Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 2 February (HL12298), whether they will now (1) answer the question put, namely whether they have made any assessment of the possible competitive disadvantages to (a) England, (b) Wales, and (c) Scotland, of not being in the EU Single Market; and if so, what was the result of any such assessment, and (2) over whom Northern Ireland has a "competitive advantage" by being in the EU Single Market for goods.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The UK has left the EU Single Market and Customs Union with a deal that means the UK can now regulate in a way that suits the UK economy and UK businesses – doing things in a more innovative and effective way, without being bound by EU rules.
The Northern Ireland Protocol protects the territorial integrity of the UK by safeguarding Northern Ireland’s place in the UK’s customs territory and internal market, ensuring unfettered access to Great Britain for Northern Ireland businesses, while also facilitating the free flow of goods between Northern Ireland and the EU.
The questions of the advantages of relationships with the EU single market and customs union have been extensively debated over the last four years. I note that the Liberal Democrats campaigned to reverse Brexit in the last General Election, but the people of the United Kingdom voted to Get Brexit Done, endorsing the Conservative commitment to leave the Single Market and Customs Union.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to establish a dedicated (a) telephone helpline and (b) online support chat service for individuals and companies facing logistical problems or tariff rates queries relating to their UK imports and exports from 1 January 2021.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has a telephone helpline for businesses to ask trade-related queries. In December 2018, we established an online support service to help traders to understand the EU Exit and Transition processes and answer questions on DIT policy, including tariffs. Companies should continue to use these resources now and post-1st January 2021 for support to prepare for changes as we leave the Single Market and Customs Union.
This Department is working with Cabinet Office and other departments to ensure traders and hauliers have the right support. In addition to Departmental helplines, Cabinet Office has set up the EU Transition Trader and Industry Forum, which traders and logistics companies can use to ask questions from government officials - https://transition-forum.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
For logistics companies, the Department for Transport has set up 45 information and advice sites across the country which hauliers can visit if they need advice and support. A list of those sites can be found here- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/haulier-advice-site-locations
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what legislation EU nationals in the UK have the right to maintain the same level of access to benefit payments as comparable UK nationals after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government has protected the rights of EEA citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 through the enactment of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and the establishment of the EU Settlement Scheme under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. The scheme provides a simple means for those who are eligible to secure their immigration status in UK law.
Those who obtain pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are able to access benefits and services in the UK on the same basis as currently applies under free movement rules. Where a person already holds another form of limited leave to enter or remain that allows recourse to public funds, for example discretionary leave, the Immigration Rules (HC 813) make provision for a late application to the scheme. Such an application must be made before the expiry of that leave unless there are reasonable grounds for failure to do so.
Parliament has approved the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. These regulations protect existing relevant EU law rights for those EEA citizens and their family members who are lawfully resident in the UK at the end of the transition period but who have yet to obtain status under the EU Settlement Scheme, until the final determination of an application to the scheme made by the deadline of 30 June 2021. This ensures there is no change to their current rights while they make their application. Regulations to be made under clause 4 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, subject to its enactment, will contain provisions to ensure those with pre-settled status are treated in the same way after the end of the transition period as they are now for the purposes of accessing benefits and services.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to allow EU nationals with limited leave to remain in the UK and who are accessing public funds to gain pre-settled status without losing their access to public funds.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government has protected the rights of EEA citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 through the enactment of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and the establishment of the EU Settlement Scheme under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. The scheme provides a simple means for those who are eligible to secure their immigration status in UK law.
Those who obtain pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are able to access benefits and services in the UK on the same basis as currently applies under free movement rules. Where a person already holds another form of limited leave to enter or remain that allows recourse to public funds, for example discretionary leave, the Immigration Rules (HC 813) make provision for a late application to the scheme. Such an application must be made before the expiry of that leave unless there are reasonable grounds for failure to do so.
