Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what engagement has taken place with the Welsh Government about plans for the end of the EU transition period, including with regard to which UK legislation will require Legislative Consent; and what engagement has particularly focussed on the possibility of the UK and the EU failing to reach agreement on future relations.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The UK Government has been working closely with the devolved administrations throughout negotiations with the EU. Engagement with the devolved administrations continues; the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, other Cabinet Office Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with their counterparts from the devolved administrations to update them on the negotiations.
The UK Government has worked with the Welsh Government to deliver on a wide range of legislative matters, and will continue to seek legislative consent, as appropriate.
The UK Government has noted the request of the Labour-run administration in Wales to extend the transition period but there is no change to the position that the Transition Period will end this year.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they do not pay community radio stations to broadcast public information notices; and whether they have any plans to do so.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government is strongly supportive of the community radio sector and recognises the great value that it offers to communities across the UK.
In light of COVID-19, the Government has developed a national campaign to provide information, guidance and reassurance to the public.
The campaign utilises a wide range of channels to maximise reach and engagement and to ensure our messaging reaches as many people as possible. This includes the use of paid-for advertising on community radio. We currently work with over 35 community radio stations on a weekly basis.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the devolved administrations in preparation for their post-Brexit trade negotiation meetings with the European Commission in the week beginning 20 April.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
We are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations throughout negotiations to secure a future relationship that works in the interests of the whole of the UK. The Cabinet Office is leading work across Whitehall to ensure the devolved administrations are engaged in key stages of the negotiations.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation has taken place with stakeholders and, in particular, consumers, in relation to UK-wide Common Frameworks, and what further consultations are planned.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The UK Government remains committed to transparency in the UK common frameworks programme. The Cabinet Office has overall responsibility for the frameworks programme and engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholder organisations, including businesses and consumers, as well as providing updates on the development of UK common frameworks through regular publications.
Departments across Whitehall are responsible for developing individual frameworks and therefore undertake consultation with relevant stakeholders. Officials are currently revisiting the format of stakeholder engagement in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their next report on progress towards removing retained EU law restrictions, as required by Schedule 3 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The sixth European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks statutory report was published on 19 March 2020, covering the reporting period of 26 September 2019 to 25 December 2019. The seventh report, detailing work that has taken place between 26 December 2019 to 25 March 2020, will be published in the coming months.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Intelligence and Security Committee about the publication of the report on the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum; and in particular, when that report may be published.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
In line with his responsibilities in the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Prime Minister carefully considered and approved the report, and is content that its publication would not prejudice the functions of those bodies that safeguard our national security.
We acknowledge the public’s interest in the publication of the report, however the report itself is the property of the independent ISC, as such it is not for the Government to publish ISC reports; it is for the ISC to lay them before Parliament. Once a new Committee has been established, it will be up to them to choose when they wish to publish it. The process to establish a new Committee has already begun.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their draft legal text on the future relationship with the EU.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The UK and EU exchanged draft legal texts on 18 March 2020. Our overall approach to negotiations is already set out in detail in, “The Future Relationship with the EU: The UK’s Approach to Negotiations”, which was published on 27 February 2020. We will keep under review which documents it is appropriate to publish during the course of negotiations and whether it is useful to make them available more widely.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants were employed by the Department for Exiting the European Union at the time of its winding up on 31 January.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants (1) were offered, (2) have accepted, and (3) have rejected, redundancy as a result of the winding up of the Department for Exiting the European Union on 31 January.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants employed at the Department for Exiting the European Union at its winding up on 31 January have now been deployed to permanent positions in other Government departments.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.