All 1 Debates between Kwasi Kwarteng and David Jones

Wed 20th Mar 2019

EU Withdrawal Joint Committee: Oversight

Debate between Kwasi Kwarteng and David Jones
Wednesday 20th March 2019

(5 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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On the hon. Gentleman’s first point, I would like to put it on the record that we have an extremely fine and professional body of civil servants. I think that that is undisputed in this House. On the second point, as I have said on a number of occasions, we hope and expect to have full involvement and engagement with the devolved Administrations.

David Jones Portrait Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con)
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Annex VIII of the withdrawal agreement provides that the Joint Committee will be co-chaired by a member of the European Commission and a Minister of the British Government or, alternately, a “high level official”. Given the hugely important role that this Committee will play in the governance of this country, does not my hon. Friend agree that, as far as the British side is concerned, the chairman or chairwoman should always be a Minister rather than an official, so that he or she is answerable to this House? Is he prepared to give an undertaking to this House today that that will always be the case—if, of course, the withdrawal agreement is ever concluded?

Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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It is absolutely the intention of this Government to have ministerial responsibility, ministerial attendance, at meetings of the Joint Committee. We fully envisage that that will be the case.