Parliament has approved the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. These regulations protect existing relevant EU law rights for those EEA citizens and their family members who are lawfully resident in the UK at the end of the transition period but who have yet to obtain status under the EU Settlement Scheme, until the final determination of an application to the scheme made by the deadline of 30 June 2021. This ensures there is no change to their current rights while they make their application. Regulations to be made under clause 4 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, subject to its enactment, will contain provisions to ensure those with pre-settled status are treated in the same way after the end of the transition period as they are now for the purposes of accessing benefits and services.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to allow EU nationals with discretionary leave to remain in the UK to gain pre-settled status without losing their access to public funds.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government has protected the rights of EEA citizens, and their family members, resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 through the enactment of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and the establishment of the EU Settlement Scheme under Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules. The scheme provides a simple means for those who are eligible to secure their immigration status in UK law.
Those who obtain pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are able to access benefits and services in the UK on the same basis as currently applies under free movement rules. Where a person already holds another form of limited leave to enter or remain that allows recourse to public funds, for example discretionary leave, the Immigration Rules (HC 813) make provision for a late application to the scheme. Such an application must be made before the expiry of that leave unless there are reasonable grounds for failure to do so.
Parliament has approved the Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. These regulations protect existing relevant EU law rights for those EEA citizens and their family members who are lawfully resident in the UK at the end of the transition period but who have yet to obtain status under the EU Settlement Scheme, until the final determination of an application to the scheme made by the deadline of 30 June 2021. This ensures there is no change to their current rights while they make their application. Regulations to be made under clause 4 of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, subject to its enactment, will contain provisions to ensure those with pre-settled status are treated in the same way after the end of the transition period as they are now for the purposes of accessing benefits and services.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure the UK distant waters fishing fleet has access to fishing opportunities from the year 2021 in (1) the Norwegian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) north of 61 degrees latitude, (2) the Faeroe EEZ, (3) the Greenland EEZ, and (4) the seas around Svalbard.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
On the 31st December 2020, the UK will leave the Common Fisheries Policy. As we become an independent coastal state, we are committed to working closely with our coastal partners including the EU, Norway and Faroe Islands to manage shared stocks in a sustainable way and share fishing opportunities based on the scientific principle of zonal attachment.
As part of these preparations, the UK has concluded fisheries framework agreements with Norway and the Faroes, the first of which was signed on 30 September and has now been laid before Parliament. These framework agreements will provide the basis for annual negotiations on fishing opportunities and access to waters. In the forthcoming annual negotiations, the UK will seek to ensure the best possible outcomes for the whole of the UK fishing industry and our marine environment.
In addition, Defra officials are engaging regularly with their Greenlandic counterparts on opportunities for enhancing bilateral fisheries cooperation between the UK and Greenland. The UK’s rights under the 1920 Treaty of Paris with regards to fishing opportunities in Svalbard waters remain unchanged.
Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 54 of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) report of 6 November 2018 entitled Investigation into the use of data analytics in political campaigns, what the status is of the ICO's investigation into the (a) Liberal Democrats' sale of electoral data to Open Britain and (b) use of personal data by the Remain side of the EU referendum campaign.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The ICO took advice from the Electoral Commission on the matter of the Liberal Democrats. As a result this case was referred to the Metropolitan Police on 26 October 2018 as the issues fell outside the jurisdiction of the ICO. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that they were unable to consider the matter any further.
The ICO’s wider investigations of several organisations on both the remain and the leave side of the UK’s referendum about membership of the EU has now concluded. The ICO identified no significant breaches of the privacy and electronic marketing regulations and data protection legislation that met the threshold for formal regulatory action. Where an organisation has continued in operation, the ICO has provided advice and guidance to support better future compliance with the rules.
The ICO will shortly publish a report of audits on the main political parties.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the higher education sector concerning the next academic year, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department engages regularly with representative bodies covering all types of higher education provider, encompassing all locations, as well as receiving representations in person and by correspondence from individual providers on a range of issues including the next academic year 2020-21.
