Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the paper entitled Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Rules in the Field of Industrial Products, published by the EU Commission on 22 January 2018, what discussions he has had during negotiations on whether UK notified bodies will lose their status in March 2019 or after the completion of the proposed implementation period.
Answered by Robin Walker
We are working closely with Member States and our partners in the EU institutions to negotiate the best deal for the UK and the EU. As set out in the Government’s August 2017 position paper ‘Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK’, we want compliance activity, including conformity assessments from notified bodies, carried out prior to exit to be recognised in both the UK and the EU to support a smooth exit and the move to a deep and special future relationship. We have been engaging extensively with the EU on these matters.
We welcome the EU’s agreement to negotiate an implementation period, as set out in the Council guidelines published on 15 December. We have been clear that this should be based on the existing structure of EU rules and regulations, during which the UK and the EU would continue to have access to one another’s markets on current terms. We will continue to work closely with all relevant stakeholders, including notified bodies.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department have had with the EU Commission on the future of UK notified bodies.
Answered by Robin Walker
We are working closely with Member States and our partners in the EU institutions to negotiate the best deal for the UK and the EU. As set out in the Government’s August 2017 position paper ‘Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK’, we want compliance activity, including conformity assessments from notified bodies, carried out prior to exit to be recognised in both the UK and the EU to support a smooth exit and the move to a deep and special future relationship. We’ve been engaging extensively with the EU on these matters.
After reaching sufficient progress and moving onto the second phase of the negotiations, we look forward to beginning discussions on the framework for a future relationship. We will continue to work closely with notified bodies in the next stages.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has identified any factors which could give rise to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and which could be resolved though (i) general EU-UK negotiations or (ii) specific solutions to address the unique circumstances of the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Government is committed to avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The UK:EU Joint Report sets out our plan to address Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances and the border in the context of the wider UK-EU deep and special partnership. That is the right approach - we want a deal that works for all parts of the UK, whilst recognising Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.
These principles also address the question of a fall-back option to avoid a hard border and disruption to businesses and supply chains both sides of the border in the unlikely event that we do not reach the agreement we want.
In that scenario, the Government will ensure regulatory continuity in those sectors that are crucial to cross-border cooperation, businesses and the farming community. These are sectors where cross-border policies and approaches have already received cross-community support.
The Government also recalls its commitment to preserving the integrity of the UK internal market and Northern Ireland's place within it. In all circumstances, the United Kingdom will continue to ensure the same unfettered access for Northern Ireland's businesses to the whole of the United Kingdom internal market.
Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what account he is taking of the interests of small businesses in negotiations on leaving the EU?
Answered by Steve Baker
The millions of small and medium sized businesses throughout Britain make a significant contribution to our country through taxes, employing people and through the value of the goods and services they provide.
The Government engages widely and regularly with small businesses from across the economy through attendance at industry events and visits to locations across the UK. Ministers work closely with representative bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to secure the best possible deal for the United Kingdom. In July, the FSB hosted a small business roundtable attended by Government Ministers. The FSB are also regularly invited to the Business Advisory Group, a forum of business representative organisations who regularly meet with senior Cabinet Ministers, including DExEU Secretary of State David Davis, to highlight their concerns regarding EU exit.
Details of Ministerial meetings are published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which are made publicly available on GOV.UK.