Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to policy paper Draft Text For Discussion: Implementation Period, published by his Department on 21 February 218, what assessment he has made of the effect of the position set out in that paper on the continuation of (a) agreements on EU data adequacy and (b) other non-free trade agreements.

We have set out our proposed legal text to underpin the Implementation Period, a significant step towards agreement in March. Our text is designed to support the ongoing negotiation on the implementation period and puts forward practical solutions which will help deliver a smooth exit.

The Government has been clear that this period will be based on the existing structure of EU rules and regulations [or EU law]. Therefore as adequacy decisions are made by the EU during the implementation period they will apply in UK law. Moreover, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the existing body of EU data protection law into UK law, this will enable transfers to be made in accordance with the twelve existing adequacy decisions.

The UK position on the EU’s international agreements, that they should continue to apply to the UK during the implementation period, was set out in a Technical Note, published on 8th February. This is a matter for continued discussion with the EU.