Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2019 to Question 234783 on Department for International Development: Secondment, what teams within his Department will the 39 requested roles from the Department for International Development will be in.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The Department continues to recruit talent from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union has over 700 staff working with other government departments on all aspects of EU Exit policy. Those staff brought in from the Department for International Development pursuant to the answer to Question 234783, will work alongside the rest of the Department.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many Sikhs are employed in his Department; and whether they are recorded as (a) an ethnic or (b) a religious group.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Based on the self-declaration rates held on our system at the time of this question, none have declared as Sikh. This figure is based entirely on people identifying themselves as a Sikh on the Department’s HR system. The option to declare as Sikh is categorised under Religion.
The Department for Exiting the European Union is committed to the creation of a diverse and inclusive working environment to ensure staff do not face any barriers to success, and all staff feel supported at work.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to Answer of 6 September to Question 169670 on UK Relations with EU, whether his Department is seeking to develop a new development partnership with the EU.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Government’s position, as set out most recently in the 12 July White Paper, is that a future UK-EU relationship on development would be in our mutual interest. As part of this relationship we have proposed a cooperative accord on development assistance and international action.
We have identified some specific thematic areas where there is a strong case for such a UK-EU strategic partnership, such as humanitarian aid, migration and peace and security. However, other thematic and geographic areas could also be considered, as new challenges emerge, where a UK-EU partnership may be the best approach.
Any UK participation would require appropriate influence and oversight over UK funds, at the strategic and programme level, as well as eligibility for UK entities to deliver EU programmes and apply for funding on an open and fair basis.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 66 of chapter 2 on page 64 of the paper, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, whether the arrangements with the EU for future development policy cooperation will come into effect during the implementation period.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The UK welcomes the provision in the Withdrawal Agreement that allows for the future relationship on foreign and defence policy to become effective during the Implementation Period.
In future, our cooperation with the EU on development will be linked to the external financing instruments established in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, after the Implementation Period has ended. This will determine how the EU will finance international development after 2020.
The UK remains open to pooling resources with the EU and drawing on our collective expertise to maximise the combined development impact in areas of our mutual interest. This is why we have proposed, in the recent White Paper, a Cooperative Accord on development assistance and international action. Precisely how this relationship will work remains subject to negotiation.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 46 of Chapter 3 of the White Paper, The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, Cm. 9593, published on 12 July 2018, whether the proposal for a reciprocal exchange of expertise and personnel between UK and EU institutions will include sector specific visas for workers in the foreign, defence and development sectors.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government believes that it will be beneficial to both the UK and the EU to agree a future programme for the reciprocal exchange of expertise and personnel in areas of mutual interest and collaboration, including in the area of foreign policy, defence and development cooperation.
On the UK's future immigration policy, we will set out further detail in the Immigration White Paper in due course, taking into account the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to paragraph 63.a of chapter 2 on page 63 of the document entitled The Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, published on 12 July 2018, what progress he has made in developing a future partnership with the EU to cover consultation and regular dialogue on geographic and thematic issues and the global challenges the UK and the EU face.
Answered by Suella Braverman
We have held a number of constructive discussions with the EU on the future external security partnership, including consultation and dialogue on geographic and thematic issues and global challenges.
We are seeking to develop a new security partnership with the EU that builds on the breadth and depth of our shared interests and values, and takes account of the range of ever evolving global security threats that we face. We want to continue to cooperate with the EU on foreign policy, defence and development. Regular consultation and dialogue will be an important pillar of our future partnership in this area.