Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the Government has assessed the potential merits of permitting another EU member state to act as sponsor for the Falkland Islands remaining in the EU under article 355(3) of the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

The UK Government is responsible for the external relations of the Falkland Islands and it has been the long-standing policy of the Government not to alter the arrangements for the sovereignty of its Overseas Territories without the consent of their peoples.

As for the FalkIand Islands’ relationship with the EU, the Prime Minister has been clear that we are negotiating for an ambitious future relationship on behalf of the whole UK family and we want a deal which works for all the Overseas Territories. That deal must work for the Falklands too.