Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the necessary reciprocal legislation for (1) air transport, (2) road haulage, (3) customs and exports of goods, and (4) EU climate change policy as required as a condition of the temporary offers in those areas by the EU's Communication Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: Implementing the Commission’s Contingency Action Plan (Com (2018) 810 final), published on 19 December.
Answered by Lord Callanan
The EU (Withdrawal) Act and other exit related primary and secondary legislation will ensure a functioning statute book for all scenarios on exit day. The Government remains confident of achieving this as we leave the EU.
Further, extensive work to prepare for a no deal scenario has been under way for over two years. As part of this work we have released 106 technical notices including on the issues of transport, climate change policy and customs and exports. These notices set out the unilateral steps that the Government will take to ensure that the UK is prepared in the event of a no deal scenario.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government why their Framework for the UK–EU Partnership: Transport, published on 7 June, does not cover the rail sector to the same level of detail as the air and road sectors; and what action they intend to take to remedy this omission.
Answered by Lord Callanan
As the UK slides on the Framework for the UK-EU Partnership on Transport make clear, we will pursue bilateral agreements with the relevant Member States to facilitate the continued smooth functioning of cross-border rail services operating through the Channel Tunnel and on the island of Ireland.
The cross-border services that link us with the EU have greatly benefited citizens and businesses in both the UK and the EU. We want to see these services continue without disruption, and it is in the interests of all parties to ensure this through these bilateral agreements.
The government is considering the full range of rail issues as we further discuss the shape of our future economic partnership with the EU. We will continue to work closely with the rail industry and passengers to ensure that we secure an agreement that works for the entire UK rail sector.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the annual level of exports to the EU from the UK in each of the last three years, broken down into (1) temperature controlled, (2) unitised, and (3) bulk; what were the comparative imports from the EU into the UK; and what assessment they have made of the costs and benefits of possible higher tariffs between the EU and the UK after Brexit in the light of those figures.
Answered by Lord Callanan
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) publishes official trade statistics, which are summarised in its annual Balance of Payments Pink Book. The 2017 Pink Book can be found at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/bulletins/unitedkingdombalanceofpaymentsthepinkbook/2017.
The ONS has also published figures on trade in goods by commodity split by EU and Non EU countries. These cover the years 2013-16 and the months up to September 2017, and can be found at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/bulletins/unitedkingdombalanceofpaymentsthepinkbook/2017
The Government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work looking at the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU. We are examining all areas of the UK economy and seeking input from a wide range of businesses and industry bodies in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. However, Parliament has previously voted not to release information that would be prejudicial to our negotiating position.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish a position paper on the effect of Brexit on the transport sector; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government has published a series of papers on the new deep and special partnership the UK wants to build with the EU, and these papers represent the hard work and detailed thinking that has been going on behind the scenes across Whitehall over the past twelve months.
They offer pragmatic and innovative solutions to issues related to our withdrawal and the future deep and special partnership that we want with the European Union.
The Government will publish further position papers on other issues in due course, providing more information to business and individuals, and informing our negotiations with the EU.