Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they are making for customs arrangements after Brexit; and what discussions they have had with (1) port users, and (2) port operators in (a) the UK, and (b) mainland Europe, on the possible impact of Brexit.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government has been clear that as we leave the European Union, we will also leave the EU Customs Union. In assessing the options for the UK’s future outside the Customs Union, the Government is guided by what delivers the greatest economic advantage to the UK, and by its strategic objectives:
Ensuring UK-EU trade is as frictionless as possible;
Avoiding a ‘hard border’ between Ireland and Northern Ireland; and
Establishing an independent international trade policy.
On 6th July 2018, the Government released a statement confirming it will publish a White Paper which will set out proposals for the future relationship with the EU. This includes proposals that the UK and the EU would work together on the phased introduction of a new Facilitated Customs Arrangement that would remove the need for customs checks and controls between the UK and the EU as if a combined customs territory. The precise nature of the new customs arrangement is subject to negotiations with the EU
HMRC and other departments working with the Border Delivery Group are engaging port users and operators, domestically and at key EU ports, to understand what the synergies and constraints are in different locations, and to ensure locations are operationally ready to meet the requirements of future customs arrangements with the EU.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions ministers have had with organisations promoting non-chemical pest control; and what assessment they have made of progress made in developing forms of non-chemical pest control.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Ministers have met with a range of organisations to discuss all aspects of the development of farming policy. This includes organisations that promote non-chemical pest control such as organic farming.
“A Green Future”, the Government’s 25 year plan to improve the environment, sets out our plans to protect crops while reducing the environmental impact of pesticides by making Integrated Pest Management (IPM) central to our approach. The key principle of IPM is maximising the use of non-chemical options for pest control. Sustainable biological, physical and other non-chemical methods must be preferred to chemical methods if they provide satisfactory pest control.
Much good work is already taking place to research, develop and promote means to move away from pesticides. This includes: plant breeding for pest-resistant varieties; the use of natural predators; the development of biopesticides; and the use of a variety of cultural methods to reduce pest pressures. We are considering what progress has been made with the development and adoption of non-chemical pest control and what more can be done to overcome barriers to adoption.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 14 May (HL Deb, col 413), what funding they have allocated to support businesses and organisations in Salisbury affected by the decline in tourism following the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal; and how much of such funding has been disbursed to date.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
DCMS has provided £200,000 of funding to support the visitor economy of the Salisbury area following recent events. £100,000 will be spent through the GREAT campaign to promote Salisbury internationally as a tourist destination. £100,000 has been allocated to VisitWiltshire to support a variety of promotional activities.
Additionally, BEIS, MHCLG and the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership provided funding to Wiltshire Council to help them support businesses directly affected by the incident and to encourage broader collaborative efforts to promote recovery and growth.
The majority of this money has now been allocated by Wiltshire Council and has benefited 60 businesses impacted by the incident.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 19 June (HL Deb, cols 1929–31), what steps, if any, they are taking to control the use of short term lets in leaseholder and tenanted premises in London that were originally social housing where the public sector is now the freeholder and where the contract with the tenant or leaseholder proscribes commercial activity.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Individual leases and tenancy agreements are a matter for landlords and tenants. Landlords should not unreasonably prohibit sub-letting, and the Courts can adjudicate in this matter, taking account of the relevant covenants.
Where permission under the contract is required to sub-let but is not obtained, landlords already have legal routes to enforce the contract and the Government has no plans to introduce additional controls.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Environment Agency.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiations. As part of Exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States our future status and arrangements with regard to EU bodies, including the European Environment Agency.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Chemicals Agency.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We are working to ensure a smooth transition for the chemical industry as we leave the EU. As part of the exit negotiations, the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of chemicals regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. We want to secure a deep and special partnership with the EU, including in relation to the chemicals sector.
Our priority is to maintain an effective regulatory system for the management and control of chemicals to safeguard human health and the environment, respond to emerging risks, and allow trade with the EU that is as frictionless as possible.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between Ofgem and the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Government will ensure that we maintain affordable, clean and secure energy supplies for households and businesses across the UK when we leave the European Union. As part of this, we are considering our future relationship with the EU on energy, including between UK and EU regulatory bodies.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Food Safety Agency.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The future of the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will be shaped by forthcoming UK-European Union negotiations.
UK Government Departments are currently working together to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the EU will have on the UK’s relationship with the EFSA. Government departments are considering a range of options for the future of scientific advice and risk assessment.
The Department of Health, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standard Agency's priority is to maintain the UK’s high standards of food and feed safety, and to ensure we take a risk-based, proportionate approach that prioritises the interests and protection of consumers.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Aviation Safety Agency and Eurocontrol.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for continued or discontinued participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The nature of the UK’s participation with the Agency as a third country will be a matter for the negotiations.
Eurocontrol is not an EU institution, so the UK will continue to be a member after our exit from the EU.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
No decisions have yet been made on our future relationship with the EU's agencies and bodies after leaving the EU. We are seeking a deep and special partnership with the European Union. Our relationship with the European Union's agencies and bodies, including the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, will be evaluated on this basis upon exit.