Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 105923 on UK Trade with EU; if he will publish those plans for contingency scenarios; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
As Parliament has agreed, the government will not publish anything that would undermine our ability to negotiate the best deal for the United Kingdom. It is not standard practice to provide an ongoing commentary on internal work that is being carried out within government.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 105923 on UK Trade with EU; what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on planning to meet those contingency scenarios.
Answered by Margot James
Officials in the Department are working with their counterparts in other government departments to develop and inform our scenario planning. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I will continue to work with our colleagues cross Government to prepare for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 105923 on UK Trade with EU; what cost to the public purse was incurred by developing those plans to meet those contingency scenarios.
Answered by Margot James
It is not possible to quantify the specific cost or time spent on contingency plans. This work is a standard part of policy development, as a responsible government prepares for all potential outcomes. As ever, we are committed to spending public money in an efficient, effective and economic manner.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the position paper, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK: Position Paper, published on 21 August 2017, whether it is his policy that EU compliance responsible persons in UK private sector companies must be EU-based; and what assessment his Department has made on the effect of such a policy on employment levels.
Answered by Margot James
The future relationship between the UK and the EU in respect to compliance activities is a matter for future negotiations. It would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of those negotiations.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the position paper, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the EU, published on 21 August 2017, what representations he has made to other EU member states on the contents of that position paper.
Answered by Margot James
The Department has engaged, and continues to engage, with a range of stakeholders on all of the published position papers relevant to the work of the Department.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the position paper, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the EU, published on 21 August 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of potential trade frictions in the event that the Government fails to reach an agreement during negotiations with the EU on continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is working towards a mutually beneficial outcome to the withdrawal negotiations. Nevertheless, a responsible government plans for contingency scenarios. The Department is actively considering all options in order to minimise disruption for UK businesses and avoid the introduction of new regulatory barriers. We continue to engage with UK stakeholders to understand their concerns and interests.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the position paper, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the EU, published on 21 August 2017, what plans his Department has made to support UK industry in the event that the Government fails to reach an agreement during its negotiations with the EU on continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.
Answered by Margot James
The Government is working towards a mutually beneficial outcome to the withdrawal negotiations. Nevertheless, a responsible government plans for contingency scenarios. The Department is actively considering all options in order to minimise disruption for UK businesses and avoid the introduction of new regulatory barriers. We continue to engage with UK stakeholders to understand their concerns and interests.