Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Government's paper entitled, Implications for Business and Trade of a No Deal Exit on 29 March 2019, what estimate he has made of the number of SMEs that would become financially distressed as a result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have been clear that leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. The paper ‘Implications for Business and Trade of a No Deal Exit on 29 March 2019’ explains that leaving the European Union without a deal on 29 March 2019 would have a variety of effects on business, trade and the economy, and despite government mitigation, the impact of a 'no deal' scenario is expected to be significant in a number of areas. As a Government, we do not want ‘no deal’, however it is only prudent that we ensure businesses are as prepared as possible for every outcome.
The priorities and concerns of SMEs are taken seriously by Government. DExEU Ministers have attended the SME Advisory Board, chaired by BEIS. We are providing guidance to business to assist with their preparations, through a public information campaign on the radio, via social media, in print, with out-of-home advertising such as billboards, and we are developing TV advertisements, to ensure that all are aware of our preparations guidance on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union what (a) technologies and (b) methods are included in the term alternative arrangements in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Withdrawal Agreement sets out a commitment to “alternative arrangements” to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and the Political Declaration is clear that the UK and EU should work together and exchange information on facilitative arrangements and technologies. The Government plans to continue discussion with members from around the House in the coming days to finalise proposals with which to go back to the EU.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union, if he will place in the Library copies of his Departmental papers in relation to the viability of placing alternative arrangements at the border on the island of Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
Parliament will of course need to ratify the agreement that the government reaches with the European Union. A majority of members of the House have said they would support a deal with changes to the backstop. As such, the Prime Minister will now take this mandate forward and seek to obtain legally binding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop while guaranteeing no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
There are a number of ways that we could do this, and the Prime Minister will work constructively with MPs to see how we could take this forward.
Asked by: Jo Stevens (Labour - Cardiff East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the cost to the public purse was of travel between the UK and Brussels by Ministers, civil servants and ministerial staff in each month for which figures are available since June 2017.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department has spent £291,694 since the beginning of Financial Year 17/18 to Brussels. This figure is made of £138,000 in Financial Year 17/18 whilst current spend in Financial Year 18/19 is £153,694.