The government announced a package of measures in May to protect students and the higher education sector from the impact of COVID-19. This has been discussed extensively with the sector, including through ministerial roundtables and letters. The package included a range of measures for next academic year. To ensure a fair, structured distribution of students across providers, temporary student number controls have been put in place for full-time, undergraduate domestic and EU students for academic year 2020/21 (with certain specific exemptions). The Government has also pulled forward tuition fee payments, expected to be worth £2.6 billion, for providers so that they receive more cash in the first term of academic year 2020/21. Through the proposals from the government and the sector, students will also benefit from a new proactive and personalised UCAS Clearing process this summer.
The government is working with higher education (HE) providers to make sure all reasonable efforts are being made to enable students to continue their studies to the best of their abilities this academic year and next.
Whilst recognising universities are autonomous institutions, we will shortly publish guidance to support them to make informed decisions on making university buildings and campuses accessible again, while minimising risks to students and staff
Furthermore, the HE sector is already working hard to prepare learning materials for the autumn term. This includes the government working with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, professional bodies and the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, to ensure students continue to leave university with qualifications that have real value. The OfS has published guidance for registered providers about how the OfS will approach the regulation of quality and standards during the COVID-19 outbreak. This guidance is clear that standards must be maintained - further details are available at https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/guidance-for-providers-about-quality-and-standards-during-coronavirus-pandemic/. Actions that providers are taking now may continue to be required in the 2020- 21 academic year if the disruption as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak is prolonged.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the investigation into Vote Leave and BeLeave as to whether those organisations broke spending rules during the EU referendum being dropped by the Metropolitan Police, what plans they have to review the work of the Electoral Commission; and what plans, if any, they have to abolish that organisation.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government notes the recent conclusion of the Metropolitan Police to end its investigation into BeLeave and Vote Leave. Organisations on both sides of the 2016 referendum were investigated. A line should now be drawn under these cases.
The Government’s clear view is that democratic decisions and referendum results should be respected. The UK has left the European Union and is regaining its independence.
The Government is committed to strengthening electoral integrity.
Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to make a statement to Parliament about their plan to leave the European Union Aviation Safety Agency; and why they chose to share this information first with Aviation Week on 6 December 2019.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Prime Minister has been clear that our future relationship with the EU must not entail any application of EU law in the UK or CJEU jurisdiction, or indeed laws and regulations made by the EU Commission (as was the case with EASA). Continued UK participation in the EASA system would have been inconsistent with this approach. We want to agree a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) with the EU to minimise regulatory burdens for industry.
The UK has the third largest aviation network in the world and the biggest in Europe, with direct flights to more than 370 international destinations in some 100 countries. Air travel is important for both the UK and the EU in connecting people and businesses, facilitating tourism and trade. Aviation and aerospace are critical industries to both the UK and the EU and we have a common interest in ensuring that they can continue to thrive.
The Civil Aviation Authority currently oversees most aspects of civil aviation safety in the UK. After the transition period the CAA will take on some additional functions from EASA and will continue to ensure that the UK has world-leading safety standards.
The CAA has been preparing for the possibility of leaving the EASA system since the EU referendum in 2016, including recruiting new staff across the organisation. The CAA will continue to refine these plans over the coming months, and may require additional resources.
There has been regular and open engagement with the aviation and aerospace industries on this subject.
The EU made it clear in its public mandate (25 February) that it is willing to negotiate regulatory cooperation on aviation safety but its mandate does not provide for UK participation in EASA. In the UK’s published negotiating position (27 February) the UK has made it clear that it is also willing to negotiate regulatory cooperation with the EU through a BASA and that EASA participation is not an option. That both the UK and EU are seeking regulatory cooperation on aviation safety, increases the likelihood of concluding these negotiations before the end of 2020 and provides certainty to industry.
The Aviation Week interview with the Secretary of State for Transport on the subject of EASA participation was published on 6 March 2020.
The UK does not make direct contributions to EASA. EASA activities are funded mainly through contributions from charges to industry and the remainder through contributions from the EU and participating states.
Most EASA staff are employed directly by EASA and based in Cologne and it is the decision for UK nationals employed by EASA whether they remain within the agency. The CAA has previously had a small number of secondees working in EASA but these individuals have all now returned.