Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the position paper, Confidentiality and Access to Documents, published on 21 August 2017, what representations the Government has made to EU member states on the handling by the EU of information produced while the UK was an EU member state after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK’s position is that official information and documents originating from the EU, the UK or another EU Member State produced or exchanged prior to withdrawal should continue to be protected as now. The EU, as expressed in their paper on ‘Issues relating to the Functioning of the Union Institutions, Agencies and Bodies,’ is consistent with this position. The UK has had helpful discussions with the EU in relation to this issue during the recent negotiating rounds. The Government has therefore not made any representations to EU Member States on this matter, who will remain bound by relevant EU legislation on the protection of official information and documents.