Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what controls on freedom of movement are available to the Government within the EU Treaties.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
EU nationals may enter the UK and reside for up to three months from the date of entry, provided that they do not become a burden on the social assistance system in the UK. EU nationals wishing to stay beyond three months can only do so where they are exercising a Treaty right. Exercising Treaty rights in this context means they must be working, self-employed, self-sufficient or a student, or the family member of an EU national who is exercising a Treaty right.
These requirements are set out in Directive 2004/38/EC (often referred to as ‘the Free Movement Directive’). This EU Directive applies to all EU Member States. The Directive is currently implemented in the UK through the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Scottish Government's report entitled, Scotland's Place in Europe, published on 20 December 2016, whether he plans to accept any of the proposals of that report within his future negotiating framework.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government's White Paper sets out the basis for the Government's 12 negotiating objectives to build a global UK with a strong new partnership with the EU after our exit.
The third chapter of this White Paper sets out that as we leave the EU we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. To this end we are working to ensure we get the best possible deal for the whole of the UK.
The Scottish Government set out their position in their Brexit paper just before Christmas and it was formally presented to the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations in January. The Secretary of State has also met with Michael Russell, Scottish Government Minister on Scotland's Place in Europe, to discuss the report.
We continue to look closely at their proposals and the evidence underpinning their position - and there are a number of areas where we are in agreement - on ensuring access to the Single Market for goods and services, securing UK nationals' status in the EU, protecting workers rights, and ensuring that Scottish and other British universities should continue to have access to the best of European talent, and research collaboration. But our guiding principle must be to ensure that, as we leave the European Union, no new barriers to living and doing business within our own Union are created.
The White Paper also sets out that no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from them and we will use the opportunity of bringing decision making back to the UK to ensure that more decisions are devolved.
We will continue to engage all of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament, throughout the process. At the January plenary session of the Joint Ministerial Committee, ministers agreed to intensify their work ahead of the triggering of Article 50 and to continue at the same pace thereafter.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to support the rollout of 5G.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK seizes the opportunity to be a world leader in 5G. At the 2016 Autumn Statement, the Government announced £1bn of new funding to boost the UK’s digital infrastructure, including significant funding for a new programme of fibre and 5G trials. We will be publishing further details on this programme at Budget, alongside a new 5G strategy.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of Changing Places toilet facilities in public places; and if he will include requirements for such facilities in any future disability strategy.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Government supports steps to increase the number of Changing Places toilets. Research into the effectiveness of the statutory guidance which supports Building Regulations’ requirements for access for non domestic buildings is currently being finalised. The research has covered provision of Changing Places toilets. The research will be published in due course and the Government will consider carefully any findings relating to Changing Places toilets.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether 100 per cent geographical coverage will be a condition for the future spectrum licences for 5G mobile networks.
Answered by Matt Hancock
No decision has yet been taken.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consultation process she has undertaken with the Crown Dependencies on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Oliver Heald
I have had meetings with the Chief Ministers of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man in recent months, and visited Jersey in October 2016. In each of these meetings we discussed the concerns of the Crown Dependencies surrounding the UK’s exit from the European Union.
In addition, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Exiting the European Union has agreed to hold quarterly meetings with the Chief Ministers of each of the Crown Dependencies. Two of these meetings have taken place and a third is scheduled for later this month.
On 18th November 2016, my department made a submission to the Justice Select Committee on the implications of leaving the EU for the Crown Dependencies. This contains further information on how the UK Government plans to engage with the Crown Dependencies on this important issue.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
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 Prime Minister and other Cabinet colleagues on the content of Scotland's plan for the UK leaving the EU, Scotland's place in Europe, published on 20 December 2016.
Answered by David Jones
The paper will be discussed in detail at the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) taking place on Thursday 19 January.
JMC(EN) has been set up to discuss each government’s requirements for the future relationship with the EU as we seek to agree a UK approach to the negotiations, and is chaired by the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU.
Discussions on the proposals have also taken place on a bilateral basis with the Scottish Government following the publication of the paper, and in line with our objective to seek a deal that works for all parts of the UK.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what controls within EU treaties have been exercised by the Government on freedom of movement since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The free movement of people is provided for in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Free Movement Directive. These set out the EU law rights of entry and residence in another EU Member State. This and certain Court of Justice decisions have been implemented in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to reform the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government response[1] to the consultation ‘The Renewable Heat Incentive: A reformed and refocused scheme’ was published on 14 December 2016 and outlines changes to reform the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme. It is intended that these changes will be implemented in spring 2017.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what nuclear waste disposal activities have been conducted within Dumfries and Galloway in the last 10 years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The management of radioactive waste is a devolved matter.