Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of whether the UK should negotiate a UK-specific entitlement to the aggregate measurement of support that the EU is allowed under World Trade Organisation rules; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
In leaving the EU, we will need to update the terms of our WTO membership where, at present, our commitments are currently contained in the EU’s schedule. We recognise the need to work with the EU and with other WTO Members in order to ensure a smooth transition which minimises the disruption to our trading relationships with other WTO Members, including developing country Members and our closest trading partners.
As the Secretary of State for International Trade said in his Written Ministerial Statement on 5th December “the Government will prepare the necessary draft schedules which replicate as far as possible our current obligations”. We do not intend to alter the scope of concessions currently enjoyed by WTO members. While this is largely a technical process, there are a number of areas where we will need to consult with other WTO members.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of whether the UK should agree a division of EU tariff rate quotas before consideration by Parliament of UK-specific World Trade Organisation schedules of concessions; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
In leaving the EU, we will need to update the terms of our WTO membership where, at present, our commitments are currently contained in the EU’s schedule. We recognise the need to work with the EU and with other WTO Members in order to ensure a smooth transition which minimises the disruption to our trading relationships with other WTO Members, including developing country Members and our closest trading partners.
As the Secretary of State for International Trade said in his Written Ministerial Statement on 5th December “the Government will prepare the necessary draft schedules which replicate as far as possible our current obligations”. We do not intend to alter the scope of concessions currently enjoyed by WTO members. While this is largely a technical process, there are a number of areas where we will need to consult with other WTO members.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure physiotherapy is available to people with muscle-wasting conditions at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as a result of his Department's review of that hospital's therapy service provision.
Answered by David Mowat
The Department has made no review of therapy provision at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. That is a matter for the local National Health Service.
NHS England advises that Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Nottingham North and East CCG, Nottingham City CCG and Nottingham West CCG this year undertook clinically-led reviews of services that fall outside the national tariff payment mechanism. The reviews were initiated because the CCGs need to ensure they are getting the best value for money when commissioning publicly funded health services.
As part of this work, the CCGs identified some services currently delivered by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust that could be delivered in a community setting, closer to patients’ homes, providing better value to the local NHS and capacity within local hospitals. The CCGs are committed to continuing to provide the three neurological services provided by the Trust as a single specialty neuro-rehabilitation service provided in the community. This will be supported by the same level of clinical expertise and care as is currently provided.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish an estimate of the potential effect on the public finances of the UK's decision to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Gauke
The Government continues to undertake a range of analyses to inform the UK’s position for the upcoming EU exit negotiations. We are seeking the best possible arrangement for the United Kingdom and the work being conducted reflects this.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in what format and by what date he plans to publish his Department's plan for the UK's negotiations on exiting the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
We will set out our broad plans before triggering Article 50 by the end of next March, repeating the proviso as agreed by the House on 12 October 2016, without division, confirmed on the 7th December, that nothing we do or say should undermine the UK's negotiating position.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the UK remaining a member of the European Economic Area.
Answered by Robin Walker
We want to see UK companies having the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market, and for EU companies to be able to do the same here.
We are currently looking at all the options. To support this work, officials across Government are carrying out a programme of sectoral and regulatory analysis, which will identify the key factors for UK businesses and the labour force that will affect our negotiations with the EU. They are looking in detail at over 50 sectors as well as cross-cutting regulatory issues.
As the UK is party to the EEA agreement only in its capacity as an EU member state, once we leave the European Union the EEA agreement will automatically cease to apply to the UK.The model we are seeking is one unique to the United Kingdom and not an off the shelf solution.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether it is his policy to negotiate a transitional agreement with the EU so that existing trading arrangements for UK companies will be able to continue beyond 1 April 2019; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Prime Minister has said we want a smooth and orderly exit from the EU, and to provide certainty where we can. How the government achieves that will depend on the nature of the negotiations and the agreement reached with the EU, but it would not be in the interests of either side– Britain or the EU – to see disruption. The government is considering all possible options, focusing on the mutual interests of the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential costs and benefits for the UK of membership of the European Free Trade Association; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the hon Member for Nottingham East to the answer I gave to my hon Friend for Bristol North West on 31 October, UIN:50013.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on maintaining the Common Travel Area border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland following the UK leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
There is a strong will to preserve the Common Travel Area. The UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government have been unequivocal – all want to maintain the current arrangements and avoid the introduction of physical border controls within the CTA.
Asked by: Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will take steps to ensure that negotiations on the UK's exit from the EU will support the UK's insurance industry so that it remains a significant UK export industry.
Answered by Robin Walker
We fully recognise the UK insurance industry’s valuable contribution to our economy. As a Commons report found last year, the Financial and Insurance Services Sector contributed £124.4bn to the UK economy, and represented 8% of GVA.
The UK insurance industry is the largest in the world, and manages over £1.9 trillion of investments.
The industry is underpinned by a number of factors including a pool of liquidity in the UK and significant expertise built up over decades.
We have held a number of meetings with the insurance industry and DExEU and HMT recently held a roundtable with representatives of the financial services industry including leading insurers to ensure all views are reflected in our analysis of the options for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
The government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in this area.