Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Department for Exiting the European Union, by which date he plans to have completed negotiations with EU27 countries on the reciprocal mobility agreements for workers in the creative industries that require short-term visas.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government understands the importance of mobility to the creative industries. That is why we have proposed reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU that support businesses to provide services and move their talented people. We also want to discuss how to facilitate the temporary mobility of self-employed professionals and employees providing services.
The Political Declaration agreed between the UK and the EU negotiating parties specifically acknowledges the importance of mobility for cultural cooperation. The detail of our reciprocal mobility arrangements will be discussed in the next phase of negotiations. In line with procedure under Article 50, these negotiations will not commence until after the UK leaves the EU and we will aim to have arrangements in place at the end of the Implementation Period.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the UK video games industry.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Government is undertaking a wide range of analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations.
We continue to engage with businesses and industry bodies from all regions and nations of the UK and sectors across the economy, including the creative industries, which includes the video games industry, in order to inform our negotiations.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to policy paper Draft Text For Discussion: Implementation Period, published by his Department on 21 February 218, what assessment he has made of the effect of the position set out in that paper on the continuation of (a) agreements on EU data adequacy and (b) other non-free trade agreements.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have set out our proposed legal text to underpin the Implementation Period, a significant step towards agreement in March. Our text is designed to support the ongoing negotiation on the implementation period and puts forward practical solutions which will help deliver a smooth exit.
The Government has been clear that this period will be based on the existing structure of EU rules and regulations [or EU law]. Therefore as adequacy decisions are made by the EU during the implementation period they will apply in UK law. Moreover, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the existing body of EU data protection law into UK law, this will enable transfers to be made in accordance with the twelve existing adequacy decisions.
The UK position on the EU’s international agreements, that they should continue to apply to the UK during the implementation period, was set out in a Technical Note, published on 8th February. This is a matter for continued discussion with the EU.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on the interface between the operation of water regulations in the UK and the Water Framework Directive in the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
As the Government has made clear we are committed to avoiding a hard border and preserving North-South cooperation. We welcome the inclusion of these vital objectives in the UK EU Joint Report.
Our commitment to protect North-South cooperation applies to the full range of activity, including water quality management, an agreed area of cooperation for the North South Ministerial Council.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what progress his Department has made in securing a reciprocal agreement with the EU that guarantees existing rights of (a) EU nationals in the UK and (b) UK nationals in the EU after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear that we should always put citizens first. This was reflected in the Prime Minister’s letter to the President of the European Council confirming the Government’s decision to invoke Article 50. We want to strike an early agreement about the rights of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU and we would have been happy to do so in advance of negotiations. We will look to prioritise these issues as soon as negotiations begin.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
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 cost to the public purse of the European Medicines Agency physically leaving its current location in the UK.
Answered by David Jones
No decisions have been taken about the location of the European Medicines Agency. 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 medicines regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will prioritise maintaining access to Horizon 2020 funding for researchers in forthcoming negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.
As the Prime Minister has said, we would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. We have been clear that we want to create an environment in which the UK as a whole can continue to be a world leader in research, science and the tertiary education sector more broadly.
UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds while we remain a member of the EU and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.
Whatever happens in the future, the Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has examined the case of Switzerland's readmission into the Horizon 2020 programme ahead of forthcoming negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is aware of the readmission of Switzerland to Horizon 2020.
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. This work includes looking at science and research.
As the Prime Minister has said, we would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Department of Health on the UK's relationship with the European Medicines Agency since the vote to leave the EU.
Answered by David Jones
The Department for Exiting the European Union is working closely with the Department for Health and other interested Whitehall departments to consider the future relationship between the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency and the European Medicines Agency.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make it his policy to ensure reciprocity of student access to higher education funding systems with other EU countries as part of negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by David Jones
The rights of EU nationals here and British citizens in other EU states to access higher education funding systems once the UK has left the European Union will be agreed during the course of negotiations.
There has been no change to date to current reciprocal rights as a result of the referendum.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has already published reassurance to current students and the '16/17 cohort that they will be able to obtain finance for the full duration of their course.