Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Answer of 4 October 2019 to Question 290576 on Low incomes: Food, how many exit scenarios the Government has planned for; what the cost of those plans are; and what form those plans take.
Answered by James Duddridge
The Prime Minister has negotiated a new deal which would ensure that the UK leaves the EU in an orderly and friendly way.
However, the Government is also well prepared for a no deal scenario. The Treasury has made over £8.3 billion available to prepare for Brexit, including £2.1 billion in August this year to increase preparations for leaving without a deal.
The food industry is experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply, from adverse weather damaging crops in other countries to transport issues abroad. The Government has been meeting weekly with industry and retailers to make sure we are prepared for all exit scenarios.
The Government remains committed to providing support to those who need it most, and the national benefit system will continue to provide a strong safety net, delivering over £200 billion in support this year. In particular, the Government continues to spend over £95 billion a year on welfare benefits. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans as an additional safeguard for those who need them.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Minister's proposed EU exit deal, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect on businesses in Northern Ireland of the imposition of checks on both the North-South and East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
The new Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, agreed between the UK and the EU on 17 October, protects the economy of Northern Ireland and Ireland by ensuring that all businesses can continue to trade easily across the North-South border without checks or controls at, or near the border.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Minister's proposed EU exit deal, when his Department last met with representatives of Northern Irish industry to discuss the effect on that industry of the imposition of a North-South and an East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
The department has engaged extensively with representatives of businesses, industry groups and trade unions from Northern Ireland. This includes through the Government’s Alternative Arrangements Business Advisory Group. Ministers are continuing to engage with representatives from all sectors of the Northern Ireland economy.
The Government's revised deal provides a new and unique solution for Northern Ireland – they will continue to be part of the UK Customs Union, but with access to EU markets without a hard border. The Government has made clear commitments to ensure unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the whole UK internal market.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, at which forthcoming EU meetings on food and drink will UK officials not be present.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 effect on Northern Irish businesses of the Government's proposals of 2 October 2019 on the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 economic effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal on businesses in Northern Ireland with regard to the imposition of checks on both the North-South and the East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 representatives of Northern Irish industry on the effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal and the imposition of a North-South and an East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when Ministers and officials of his Department last met with representatives of the UK automotive sector; and what assessment he has made of what Government assistance that sector will require in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Duddridge
DExEU Ministers and officials have regular ongoing engagement with the automotive sector, including world-leading manufacturers and representative bodies such as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The Secretary of State for Exiting the EU met with Honda in June. Separately, Ministers met with McLaren and Nissan Europe in June and July. Since 1st January 2019 DExEU Permanent Secretaries have met SMMT on four occasions (with the most recent meeting on September 20th).
HMG is committed to ensuring that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing after we leave the European Union. Adapting to new regulatory requirements takes time, so the Government will provide continuity in goods regulation for a temporary period after exit day. If UK manufacturers, distributors and importers continue to meet EU requirements, their goods can still be placed on the EU market. Furthermore, tariffs will not apply to car parts.. The Government will continue to apply zero tariffs to steel imports, ensuring the continuation of supply of a key material for UK production, especially in automotive. Tariffs will, however, apply to finished vehicles.
The Government has published technical notices on Placing manufactured goods on the UK market after Brexit and Placing manufactured goods on the EU market after Brexit, as well as making dedicated, tailored advice available for the automotive sector: The automotive sector and preparing for Brexit.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what preparations his Department is making for the UK leaving the EU without an agreement; and how much funding has been allocated to those preparations.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
As a responsible Government, we’ve been preparing to leave the EU for nearly three years. We are putting in place a range of preparations for all scenarios and the Department for Exiting the European Union’s role is in part to deliver and legislate for the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU.
The Treasury has allocated over £4.2 billion of additional funding to departments and Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This funding is to cover all exit scenarios and is in addition to departmental efforts to reprioritise from business as usual toward preparations for the UK’s departure from the EU. Work on no-deal exit preparations cannot be readily separated from other EU exit work, given the significant overlap in plans in many cases.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the EU chief negotiator has stated that the EU is willing to agree to the implementation of Article XXIV of the GATT in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
No such assurances have been sought from the EU, for a scenario where the UK leaves the EU without a deal, as the Government remains committed to seeking an agreement. The Government and the European Commission have been clear that our trading relationship must comply with WTO rules. GATT Article XXIV is the provision which allows WTO members to form free trade areas or customs unions, or to adopt an interim agreement necessary for the formation of a customs union or of a free trade area. It relates solely to trade in goods. Any preferential arrangement between the UK and EU under Article XXIV - whether temporary or permanent - requires the mutual agreement of both parties.