Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether provisions in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement allow for (a) a short supplementing agreement or a Joint Declaration and (b) other bilateral agreements.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) imposes reciprocal obligations on the Parties to the Agreement. The TCA also includes some provisions – common in international agreements of this kind – which impose specific obligations on a particular Party.
There is no general non-discrimination provision applicable to all current and future EU Member States in the TCA.
The TCA does not prohibit either the UK or EU from entering into future agreements with each other. Article COMPROV.2 of the TCA includes information on how to treat future UK-EU agreements. The UK and EU Member States are free to make bilateral agreements with each other in principle. However, whether the EU Member States can enter into an agreement with the UK depends on the subject matter and the competence position under EU law.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the provisions agreed in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement are reciprocal and include a binding non-discrimination clause covering all current and future EU member states.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) imposes reciprocal obligations on the Parties to the Agreement. The TCA also includes some provisions – common in international agreements of this kind – which impose specific obligations on a particular Party.
There is no general non-discrimination provision applicable to all current and future EU Member States in the TCA.
The TCA does not prohibit either the UK or EU from entering into future agreements with each other. Article COMPROV.2 of the TCA includes information on how to treat future UK-EU agreements. The UK and EU Member States are free to make bilateral agreements with each other in principle. However, whether the EU Member States can enter into an agreement with the UK depends on the subject matter and the competence position under EU law.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure overseas electors receive ballot papers in time to vote in elections.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
In the last Parliament, the Government amended legislation to make it easier for overseas electors and Armed Forces personnel to vote by post at elections and referendums in the UK. The electoral timetable was lengthened and the restriction on issuing postal votes ahead of the postal vote application deadline removed.
We continue to keep under review the practical operation of the postal voting process and meet with electoral administrators and their suppliers to identify ways to provide a more effective service, including expediting the delivery of postal votes to overseas electors.
Asked by: Robert Neill (Conservative - Bromley and Chislehurst)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the success of the One Public Estate Programme in increasing co-ordination across the public sector on the use of public land and buildings; and what plans he has to expand that programme in the next Parliament.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.