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 22 February 2019 to Question 221547, on Voting Rights; EU Nationals,which EU member states have yet to confirm reciprocal voting rights for UK citizens residing in their respective state in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK pushed for reciprocal rights to stand and vote in local elections in negotiations on citizens’ rights but they will not form part of the Withdrawal Agreement. Instead we are pursuing bilateral agreements with individual Member States where possible, to apply in a deal or no deal scenario. We are pleased to have secured the first such bilateral agreement on local voting rights with Spain in January and we are continuing our discussions with other Member States.
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, whether voting rights for EU citizens residing in the UK will be maintained under the current terms in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK pushed hard in negotiations to include the right to stand and vote in local elections for UK nationals living in the EU, and EU citizens in the UK, but they will not be included in the Withdrawal Agreement as the Commission said it was out of scope.
The Government has made clear that we will pursue bilateral arrangements with individual Member States. Ministers have written to all member states to offer bilateral agreements on local voting rights.
We have now reached an agreement with Spain that will secure the rights of UK nationals living in Spain, and Spanish citizens living in the UK, to stand and vote in local elections. This is a positive step forward in our future relationship with Spain and we hope this will be the first of many similar bilateral agreements with other Member States.
As we continue to pursue these bilateral agreements, we can confirm that EU citizens in the UK will continue to be able to vote and stand in England and Northern Ireland’s May 2019 local elections.
The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly are responsible for their own franchises.
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 of the UK agencies required to replace the 45 respective EU agencies of which the UK is currently a member (a) have been established and (b) will be operation after 29 March 2019.
Answered by Robin Walker
Prior to any decisions on establishing new UK-level bodies, the Government will always look to minimise disruption and costs, which will include considering alternative options. In most cases we anticipate that repatriated EU functions can be absorbed by UK departments and existing public bodies.
The Government has previously announced three new agencies; the Trade Remedies Authority; an independent and statutory body holding government to account for the environment; and an independent authority for monitoring the implementation and application of the citizens' rights provisions of the withdrawal agreement. As set out in the Political Declaration, the UK and EU will explore the possibility of cooperation between the UK and EU agencies such as the European Aviation Safety Agency, the European Chemicals Agency, and the European Medicines Agency.