Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the document, Framework for the UK-EU Partnership: Science, research and innovation, published in May 2018, what progress (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have made on a Science and Innovation Pact with the EU.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Both the UK and the EU have been clear about the benefits of international collaboration on science and innovation and it is our intention to continue this cooperation with the EU. The government’s ambition for this is reflected in the document published in May 2018, which was presented to our EU counterparts during a technical session. The document can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/710268/SCIENCE_-_FINAL.pdf.
The White Paper sets out proposals for a cooperative accord on science and innovation, which will provide for UK participation in EU research funding programmes, enable continued cooperation through joint participation in networks, infrastructure, policies and agencies which are to the UK’s and the EU’s joint benefit, and establish channels for regular dialogue between regulators, researchers and experts. We are working at pace to conclude this agreement.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the total cost of contributing to the EU agencies the Government will seek participation in after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK wants to explore with the EU the terms on which the UK could remain part of specific agencies which are particularly important to future cooperation in their area. We have been clear that we will make an appropriate financial contribution, dependent on the level of participation. The arrangements that apply will be a matter for negotiations with the EU.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether a new Independent Monitoring Authority to monitor citizens’ rights will be established by 29 March 2019.
Answered by Robin Walker
A new Independent Monitoring Authority will monitor how the Citizens’ Rights provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement are implemented and applied in the UK, helping to provide certainty to EU citizens in the UK. Its powers will have effect from the end of the implementation period. The Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill, which will implement the final Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union, will make provision for the establishment of this independent monitoring authority.
We will come forward in due course with more details about the shape of this new authority, but we are clear that it will need to receive complaints from EU citizens and their family members; conduct its own inquiries into alleged breaches of Part Two of the Agreement by administrative bodies; and institute legal proceedings to seek an adequate remedy. The IMA will publish an annual report to the specialised Committee for Citizens’ Rights, (sitting under the Joint Committee governing the Withdrawal Agreement).
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether provision for the establishment of the new Independent Monitoring Authority will be made in the EU (Withdrawal and Implementation) Bill.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has announced its intention to bring forward a new bill - the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill - to implement the final Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union. This Bill will implement the major elements of the Withdrawal Agreement including the citizens' rights part, and it will make provision for the establishment of the independent monitoring authority. We will bring forward more detail on the Bill in due course.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2018 to Question 137537 on Data Protection, whether the Government has made a further assessment of its decision not to apply for an adequacy decision on data from the EU as a result of Michel Barnier’s speech at the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights on 19 June 2018.
Answered by Robin Walker
As the Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech, achieving a deal on data protection is one of the foundations that must underpin the UK-EU trading relationship. We want to secure an agreement with the EU that provides stability and confidence for EU and UK business, public bodies and individuals to achieve our aims in maintaining and developing the UK’s strong economic and security links with the EU.
We are seeking to build on the standard adequacy model and want to see ongoing regulatory cooperation and joined up enforcement action between UK and EU data protection authorities. This will ensure UK and EU businesses and citizens benefit from greater cross-border cooperation for resolving data protection disputes.
It is important that we move quickly to ensure that personal data continues to flow after December 2020 and look forward to continuing discussions with the EU on this. It is in the best interests of citizens and businesses throughout the EU and the UK to provide the earliest possible reassurance that data flows can continue.
The PM set out in her Munich and Mansion house speeches that the UK will be seeking to build on the standard adequacy model and want to see ongoing regulatory cooperation and joined up enforcement action between UK and EU data protection authorities. This will ensure UK and EU businesses and citizens benefit from greater cross-border cooperation for resolving data protection disputes.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, on what dates had he held meetings with Michel Barnier since December 2017.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
We have always engaged constructively and as a full and responsible Member State, in order to secure a deal that works for all parts of the country.
To that end, the SoS has been in contact with Michel Barnier, on a number of occasions since December last year. The SoS met him on February 5th in London, had a call on 2nd March, and most notably, they had a joint press conference in March following the agreement reached on the implementation period.
Throughout this period officials have been negotiating hard and at pace on issues related to our withdrawal, including Northern Ireland and other separation issues. More recently, they have begun discussions on the future framework, with discussions covering elements of both the future security and future economic partnerships.
We will of course continue to keep Parliament informed as negotiations unfold, in the coming months.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if the publish the (a) date, (b) location and (c) minutes of each of the meetings the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, the hon. Member for Wycombe, has had with Shanker Singham since June 2017.
Answered by Robin Walker
All meetings on official business are declared in the transparency returns and can be found on the GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-exiting-the-european-union&publication_type=transparency-data.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which meetings Shanker Singham has attended in his Department since July 2016.
Answered by Robin Walker
All meetings on official business are declared in the transparency returns and can be found on the GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-exiting-the-european-union&publication_type=transparency-data.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department, (c) advisers in his Department and (d) officials in his Department have held with representatives from Legatum Institute since July 2016; and if he will publish the topics for discussion at those meetings.
Answered by Robin Walker
All meetings on official business are declared in the transparency returns and can be found on the GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-exiting-the-european-union&publication_type=transparency-data.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when the Government plans to start the process of applying for an adequacy decision on data from the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The UK has very high standards of data protection and recognises the need for, and is one of the leading drivers of, high data protection standards across the globe. As the Prime Minister said in both her Munich and Mansion House speeches, achieving a deal on data protection is one of the foundations that must underpin the UK-EU relationship.
We want to secure an agreement with the EU that provides the stability and confidence for EU and UK business and individuals to achieve our aims in maintaining and developing the UK’s strong trading and economic links with the EU. That is why we will be seeking more than just an adequacy arrangement and want to see an appropriate ongoing role for the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office.
Following the EU’s adoption of guidelines for negotiations on our future relationship at the March European Council, we have had early discussions with the Commission on that future relationship and we look forward to making further progress on this to secure the best deal for both the UK and EU.