from the European Union but this is not a matter that has been raised by others in discussions. Associate citizenship is not currently in the scope of exit negotiations.
EU treaty provisions make clear that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on retaining EU citizenship for UK citizens after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Secretary of State meets regularly with ministerial counterparts from other EU Member States and individuals in the EU institutions, including the European Commission. We have always said that we would be content to listen to any proposals from the European Commission, however associate citizenship is not currently in the scope of exit negotiations.
EU treaty provisions make clear that only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship. Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.