Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the undertaking given in paragraph 20 of the October 2013 Memorandum of Understanding that they would “involve the devolved administrations as fully as possible in discussions about the formulation of the UK’s policy position on all EU and international issues which touch on devolved matters”, whether they plan to involve Scottish and Welsh Ministers directly in decision-making concerning such discussions.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The UK Government has been clear that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU. The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations facilitates engagement and collaboration on EU Exit. In addition to the formal structures of the Joint Ministerial Committee, constructive bilateral engagement with the devolved administrations on a wide range of policy areas related to EU Exit continues at both Ministerial and official level.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK Governance Group has taken a view on which legislative powers currently vested in the EU should be transferred to Wales or Scotland on departure from the EU.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government is continuing discussions with the devolved administrations, working through the relevant areas of EU law to determine where common approaches will and will not be required, and the different forms that common approaches could take. The common framework principles agreed at the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations) are guiding these discussions. The Government expects that the return of powers from the EU will lead to a significant increase in the decision making powers for the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how often the UK Governance Group has met in 2017.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The UK Governance Group brings together under one command the Cabinet Office Constitution Group, the Scotland Office, the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and the Wales Office. This Group leads the UK Government’s work on constitutional and devolution issues, and is the primary source of advice to UK Government Ministers and Departments for this area.
Activities and performance of the Group are reported in the Cabinet Office annual report and the annual reports of the other departmental constituent parts of the Group.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish regular reports of the meetings of the UK Governance Group established in June 2015 to lead work on constitutional and devolution issues.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The UK Governance Group brings together under one command the Cabinet Office Constitution Group, the Scotland Office, the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and the Wales Office. This Group leads the UK Government’s work on constitutional and devolution issues, and is the primary source of advice to UK Government Ministers and Departments for this area.
Activities and performance of the Group are reported in the Cabinet Office annual report and the annual reports of the other departmental constituent parts of the Group.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to update the Memorandum of Understanding with the devolved administrations, published in October 2013, in order to take account of relevant issues affecting devolution which have arisen in the last four years.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government recognises the need to review the Memorandum of Understanding with the devolved administrations. The decision to review the Memorandum of Understanding must be taken with the agreement of the four participating administrations - the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a convention of Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members to consider and discuss the particular anticipated effects of Brexit upon the devolved administrations.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to engagement with the devolved legislatures as we prepare to leave the EU. Ministers have appeared before several committees in the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales to give evidence on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and the implications of exit for the devolved institutions. Parliamentary Under Secretary Robin Walker also attended the first meeting of the Interparliamentary Forum on Brexit last month.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in respect of the compensation claimed by the EU on the UK’s leaving, what part of that claim represents (1) the apportionment of benefits accruing in future to the UK, (2) restitution for breach of contract, if any, and in respect of what breach, and (3) damages claimed punitively; and what discount has been offered as being due to the UK in respect of EU assets.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We recognise that the UK has obligations towards the EU, and the EU has obligations to the UK. An agreement on any financial settlement can only come as part of the settlement of all the issues mentioned in the Prime Minister’s Florence Speech. We are making clear progress in building a common technical understanding on every item.
The treatment of the European Union’s assets will need to be agreed as part of the negotiations.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511) on the update on the Brexit negotiations, whether they keep a record of informal meetings with Welsh Ministers; whether such meetings have agendas; whether minutes are prepared and formally kept; and if not, whether they plan to keep such records.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has been engaging with the devolved administrations throughout the negotiation process. At formal meetings where Government business is discussed, officials attend and minutes are prepared in line with usual practice. A list of ministerial meetings is published with each quarterly transparency return. We are committed to positive and productive engagement with the devolved administrations going forward as we seek a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511) on the update on the Brexit negotiations, whether they will undertake to ensure that meaningful discussions with Welsh Ministers at informal meetings will be held at the next available meeting of the appropriate joint ministerial committee.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) (JMC(P)) and (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) consist of representatives from the UK Government and each of the devolved administrations. Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, attends meetings of JMC(P). Mark Drakeford AM, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in the Welsh Government, has attended every meeting of JMC(EN).
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511), whether the joint ministerial committees intend to meet at regular intervals of no more than two calendar months until the end of the Brexit negotiations.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) are subject to agreement by all four administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) met most recently on 16 October and agreed to meet again before Christmas.
The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the UK Government and devolved administrations states that the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) should meet at least once a year. The UK Government and the devolved administrations will work together to agree any future date of the next Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary).