Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what scenario planning has been conducted by Government departments responsible for security, immigration control, and food security and safety in relation to the EU–UK border in the island of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The best way to guarantee no hard border remains delivering a deal with the EU, which means people on either side of that border will be able to live their lives as they do now. Both the UK and Ireland have said they will do everything in their power to avoid a hard border in any scenario, but in the event of there being a “no deal” we recognise we would need to take forward discussions with the Irish Government and the Commission on how to achieve this.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to any special arrangements for trade between the Republic of Ireland and the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are committed to upholding the Belfast Agreement and will do everything in our power to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. We have been clear, as have the EU, it is not enough to simply assert this. We recognise that we would need to take forward discussions with the Irish Government and the Commission in the event of a no deal on the best way to achieve this.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the current budgeting arrangements to cover Brexit arrangements provide sufficient resource to cover the introduction of a technological solution to the Irish border question; and how much they envisage that any such solution might cost on introduction.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The EU and the UK have agreed in the Political Declaration to work together to exchange information on facilitative arrangements and technologies. The Prime Minister will take the mandate of Parliament forward and seek legally binding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop, while guaranteeing no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
There are a number of ways to secure a backstop that Parliament can support. We are engaging constructively with the details of proposals.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the length of time required to trial any technological solution to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland in order to ensure its veracity prior to full introduction; and how they might evaluate the effectiveness of any such solution.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Political Declaration is clear that the UK and EU should work together and exchange information on facilitative arrangements and technologies. This sits alongside the UK and the EU’s existing commitment to developing alternative arrangements to replace the backstop. The Government plans to continue discussions with members from around the House in the coming days to finalise proposals with which to go back to the EU.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Callanan on 22 January (HL12635 and HL12636), how they will prioritise the remaining bills they consider need to be enacted before the UK leaves the EU on 29 March; and whether they will list them in that priority order.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has undertaken extensive work to identify the primary legislation essential to deliver our exit from the EU in different scenarios. We are preparing for all potential outcomes and we are committed to legislate as needed to deliver our exit.
Much of this legislation is already in place, for example the Nuclear Safeguards Act and the Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Act, and a number of important statutory instruments.
The remaining legislation will be prioritised appropriately to ensure the measures needed are in place before the UK leaves the EU. As is always the case, Ministers will need to explain to each House the priority which should be accorded to each Bill as it is considered.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to erect a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and what costs have been incurred so far in preparation for such an outcome.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Delivering a deal with the EU remains the best way to guarantee no hard border. The UK Government is clear that, in the event of no deal, we will do everything in our power to prevent a return to a hard border.
The Government recognises that in a no deal scenario it would need to engage constructively with Ireland and the Commission to find the best way to avoid a hard border.
In all scenarios the UK will be unwavering in its commitment to the Belfast Agreement and the people of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of outstanding pieces of primary legislaation which will be required to give effect to Brexit before 29 March 2019.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has undertaken extensive work to identify the primary legislation essential to deliver our exit from the EU in different scenarios. Five exit-related bills have been passed, six more are making their way through Parliament and we will need to pass the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill to give effect to the Withdrawal Agreement in UK law.
We will introduce further exit legislation as necessary, both before and after exit day, to ensure that we have the right legal frameworks to implement our withdrawal from the European Union.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Government bills will be required to give effect to Brexit before 29 March 2019.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has undertaken extensive work to identify the primary legislation essential to deliver our exit from the EU in different scenarios. Five exit-related bills have been passed, six more are making their way through Parliament and we will need to pass the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill to give effect to the Withdrawal Agreement in UK law.
We will introduce further exit legislation as necessary, both before and after exit day, to ensure that we have the right legal frameworks to implement our withdrawal from the European Union.