Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union what the process plans to follow to transpose obligations in mixed agreements ratified by the EU and the UK into UK law after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK will seek to maintain the relationships and cooperation it currently enjoys with non-EU partners and international organisations as it exits the EU. Our priority is to ensure continuity, and we recognise the need to promote stability for business and individuals.
To fully convert EU law into UK law and provide maximum certainty and continuity as we leave the EU, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill will, subject to Parliamentary approval, incorporate into UK law the directly effective rights and obligations in the EU treaties and related international agreements which are already available in our domestic law. The Bill also gives ministers a temporary power to make regulations to prevent or remedy breaches of international obligations arising from withdrawal.
In addition, the Department for Exiting the European Union, in conjunction with other Departments, is working with our international partners to identify the full range of international agreements that will be impacted by our exit from the EU, including mixed agreements. The Government’s EU exit legislative programme is designed to cater for the full range of negotiated and non-negotiated outcomes, including for international agreements.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the UK will remain in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
We are considering the UK’s future participation in the EU ETS as part of delivering a wider negotiated settlement that is in the best interests of the UK. There are a wide range of options and we are assessing these carefully.
The government's clean growth strategy published in October set out our clear commitment to continue growing our national income while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK remains committed to domestic and international efforts to tackle climate change and the UK's commitment to the Paris Climate Change Agreement is as strong as ever.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether environmental treaties agreed by the EU in lieu of its member states, such as the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, will remain binding on the UK after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK has signed the Minamata Convention in its own right, and intends to ratify the Convention in 2018, once our domestic implementing legislation is in force. As such, the UK will then continue to be a party to this Convention following exit.
The UK has a proud history of environmental protection which predates our accession to the EU (e.g. the 1956 Clean Air Act) and much EU environmental legislation is in line with UK environmental aims.
The Department for Exiting the European Union, in conjunction with other Departments, is working to identify the full range of international agreements that will be impacted by our exit from the EU. We recognise that in certain circumstances we will need to take action to maintain our commitment to environmental agreements.
We will work with our international partners to seek to maintain the relationships and cooperation we currently enjoy as we exit the EU.
Asked by: John McNally (Scottish National Party - Falkirk)
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 effect of the UK leaving the EU on further and higher education institutions' revenue from the hosting of EU conferences by such institutions.
Answered by Robin Walker
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.
We are not going to provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiations, but we will work hard to get the best deal for Britain and its universities.