Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the recent statement he agreed with the President of the European Commission and President of the European Council, that Gibraltar will not be included in the territorial scope of agreement to be concluded between the EU and the UK (a) replaces or (b) amends the provisions of Article 24 of the Article 50 guidelines which provided for the application to Gibraltar of agreement between the EU and the UK after the UK leaves the EU; and will he make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK has not agreed that Gibraltar will be excluded from the territorial scope of the future relationship between the EU and the UK. The UK, in a letter to the EU Council, and the Council, in the minutes of the Special November Council, set out their shared interpretation that Article 184 of the Withdrawal Agreement, which concerns the UK and the EU’s future relationship, imposes no obligations regarding the territorial scope of future agreements. The UK also made clear we will only agree a deal on the future which works for the whole UK family and we will negotiate a deal that works for Gibraltar.
The Article 50 Council guidelines are an internal matter for the Council in Article 50 format. Statements or actions by the EU institutions or other member states have no effect on the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over Gibraltar.
On Gibraltar, we have worked constructively with both the EU and the Government of Gibraltar throughout the process of agreeing the Withdrawal Agreement. We have ensured that Gibraltar is covered by both the Withdrawal Agreement and by the Implementation Period. We look forward to taking a similar approach for the future.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on English language teaching schools (a) in the UK and (b) abroad; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is committed to English language teaching and recognises the opportunities and value this brings to schools in both the UK and abroad.
The Government values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of its vision for a global Britain. As the PM said in her Mansion House speech on 2 March, ‘There are many other areas where the UK and EU economies are closely linked – including education and culture.’ We will continue to take part in specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture, such as Erasmus+.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
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 financial viability of research projects in receipt of funding from Horizon 2020 after that funding ceases in 2020.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Withdrawal Agreement ensures that UK entities’ right to participate in EU programmes, such as Horizon 2020, will be unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF, including where funding agreed before the end of the transition period extends beyond 2020. UK based organisations and individuals will be able to bid for funding, participate in and lead consortia, until programme closure.
This provides valuable reassurance to UK researchers and institutions that they can continue to collaborate with European partners for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF, and vice versa.
Once agreed as part of the Withdrawal Treaty, this will supersede the requirement for the domestic guarantee announced by the Government in 2016. UK organisations should continue to bid for EU funding with the assurance that payments will continue after our departure from the EU.
Asked by: Louise Ellman (Independent - Liverpool, Riverside)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which (a) individuals and (b) organisations he has held discussions with on the UK's access to the EU REACH programme after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will he make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
Stakeholder engagement is a central element of our plan to build a national consensus around our negotiating position. We are working closely with colleagues across government to regularly engage with the chemicals sector and other manufacturing sectors that use chemicals on a range of areas including the REACH regulation. Details of ministerial and senior official meetings are published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which will be made publicly available on GOV.UK.
In addition, the Government’s chemicals sector report sets out the sector’s views, alongside a description of the sector, the current EU regulatory regime, and existing frameworks for how trade is facilitated between countries in these sectors. These reports have been made available for members of both Houses to read in a secure reading room.