Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have made for the UK to leave the EU in March 2019 in the event that the European Council or the European Parliament does not ratify any agreement reached between the UK and the European Commission concerning the UK’s departure from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
A future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides, and we have entered into the negotiations anticipating success. However, since the result of the referendum, we have taken the responsible approach to work at pace to build a detailed understanding of how withdrawing from the EU will affect policies and services for a range of outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached.
Given the long lead-in times to implement some of our contingency measures, we need to begin now for them to remain viable. But implementing the first stages of contingency plans now should not be interpreted as an expectation that talks with the EU will not be successful, and we are clear that securing a good deal for both sides is by far and away the highest probability, but we have a duty to plan for the alternative. These are the actions of a responsible government determined to ensure a smooth exit under any eventuality.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
Her Majesty's Government whether they will reject any proposals to extend the negotiating period to leave the European Union beyond two years and whether they will use their best endeavours to conclude negotiations sooner than the two year period laid down in Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has been clear that we want to have reached an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two year Article 50 process has ended, in March 2019.
Within that time, we will work to secure a deal that works for Britain and for Europe. We are delivering on the result of the referendum and the UK will leave the EU in 2019. While we do not propose to give a running commentary on the negotiations, providing certainty to businesses and individuals is our priority, and we will do so as early as possible where we can.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what stage of the process of leaving the EU they expect the European Court of Justice to cease to have any jurisdiction in the UK.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Prime Minister has been clear that we will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom.
Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
And those laws will be interpreted by judges not in Luxembourg but in courts across this country.
The Government wants to have reached a broad agreement about our future partnership, including the nature of dispute resolution mechanisms, by the time the two-year Article 50 process has concluded.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what stage of the process of leaving the EU the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 will be repealed.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government has been clear that while we remain an EU Member State, we will abide by our obligations and exercise our rights. We will continue to play our full role in the EU up until the very moment we leave. Once we are outside of the EU we will no longer elect members of the European Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the giving of notice to leave the EU under Article 50, they will cease to participate in the Council of Ministers and the European Council.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Until the UK formally leaves, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation and participate in Council meetings.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU on 1 December (HC Deb, col 1648), whether they are considering making continuing financial contributions to the EU budget following the UK’s exit from the EU in order to continue trading with EU countries; and, if so, why.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
We are focussed on securing the best possible deal for the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union. Once we have left, it will be for the United Kingdom to decide how taxpayers' money is spent.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Prime Minister on 30 November (HC Deb, col 1518) that there would be two years of negotiations on the UK exiting the EU, whether it is their intention for the UK to leave the EU at the earliest possible point, notwithstanding the two year period set out under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The process is as set out in Article 50. The precise timing and organisation of the negotiations will be a matter for discussion. It will be in everyone's interests to get a good deal agreed as quickly as possible.Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following notice to leave the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, they intend to continue to implement new EU Directives.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. The outcome of the exit negotiations will determine what arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation in future once the UK has left the EU.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have received on whether the European Court of Justice has any jurisdiction over the manner and timing of the triggering of the use of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union states that 'any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements' and 'shall notify the European Council of its intention'. It is for the Member State concerned to determine what its constitutional requirements are. The manner in which the notice is given - to the European Council - is clearly set out in Article 50 itself. On the timing, the Prime Minister has been clear that we will notify by the end of March 2017.
Asked by: Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the ruling of the High Court regarding the triggering of Article 50, what assessment they have made of the legal validity of other instruments and decisions, including EU directives and regulations, which have been implemented without the specific consent of Parliament.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government continues to implement and abide by its EU legal commitments in the usual way and will continue to do so until the UK leaves the EU.
In relation to the High Court's judgment, the Government disagrees with the court’s judgment and will be appealing the court case.