Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate the Government has made of the extra cost the UK would incur to buy back into EU-UK wide science and research programmes.
Answered by Robin Walker
Under the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to participate in EU science and research funding programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework period will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF. No further agreement would be needed for the UK to participate in these programmes in this period.
The next generation of science and research programmes will begin in 2021. The Government’s proposals published in July 2018 set out that as part of an ambitious science and innovation accord the UK would like to explore association to future EU research funding programmes, including but not limited to Horizon Europe and Euratom R&T. Any such an association would necessarily involve an appropriate UK financial contribution. However, the terms of any such association would be a matter for the negotiations and the Government will negotiate on the basis of what is in the best interests of British citizens and the UK economy and scientific community.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with which EU countries the UK has discussed the potential extension of the Article 50 period.
Answered by Suella Braverman
The Government’s policy is that Article 50 will not be extended. We will be leaving the EU on 29 March 2019 and are negotiating to that timeline. We are confident of reaching a deal which is in the best interests of both the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if the Government will publish a technical paper on guidance to be issued to non-UK EU citizens residing in the UK in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Suella Braverman
We have been clear that securing the rights of citizens has always been our priority.
The Government has made it clear that we will unilaterally protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK in the event of no deal. The Prime Minister said, “You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.”
We will set out the details as soon as is practical, and we now urge the EU and all its member states to give UK nationals on the continent the same reassurances.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 11 October to Written Question 175801 on EU Nationals, whether legislation will be required to ensure full rights to EU citizens in the event of the UK leaving the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has already set out its intention to legislate to implement the Citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement in the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and through secondary legislation, as appropriate.
We do not want, nor expect a no deal scenario. However, in the unlikely event of a no deal, the Prime Minister has been clear, stating to EU citizens on 21 September “I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.” We will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 4 September to Question 167842 on Brexit, which countries have already publicly welcomed the approach regarding the rollover of service agreements with the UK during a transition period; and whether any countries have not welcomed the approach.
Answered by Robin Walker
The EU and UK agreed at the March European Council that, during the implementation period, the UK is to be treated as a Member State for the purposes of all international agreements and that the EU will notify third parties to these agreements to this effect. A number of countries, including Canada, South Africa, and Singapore have already welcomed this approach publicly.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 11 October to Written Question 175801 on EU Nationals, whether legislation will be required to ensure full rights to EU citizens in the event of the UK leaving the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has already set out its intention to legislate to implement the Citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement in the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and through secondary legislation, as appropriate.
We do not want, nor expect a no deal scenario. However, in the unlikely event of a no deal, the Prime Minister has been clear, stating to EU citizens on 21 September “I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.” We will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment the Government has made of the revocability of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government has been clear that as a matter of firm policy we will not revoke Article 50. A clear majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU and we must respect both the will of the British people, and the democratic process which delivered this result.
We will leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if the Government will legislate unilaterally and immediately to provide full rights to EU citizens.
Answered by Suella Braverman
Citizens’ rights has been our first priority since the very beginning of this process.
While the Government is preparing for a range of scenarios, including the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal, the Prime Minister stated to EU citizens on 21 September “I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.”
We will set out all the details shortly. We are also urging the EU and all its member states to step up and give UK citizens on the continent the same reassurances.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff who transferred into his Department were promoted to a higher grade upon their transfer; and how many have since transferred out of his Department at that higher grade.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The information you have requested is not held centrally therefore we are not in a position to provide this.
The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 650 staff. The Department continues to recruit the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector, in a range of professions.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the total cost to the public purse for his Department’s work preparing for the UK to leave the EU has been since 23 June 2016.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
HM Treasury has allocated over £2 billion of additional funding to Departments and the Devolved Administrations for EU exit preparations so far. This breaks down as: