Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the membership is of the new Business Council for Brexit.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Business Advisory Council is an important part of our preparations for leaving the EU - allowing us to seek the views of experienced business leaders and to share with them the Government’s vision for a successful Brexit.
The Council has a rotating membership. Attendees at October’s Council were:
Balfour Beatty
WPP
HSBC
GSK
Morgan Stanley
Bridgewater
JCB
Vodafone
EY
Aston Martin
Whitbread
Nestle
ABF
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether it is the Government's policy to remain part of the European Observatory on the supply of medical radioisotopes.
Answered by Robin Walker
As part of the exit negotiations, the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the work of the European Observatory on the supply of medical radioisotopes in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.
It is notable that Euratom places no restrictions on the export of medical radioisotopes to countries outside the EU - they are not subject to Euratom Supply Agency contracts or to Euratom safeguards.
As we set out in our White paper, ‘The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union’, we would welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has had discussions with EU negotiators on the need for a data adequacy decision in respect of the UK at the point that the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
As negotiations commence our future data sharing relationship with the EU will be one of a wide range of issues we need to discuss with the EU.
The government is clear that the ability to collect, share and process personal data is crucial for the economy, and also for our wider ability to cooperate across borders, including on law enforcement and security issues. As part of plans for the UK’s exit from the EU, we are considering how best to maintain our ability to share, receive and protect EU data with EU member states.
Incorporating the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) into UK law will be the foundation of our data protection legislative framework. We will continue to provide a very high standard of data protection rules once we leave the EU.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of ceasing mutual recognition of architects qualifications as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of analysis to support our negotiations, covering the entirety of the UK economy. The Government is also continuing to discuss the implications of leaving the EU with a broad range of stakeholders from across the professional and business services sector. The UK will continue to welcome those with the skills, the drive and the expertise to make a positive contribution.
As set out in the Government's publication, 'Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU', the UK will seek to ensure that professional qualifications obtained prior to the date of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU continue to be recognised after the UK’s exit from the EU. The UK will also give due regard to these professionals’ ability to practise without unfair detriment or discrimination.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list the civil servants and the meetings they attended in Brussels on 19 June 2017 for the first round of Article 50 negotiations.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The following senior civil servants, at grades SCS2 and above, took part in the first round of the negotiations on 19 June 2017.
Oliver Robbins, DExEU
Sir Tim Barrow, UKRep
Glyn Williams, Home Office
Alex Ellis, DExEU
Mark Bowman, HMT
Simon Case, UKRep
Jonathan Black, HMT
Chris Jones, DExEU
Catherine Webb, DExEU
Catherine Adams, DExEU
Daniel Denman, DExEU
Matt Baugh, DExEU
Ian Walsh, DWP
The agenda for the day, setting out the meetings attended by officials, can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publications/agenda-19-june-meeting-between-eu-and-uk-article-50-negotiations_en. See below:
Opening of the negotiations between the EU and the UK on the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union by Michel Barnier, the European Commission's Chief Negotiator, and David Davis, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
11.00 : Opening session (Michel Barnier and Secretary of State David Davis) plus officials
12.30 : Working lunch between Michel Barnier and Secretary of State David Davis
14.00 – 16.30 : Working groups
16.30 : Meeting of coordinators (Sabine Weyand, European Commission's Deputy Chief Negotiator and Olly Robbins, Permanent Secretary, UK Department for Exiting the EU)
17.30 : Closing session (Michel Barnier and Secretary of State David Davis)
18:30 (approx): Joint press conference by Michel Barnier and Secretary of State David Davis, BERL press room
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Mansion House speech of 20 June 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) types and (b) cost of any new technology that needs to be deployed for customs border arrangements after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
As we look to build our future customs relationship with the EU and the rest of the world, we start from a strong position. As a large trading nation, we possess a world-class customs system which handles imports and exports from all over the world, and not just the EU.
The government is seeking a mutually beneficial customs agreement and is committed to securing the most frictionless trading relationship possible.As part of this, HM Treasury and HMRC are giving due consideration to the implementation requirements of any options for the UK’s future customs arrangements. This includes the costs associated with updating IT systems to ensure we have a fully functioning customs regime following our exit from the EU.
The UK’s Customs Authority already works hard to ensure that trade is as fast and frictionless as possible and was ranked 5th globally in the World Bank’s 2016 Logistics Performance Index on Customs.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the total number of (a) secondees and (b) contractors from the private sector is in his Department.
Answered by Robin Walker
The department has sourced a large proportion of experienced staff from across Whitehall and a number of secondees and contractors from the private sector and the wider public sector. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and numbers are regularly changing.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Answer of 20 February 2017 to Question 63690, how many full-time equivalent staff his Department has.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department is recruiting the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 450 staff, and is growing fast.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2017 to Question 60045, how many full-time equivalent staff his Department had as of 1 January 2017.
Answered by David Jones
All departments are equipping themselves with the resources they need to get the best deal for the UK. Recruitment into the Department is currently ongoing and we will not be giving a running commentary. The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 300 staff, and is growing fast.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will publish his economic assessments of the different options for market access and trade to accompany the Government's plan for leaving the EU as set out by the Prime Minister in her speech at Lancaster House on 17 January 2017.
Answered by Robin Walker
We want Britain to have the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade in goods and services with our European neighbours and also to be able to negotiate our own trade agreements.
The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of data analysis covering the entirety of the UK economy. We are looking at over 50 sectors as well as cross-cutting regulatory issues. This will inform the UK's position for the upcoming negotiations with our EU partners.
As the Prime Minister has said, the government's plan for leaving the EU will be discussed at length. But as Parliament has also agreed, we will not publish anything that would undermine our ability to negotiate the best deal for Britain.