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 estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of leaving the EU in accordance with (a) the proposals set out in the Government’s White Paper and (b) a no-deal scenario.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In the Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor set aside £1.5 billion of additional funding for EU Exit preparations in 2019/20. Departments will be invited to bid for 2019/20 EU Exit preparation funding later in the year. Details of timings and process will be announced in due course.
The expenditure of the Department for Exiting the European Union is published in our annual accounts. We continue to review our resource requirements to ensure that we deliver our aims and objectives within the delegated budget approved by Parliament.
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 Government has had discussions with (a) the EU and (b) EU Member States on the UK citizens retaining the ability to use EU only customs and passport queues at European airports and ports once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
In the Department’s White Paper: The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Government has said that the UK will seek reciprocal arrangements with the EU that ensure smooth passage for UK nationals when they travel to the EU, for example on business or on holiday.
The details of these arrangements will be discussed as part of our ongoing negotiations with the EU on our future relationship.
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, how many countries which have service agreements with the UK which are contingent on UK membership of the EU have agreed that those agreements will (a) be rolled over during a transition period and (b) continue once that period is over.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is working to secure continuity of our existing international agreements as we leave the EU. A number of these agreements include service-related elements, such as services chapters in existing EU Free Trade Agreements. The EU and UK agreed at the March European Council that, during the implementation period, the UK is to be treated as a Member State for the purposes of international agreements and that the EU will notify third parties to these agreements to this effect. This approach provides certainty and confidence that there will be no disruption to existing relationships underpinned by international agreements. A number of countries have already publicly welcomed the approach.
We are also engaging with partner countries to put in place successor agreements that replicate the effects of existing agreements as far as possible and will come into force following the implementation period. Our discussions with our international partners show a willingness to deliver continuity across these agreements.
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, if his Department will make an assessment of the effect of allegations made against the campaigns (a) Vote Leave and (b) BeLeave by the (i) Electoral Commission and (ii) Observer on negotiations with the EU on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Electoral Commission have determined that electoral rules have been broken and Vote Leave and BeLeave have been fined and referred to the police. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on ongoing police investigations.
The Government published a White Paper on the Future Relationship and talks with the EU are now accelerating and intensifying. We remain confident of reaching agreement on the Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework by October. We are not going to provide a running commentary on these negotiations.
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 article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, what (a) discussions his Department has had with the EU and (b) his policy is on the occupational status of UK transport managers residing in the UK and working for a road transport operator based in the EU 27 after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) 1071/2009 requires a transport manager employed by an EU transport operator to be resident in the Community. The eligibility of UK-resident transport managers to work for an operator in an EU member state when the UK is no longer a member of the EU will be a matter for negotiation.
On 7 June, following discussions with the EU, the UK published ‘Framework for the UK-EU Partnership - Transport’, setting out UK proposals for the future UK-EU relationship. The recently published White Paper on the Future Relationship Between the UK and the EU made clear that the UK wants to explore options for a reciprocal access deal for road hauliers and passenger transport operators. There is a strong mutual interest in reaching an ambitious agreement, which maximises benefits for all our citizens and businesses.
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 dispute resolution mechanism and other means of redress will be available to businesses once the UK has left the European Union.
Answered by Robin Walker
The future partnership will be for the benefit of individuals and businesses, as well as for the UK and the EU as parties to the agreement.
Individuals and businesses will be able to enforce their rights and obligations as set out in the agreements in the respective domestic legal orders of the UK and EU.
For the partnership agreement to be of real value to our citizens and businesses, we will create certainty that their rights and obligations pursuant to the agreement will be applied consistently in both the UK and the EU, where this is intended in the agreement.
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 dispute resolution mechanism and other means of redress will be available to businesses once the UK has left the European Union.
Answered by Robin Walker
The future partnership will be for the benefit of individuals and businesses, as well as for the UK and the EU as parties to the agreement.
Individuals and businesses will be able to enforce their rights and obligations as set out in the agreements in the respective domestic legal orders of the UK and EU.
For the partnership agreement to be of real value to our citizens and businesses, we will create certainty that their rights and obligations pursuant to the agreement will be applied consistently in both the UK and the EU, where this is intended in the agreement.
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 businesses will be able to move staff (a) unrestricted and (b) under current rules on the movement of workers between the UK and the EU once the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have been clear that as we leave the EU, free movement of people will come to an end. As part of our future relationship with the EU we will seek to include a mobility framework so that UK nationals and EU citizens can continue to travel to each other’s territories and provide services – similar to what the UK may offer other close trading partners in the future.
The Government has published a White Paper setting out further detail on the UK’s position on our future relationship with the EU.
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 he has made of the potential effect of the abolition of the right of onward freedom of movement for UK citizens living in the EU on those citizens after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
Throughout the process of the negotiations we have sought to understand the unique challenges of our UK nationals already living in the EU, including the right of onward movement.
Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union have met delegates from groups representing UK nationals in the EU, to hear their views and concerns. Our Embassies and Ambassadors in the remaining EU27 have also engaged extensively with their communities in country and will continue to do so as we leave the EU.
We have assessed that onward movement is an important issue for many UK nationals living in the EU, and we remain committed to raising this issue during negotiations on the future relationship.
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 steps is his Department taking to secure freedom of movement rights for UK citizens living in EU members states after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK pushed strongly for the inclusion of ongoing movement rights during the first phase of negotiations on citizens’ rights in the Withdrawal Agreement, but the EU was not ready to include them.
We recognise that onward movement is an important issue for UK nationals in the EU, and we remain committed to raising this issue during negotiations on the future relationship.