Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 20 February (HL5494), whether they gave any consideration to the possibility of withdrawing from the EU in accordance with Article 50(1) without being bound by Articles 50(2) and 50(3); and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As stated in HL5494 and more recently in HL6551, the UK is a law abiding country and remains a Member State with full rights and obligations under the Treaties. We do not want or expect to leave the EU without a deal. Negotiating and concluding a Withdrawal Agreement as provided for under Article 50 is in the interests of both sides.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 20 February (HL5494), whether they will now answer the question asked, namely whether, prior to the Prime Minister’s letter of 29 March 2017 notifying the European Council, in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU, they gave any consideration to the possibility of withdrawing from the EU in accordance with Article 50(1) without being bound by Articles 50(2) and 50(3); and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As stated in the answer to HL5494, the UK is a law abiding country and remains a Member State, with full rights and obligations under the Treaties. We do not want or expect to leave without a deal. Negotiating and concluding a Withdrawal Agreement with the EU is in the interests of both sides.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, prior to the Prime Minister’s letter of 29 March 2017 notifying the European Council, in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU, they gave any consideration to the possibility of withdrawing from the EU in accordance with Article 50(1) without being bound by Articles 50(2) and 50(3); and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom is a law abiding country. We have made undertakings and commitments which we will honour. The country voted to leave the EU, and this Government respects that. A smooth and orderly exit is in the interest of both the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pieces of EU legislation have become law in the UK since 1973.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There is no precise figure for the number of pieces of EU legislation which have been adopted during the UK’s membership of the EU. The Government estimates that around 12,000 directly applicable EU Regulations and 8,000 domestic regulations – 20,000 pieces of law – have been implemented while we have been members of the EU.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of (1) EU jobs which are involved in exports to the UK from other EU member states, and (2) UK jobs which are involved in UK exports to other EU member states.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. We are examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU.
The Government is committed to negotiating a deep and special partnership with the European Union to get the very best deal for businesses and citizens. We want a bold and ambitious free trade agreement, greater in scope than any before it, that allows British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within EU markets, and that lets European business do the same in Britain.
The Government is conducting a wide-ranging programme of analysis and we have been clear that we will not disclose any material at a time that could affect the UK’s position in these negotiations. Parliament has previously voted not to release information that would be prejudicial to our negotiating position.
Asked by: Lord Pearson of Rannoch (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total tariffs which (1) EU exporters would pay to the UK, and (2) UK exporters would pay to the EU, under World Trade Organisation rules.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
If the UK were to leave the EU without alternative trading arrangements in place, WTO rules would require that trade between the UK and the EU would be subject to Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment for goods and services.
The total MFN tariffs which would be paid by UK exporters to the EU, and EU exporters to the UK, would depend on the specific MFN tariffs applied on the products traded and on the future value of trade between the UK and EU. The value of trade between the UK and the EU would in turn depend on a range of factors including how UK and EU firms and consumers might respond to any tariffs.
We want the UK to have the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade in goods and services with our European neighbours.