Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 Welsh Government on the future map of assisted areas in Wales.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The longer term options for subsidy control after we leave the EU are being considered carefully. We will continue to engage with the devolved administrations as we seek a deal that secures the specific interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as all parts of England.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which of his Department's online services are available in the Welsh language only on request.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of Welsh language speakers are recognised and met, and to enabling Welsh speakers to interact fully with its services. The Welsh Language Act does not require government departments to prepare Welsh Language Schemes. However, the Government aims to provide services in Welsh when it is both appropriate and reasonably practicable to do so.
This department has provided publications on GOV.UK in both English and Welsh including the White Paper on the United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union and the White Paper on Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will seek concessions on tariff-free trade with the EU for (a) the automotive industry and (b) Nissan in Sunderland after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Government has been clear that it wants to see zero tariffs on trade in goods and to minimise the regulatory and market access barriers for both goods and services. We want our deep and special partnership with the EU to include the automotive industry, ensuring that trade is as free and frictionless as possible.
It is in both our interests to continue this deep and special partnership between our industries, and we will secure a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the length of discussions on the EU trade deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
After we leave the EU, the UK hopes to enjoy a deep and special partnership with the European Union, taking in both economic and security cooperation. This will enable prosperity for both the UK and the EU, and allow us to protect our shared European values. We want to have reached agreement about our future partnership by the time the two year Article 50 process has ended, in March 2019. From that point, we believe a time-limited, phased process of implementation will be in our mutual interests, and will help to minimise disruption on both sides. The exact details of an implementation period will be a matter for negotiation.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, for what reasons the Government chose its planned cut-off date for EU citizens to retain UK citizenship after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
Our aim is to provide maximum certainty as quickly as possible for EU citizens in the UK. That is why we are clear that anyone who arrived in the UK before the date we triggered Article 50 (29 March 2017) will be covered by the UK’s proposed approach. And all EU citizens in the UK will have their rights protected under EU law until the date we leave the EU. The specific date will be subject to negotiation but will not be before the date of trigger or after the date of withdrawal.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the maximum and minimum annual contributions the UK will have to make to the EU to obtain full access to the single market.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have been clear that, once we leave the EU, we will not be required to pay vast contributions to the EU budget.
The Government is focused on securing the best possible deal for the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union. We are approaching discussions constructively and respectfully and are confident we can achieve an outcome that works in the interests of both sides.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
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 the Secretary of State for International Development on increasing the level of UK aid to Eastern Europe.
Answered by Robin Walker
Details of Ministerial Meetings will be published in the Department's Quarterly Transparency Returns, which will be made publicly available on GOV.UK.