Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what measures are in place under the terms of the proposed UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement to ensure that the UK can (a) maintain, (b) oversee and (c) carry influence over those matters for which the UK could be held responsible for contingent liabilities after 29 March 2019.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
We have reached a fair financial settlement with the EU, honouring commitments we made during our period of membership, and have ensured a fair deal for UK taxpayers. The Withdrawal Agreement gives the UK audit rights with respect to the implementation of the financial provisions of the withdrawal agreement, including, contingent liabilities. On the UK’s request, the EU will provide these auditors with information and assistance to allow them to assure the implementation of the financial settlement. The application of these rights will be a significant source of assurance for Parliament in respect of payments under the financial settlement.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 196880 on the European Investment Bank (EIB), what steps his Department is taking to (a) control, (b) manage and (c) oversee (i) risks and (ii) liabilities arising from EIB activities and the exposure of the UK to those risks after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Withdrawal Agreement (WA) set the framework for the management, control and oversight of the UK’s EIB risk and ongoing liabilities. As part of the WA the UK secured the return of its €3.5bn capital in the EIB. The UK will maintain its contingent liability for financial operations approved before the WA enters into force to ensure existing projects face no disruption. This commitment will decrease as the back book of loans runs down and only in very exceptional circumstances would the EIB call upon the UK to contribute further amounts to the Bank; to date, the EIB has never called on Member States in this way. If this guarantee were called upon, any support would be provided on equal terms with Member States.
As set out in the WA the EIB is obligated to send the UK annual details of the UK’s remaining exposure and the limit on the UK’s liabilities to the EIB in addition to details of any material changes that could impact the UK’s liabilities.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2018 to Question 194212, on EU Budget, what estimate his Department has made of the sum in (a) pounds sterling and (b) euros of the maximum amount of the potential (i) financial settlement under the provisions in Article 143 and Article 146 and (ii) any additional amounts payable to the EU under the proposed Withdrawal Agreement.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK’s estimated maximum liability attributed to financial operations guaranteed through the EU budget (Article 143 and 147) are reported within the Government’s Consolidated Fund Account annual publication, page 12 to 14. The Consolidated Fund may also be required to settle any liabilities arising from changes in legislation, regulation and funding arrangements resulting from EU exit on behalf of UK Government where these are not covered by other Government departments. This is disclosed as an unquantifiable remote contingent liability in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-UK EU nationals living in the UK that are in receipt of child benefit have children that (a) are and (b) are not resident in the UK; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of those claims.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
For 2015-2016, the most recent year for which data is available, 572,000 non-UK EU nationals were in receipt of Child Benefit and total entitlement for these non-UK EU nationals was £879 million.
The number of non-UK EU nationals expected to be living in the UK over the next 15 years that qualify for Child Benefit could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information relating to the number and cost of non-UK EU nationals claiming for children who are and are not resident in the UK can only be made available at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 54 of the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, how many EU nationals (a) currently living in the UK and (b) expected to be living in the UK over the next 15 years qualify for child benefit support; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that provision.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
For 2015-2016, the most recent year for which data is available, 572,000 non-UK EU nationals were in receipt of Child Benefit and total entitlement for these non-UK EU nationals was £879 million.
The number of non-UK EU nationals expected to be living in the UK over the next 15 years that qualify for Child Benefit could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Information relating to the number and cost of non-UK EU nationals claiming for children who are and are not resident in the UK can only be made available at disproportionate cost.