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 Arrest Warrant.
Answered by David Jones
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 September 2016 to the Question 45271.
We are leaving the EU but cooperation on security with our European and global allies will be maintained. We will do what is necessary to keep our people safe - our aim will be to continue cooperation where it is in the national interest to protect the public. We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance.
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, how many jobs in the UK would be at risk if the (a) European Medicines Agency and (b) European Banking Authority relocated out of the UK.
Answered by David Jones
No decisions have yet been made about the future of the European Medicines Agency or the European Banking Authority. The position of individual staff in the EU institutions will depend on their particular situation and will be determined at the appropriate time. We are clear on the need to get the best deal possible for the UK and its citizens in the negotiations with 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, which social and workers' rights protected in existing EU treaties it is his policy to protect during negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
We are about to begin negotiations and at every step of these we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for British workers. We will speak to as many other firms, organisations and bodies as possible – research institutes, trade unions, regional and national groups and businesses up and down the country, to establish the priority issues and opportunities for the whole of the UK.
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, how many (a) consultants and (b) seconded staff (i) are working or (ii) have been recruited to work at his Department; and from which (A) companies, (B) departments and (C) other organisations such staff were recruited or seconded.
Answered by Robin Walker
Consultants
The Department has drawn upon a number of offers of pro bono support from consultancy firms.
Secondments
There are currently five secondees to the Department from external bodies outside of the civil service. Due to the small numbers of secondments from individual organisations, it is not possible to give a breakdown of all the organisations from which they were seconded, without risking identification of individuals in breach of data protection rules.
Other Departments
The Department will be made up of staff and officials from various departments across Government. The Department has already started drawing together expertise with staff from around 20 Departments and organisations from across Government.
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 meetings he has had to date with HM Government of Gibraltar on exiting the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union met with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar this week and is committed to continued close working with the Government of Gibraltar.
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 meetings he has (a) had to date and (b) scheduled for a future date with trades unions.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have already started a wide-ranging programme of engagement in order to build a national consensus, listening to organisations, institutions and companies in as many sectors as possible to establish their priorities and understand their concerns, and also to hear what they think the solutions could be.
One of the Secretary of State’s first meetings was with the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress. I and my Ministerial colleagues have also met with a wide range of representatives from business groups, the universities, the charity sector and farming and fisheries organisations.
In the weeks ahead, we will continue to engage with as many other firms, organisations and bodies as possible, including with trade unions. We will also be holding roundtables with stakeholders in a series of sectors, to ensure that all views are reflected in our analysis of the options for the UK.
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, how many staff his Department (a) employs and (b) plans to employ in the next 12 months; and how many such staff will be located in (i) London, (ii) Brussels and (iii) elsewhere.
Answered by David Jones
The new Department for Exiting the European Union will be made up of staff and officials from various departments across Government. The Department has already started drawing together expertise from a wide range of departments where there is specific relevant knowledge.
The overall size and scope of the Department, including staffing and budget, are now under consideration. The Department now has over 200 staff in London, plus the expertise of over 120 officials in Brussels, and is still growing rapidly with first class support from other government departments.