Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department plans to take to support UK companies contracted by the EU for work in relation to the Common Security and Defence Policy during the transition period of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by James Duddridge
DExEU has organised over 700 recorded engagements with business and civil society stakeholders from every sector of the British economy since July 2016 and to date DExEU Ministers have attended over 120 roundtable meetings on a wide range of topics. The Department continues to engage with businesses as we approach exit day on 31 January.
Additionally, the UK will continue to participate in programmes funded under the current 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) until their closure. This means that the vast majority of programmes will continue to receive EU funding across the programme’s lifetime. In many cases, funding will continue until after 2020 and the end of the Implementation Period.
Government will continue to hold regular forums with intermediaries, trade associations and business organisations to support them through the transition period.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to ensure that negotiations with the EU on the UK leaving the EU take into account the specific food needs of the constituent parts of the UK.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.
The UK Government has established a Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations to discuss a range of issues, including on food policy, in relation to negotiations on the UK's Future Relationship with the EU and provide the Devolved Administrations with an increased opportunity to contribute to the development of the UK's negotiating position in greater breadth and depth.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what role food policy plays in the UK's negotiations with the EU; and which food policy experts the Government has consulted in order to develop its negotiating position.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As we leave the EU, we are clear: consumers must be confident that food has been produced to a high standard. As set out in the White Paper on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, we are seeking a new partnership that ensures continued tariff-free and frictionless trade in food, drink and other agricultural products between the UK and the EU.
There is regular engagement with colleagues across Whitehall and with industry across the UK, including with the Food and Drink Federation, to inform the UK’s negotiating position.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of leaving the (a) EU and (b) European Court of Justice on resolving disputes about medicines and medical devices.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK has one of the strongest and most productive life sciences sectors in the world. This Government is committed to ensuring a positive outcome for the sector, that enhances competitiveness and builds on the success that we are rightly proud of, as we exit the European Union.
The UK will engage constructively to negotiate an approach to enforcement and dispute resolution for the future partnership which meets the key objectives of the UK and the EU, including for the life sciences sector. This will underpin the deep and special partnership we are seeking with the EU.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 number of European Medicines Agency employees resident in the UK.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government does not centrally hold data of European Union staff based on residency. However, European Medicines Agency staff data, including nationalities, can be found in their 2016 annual report.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of manual processing on paper that it carries out and to make such processing digital.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The government is committed to providing services that are digital by default - reducing paper and manual processing, reducing cost and improving user satisfaction.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his priorities are during negotiations on the UK leaving the EU on the UK's future relationship with (a) the European Chemicals Agency and (b) the European Maritime Safety Agency.
Answered by Robin Walker
As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and member states how best to continue cooperation in the maritime and chemicals sectors in the best interests of both the UK and EU. Our relationship with the European Union's bodies upon exit will be evaluated in light of delivering the twelve objectives outlined by the Prime Minister in her Lancaster House speech on 17 January to achieve a deep and special partnership between the UK and the European Union.
We are working closely with colleagues across government to make sure that we have a regular dialogue with the maritime and chemicals sectors.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many treaties are required to be renegotiated as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
Many of the UK’s relationships with non-EU partners and international organisations rest in some way on our membership of the EU.
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.
We are currently conducting a detailed assessment of the agreements which will require replacement as a result of the UK’s exit from the UK and taking forward work with partners to do so.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will implement the proposals set out by the Scottish Government in Scotland's place in Europe on the UK's continued membership of the single market or on a differentiated deal for Scotland.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
We worked closely with the Scottish Government to consider their proposals, but there are clear barriers to making them a reality. The proposals could lead to the creation of new barriers to trade within our Union. There is a better way to achieve the objectives we have in common.
The Prime Minister has set out her intention to seek a deep and special partnership with the EU taking in both economic and security cooperation. We will secure a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
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 annual value to the economy from the European Medicines Agency having been located in London in each of the last five years.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
We recognise the important role that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) plays in the protection of human and animal health.
In the negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.
We have a world class research base and world beating universities and businesses that mean the UK life sciences will continue to thrive. As shown by the recent investment decisions by GSK, Alnylam and Novo Nordisk, the UK remains open for business. It is in the interests of the UK and EU to secure a mutually beneficial agreement for business and citizens across Europe.