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 have, as a result of the winding up of the Department for Exiting the European Union on 31 January, (1) been offered, (2) accepted, and (3) rejected, offers of other civil service roles with a lower level of overall remuneration.
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 contract staff have had their roles terminated 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 whether departmental ministers serving at the Department for Exiting the European Union immediately before its winding up on 31 January have received compensation for the loss of their role; and if so, how much.
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 what assessment they have made of the letter from the Members of the Interparliamentary Forum on Brexit to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster dated 29 October; and when they intend to respond to that letter and its conclusion that the Joint Ministerial Committee mechanism is not fit for purpose.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
We are grateful to the Forum for its contribution to the debate and its recommendations, which will continue to inform discussions between the UK Government and devolved administrations on the review of intergovernmental relations. We note the Forum's request for a response by 14 January and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many bills they intend to bring forward to legislate for UK common frameworks; what subjects those bills will cover; and whether they plan to publish those first as draft bills.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government’s provisional frameworks analysis published in March sets out the 24 policy areas in which it envisages a legislative common framework, either in whole or in part. This analysis remains provisional and is subject to ongoing work with the devolved administrations, parliament and external stakeholders. Where legislation is required, the Government seeks to publish bills in draft wherever possible.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the planned legislation on UK common frameworks will require the consents of each of the devolved legislatures.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Her Majesty’s Government will abide by existing practices and conventions when deciding whether to seek the consent of the devolved legislatures for future UK primary legislation that creates a legislative framework.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, they propose to consult on proposals to legislate for UK common frameworks to (1) enable the functioning of the UK internal market, (2) ensure compliance with international obligations, (3) ensure that the UK can negotiate, enter into, and implement new trade agreements and international treaties, (4) enable the management of common resources, (5) administer and provide access to justice in cases with a cross-border element, and (6) safeguard the security of the UK.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Since July 2017, the UK Government has been working closely with the devolved administrations on the policy areas where common frameworks may be required after exiting the EU. The Government published its provisional analysis of this work in March and that initial analysis now enables a conversation beyond governments, in an open and transparent manner. These issues are of central importance to Parliament and the devolved legislatures, but also to businesses and wider stakeholders whose day to day activities will be affected by these decisions. This analysis is part of an ongoing dialogue, not a final position. The conclusions it sets out are provisional and continue to be discussed with the devolved administrations, parliamentarians and external stakeholders. The Government will continue to consult interested parties as this work develops.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the total numbers of EU nationals working in the occupational sectors of (1) agriculture, forestry and fishing, (2) human health and social work activities, (3) residential care, and (4) accommodation and food services activities; and in each case, what proportion of the total workforce of each sector those EU nationals comprised, in each of the years between 2010 and 2017 and in each (a) region, (b) local authority area, and (c) Parliamentary constituency, of the UK.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the European Commission concerning its Note to Stakeholders of 18 January on Withdrawal of the UK and EU rules in the field of Public Procurement; and what discussions they are having with UK businesses in the light of this.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The December guidelines published by the European Council point to the shared desire of the EU and the UK to make rapid progress on an implementation period, with formal talks beginning very soon. We have been clear that this should be based on the existing structure of EU rules and regulations, during which the UK and the EU would continue to have access to one another’s markets on current terms.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond to the Welsh Government’s document, Brexit and Devolution, sent to them in June; and whether they will publish that response.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government continues to respond to the Welsh Government’s document, Brexit and Devolution, through bilateral meetings between the First Minister of Wales and the First Secretary of State and also through multilateral meetings such as the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations.