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 statement made by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511), (1) how many times the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU has spoken to Welsh government ministers since the 2017 General Election; (2) which ministers were spoken to; (3) when such discussions took place; (4) whether agendas or minutes for such discussions were produced; and (5) whether, in such meetings, consideration was given to raising issues which were subsequently discussed in the October meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations.
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. Ministers from the Department for Exiting the European Union have held discussions on six separate occasions with the Welsh government since the election to discuss the negotiations with the European Union and preparations for the UK’s future outside of the EU.
The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations, chaired by the First Secretary of State, was the latest opportunity for the devolved administrations to contribute to this process. Important progress was made. The Committee discussed priorities for the future relationship with the EU and agreed the principles that will underpin common UK frameworks.
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 statement made by Baroness Goldie on 17 October (HL Deb, col 511), what undertakings they have provided to the devolved administrations to seek to negotiate with the EU in such a way as to serve the interests of the devolved administrations and the people they represent.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As the Prime Minister has set out, as we leave the EU we are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.
The Secretary of State is regularly engaging with ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments. The meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations, chaired by the First Secretary of State on 16 October, was the latest opportunity for the devolved administrations to contribute to this process.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations did not meet between February 2017 and October 2017.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations is just one of the ways the UK Government engages with the devolved administrations. There has been, and will continue to be, constructive engagement on the issue of EU exit through a variety of means. Since negotiations began, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU has spoken to ministers from the Scottish and Welsh Governments on a number of occasions to update on progress. The First Secretary of State has met the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and First Minister of Wales to progress discussions between JMC meetings.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions within the last 12 months the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) has met.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Within the last 12 months, the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) has met five times.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions it is intended the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) will meet within the next 12 months.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) met on Monday 16 October and will meet again later in 2017. Further meetings are to be agreed by all administrations.
The UK Government is committed to engagement with the devolved administrations, both within the formal structures of the Joint Ministerial Committee and also through bilateral discussions.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU negotiations) has, in relation to Wales, met members of the Welsh Assembly.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) (JMC(EN)) consists of representatives from the UK Government and each of the devolved administrations.
Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government in the Welsh Government and the Welsh Labour Assembly Member for Cardiff West, has attended every meeting of JMC(EN) as a Minister for the Welsh Government.
Asked by: Lord Elystan-Morgan (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of statements made by the Prime Minister about a vision of a global Britain following Brexit, how consistent, or otherwise, this is with her previous undertaking to the devolved administrations that their interests would be properly represented in the Brexit negotiations.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As the Prime Minister has set out, as we leave the EU we are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.
We have been clear from the start that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in this process. The First Secretary of State most recently chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations with the devolved administrations on Monday 16 October to discuss matters, including the UK’s priorities for the next phase of negotiations.
We are committed to continued positive and productive engagement with the devolved administrations.