Open PDF 135KB

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Open PDF 135KB European Scrutiny Committee Oral evidence: The UK’s new relationship with the EU, HC 122 Monday 19 July 2021 Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on Monday 19 July 2021. Watch the meeting Members present: Sir William Cash (Chair); Jon Cruddas; Richard Drax; Margaret Ferrier; Mr Marcus Fysh; Mr David Jones; Craig Mackinlay; Anne Marie Morris. Questions 94 - 120 Witnesses I: The Rt Hon. Lord Frost CMG, Minister of State, Cabinet Office; and Julian Braithwaite CMG, Director General EU, Cabinet Office. Examination of witnesses Witnesses: Lord Frost and Julian Braithwaite. Q94 Chair: Good afternoon, Lord Frost, and welcome. It is clear that issues concerning the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol are persisting and tensions on both sides are running high. As such, it is extremely important that you appear today, and on behalf of the Committee I would like to thank you. You are sending a clear signal that this Government value parliamentary scrutiny in the national interest. I know that we do not have very much time with you today, and in the light of this our questions will cover a number of recent high-profile UK- EU events. Before I ask the first question, I thought that it would be a good idea, as Mr Braithwaite is relatively new to the post, if he would be good enough to introduce himself. Julian Braithwaite: Certainly. My name is Julian Braithwaite. I have just returned from Geneva, where I was the UK ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, among a number of other international organisations in Geneva, and responsible for our transition in the WTO as we left the European Union. Before that, I served in UKRep as our ambassador to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union. I am delighted to be here, having just started as the director general for the European Union in the Cabinet Office about three weeks ago. I look forward to supporting the Committee, and supporting Lord Frost in his engagement with the Committee. Q95 Chair: Thank you very much. To keep the framework in order and get through everything we need to do in the time, I will ask three initial questions. I think this may be a good way to start. Given the statements made by Madame von der Leyen and some other European leaders with respect to the Northern Ireland protocol in recent months, and given your reasonable and robust criticism, Lord Frost, of those statements and EU threats of legal action, and also given the strong views that were expressed in the important debate that took place in the House of Commons last week on the Northern Ireland protocol, would you be good enough in the light of the questions I am about to ask to give us an update on the current state of play and indicate as strongly as you can the thrust of your proposals for its future operation, which we understand will be published later this week? That is the first question. The second question is this. Your colleague, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, recently suggested that the EU approach to the Northern Ireland protocol could itself be in breach of the protocol. Are you preparing to use the withdrawal agreement dispute resolution mechanism to test that assertion? In case there is no breakthrough with the EU, are the Government preparing to use the article 16 proposals on unilateral safeguards? Is there a potential triggering of article 16 in mind? Those are the three questions I have to start with. Would you be kind enough to address those questions to begin with? Lord Frost: Yes, thank you, Chair. I will have a go, although obviously, there is a limit to what I can do, given the plan to make a statement and set out our approach later this week. What I can probably say at this point is that we all know that the protocol is not sustainable in the way it is working at the moment. The only way it can be made sustainable is if we can find a way to hugely reduce or eliminate the barriers for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and we need, as we go forward, to try to find a way of achieving that so as to reduce the burdens. We have said that a few times before. It remains the core of the problem that the boundary between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is too dissuasive, too complicated, too chilling of identity in various ways, and that is what has to be solved in terms of direction of travel. All options are on the table. That is clear, and that will remain the case after we have made our statement, because we need to remain flexible to events. It is more likely to produce a durable outcome if you can proceed by agreement. It remains to be tested on the basis of the discussions we have had so far as to whether that really is possible or not. The issue of the various legal weapons in the treaty, which we have not used but the EU has in various ways, remains out there. We will have to see what kind of discussion we can get into on the back of where we are at the moment. Q96 Chair: Let me put it this way: are you looking for changes to the text of the protocol for Joint Committee decisions, or are you looking for changes to EU legislation as it applies in Northern Ireland? Is there some balance you are striking between those two positions? Lord Frost: There, I am afraid I will have to reserve my position until we announce on Wednesday. What I can say at the moment is that it must work in a different way if we are to find a stable route going forward. We will set out the detail on Wednesday. Q97 Chair: Yes, I see. In respect of what was said in the debate last week, I am sure you got the message from the House of Commons as a whole, because there was no Division on a very important and clearly stated motion. Therefore, I would say, and you might agree with this, that it was a highly important benchmark of the opinion of Parliament in relation to these very delicate matters. What Penny Mordaunt said at the end, and the robustness with which she addressed these questions, heartened a lot of people, and we hope that we can continue that in the statements that you make later this week. Would that be fair? Lord Frost: Yes, I think it is. The debate last week was extremely interesting, and extremely helpful in all kinds of ways. Parliament expressing its view in that case in that way is extremely important. One thing that has happened over the last few months is that it has become generally more widely understood what the problems of the protocol are and why it is not working, and that something needs to be done. That was a minority opinion maybe four or five months ago, and it is a quite widely held one now as far as we can tell. That simply reflects the impact of events. Chair: Thank you. David Jones, would you like to come in on any of that, perhaps on article 16? Q98 Mr Jones: Yes, please. In fact, I raised the issue of article 16 in the debate last week. I very much hope, Lord Frost, that the Government are fully keeping their options open with regard to article 16, and that the potential for invoking it remains. Lord Frost: Again, you will have to wait and see precisely what we say on Wednesday. Certainly, all options remain on the table now and in the future. Q99 Mr Jones: What assessment have you made of the impact that the current arrangements are having on the Belfast/Good Friday agreement? Is that a concern of yours? Lord Frost: It is a core concern, to be honest. If the workings of the protocol are undermining the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, the protocol is not doing its job. One of the core elements of the Belfast agreement was that the three strands had equal status. At the moment, it feels as if the east-west elements of the protocol are not working as well as the north-south, and, clearly, that imbalance is not what the Good Friday agreement intended. That is the core of the problem. Q100 Mr Jones: Yet the European Union suggest that the reason they are being so legalistic in their approach to the protocol is precisely to defend the Good Friday agreement, which, frankly, appears to me to be surprising. Lord Frost: Yes, obviously, we hoped when we agreed it that it would prove a good defence and a good support of the Good Friday agreement. It is in the text of the protocol in several places. That was certainly the intention. I do not think it could be said that it is the only possible way of doing that. We need to find ways that constitute a new balance and bring the way things are working back in line with the balance in the Good Friday agreement. Mr Jones: Thank you, Lord Frost. Chair: Does anybody else have a further point they would like to make on that series of questions before we move on to the next one? Does anybody have any ideas on that? Q101 Margaret Ferrier: I want to ask Lord Frost about his thoughts on the meeting this morning between the DUP leader and Maroš Šefčovič.
Recommended publications
  • Monday 11 January 2021 CONSIDERATION of LORDS
    1 House of Commons NOTICES OF AMENDMENTS given up to and including Monday 11 January 2021 CONSIDERATION OF LORDS AMENDMENTS FIRE SAFETY BILL On Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Fire Safety Bill Lords Amendment No. 4 As an Amendment to the Lords Amendment:— Daisy Cooper Ed Davey Tim Farron Wendy Chamberlain Mr Alistair Carmichael Wera Hobhouse Christine Jardine Layla Moran Sarah Olney Jamie Stone Munira Wilson Caroline Lucas (e) Line 5, leave out subsection (2) and insert— “(2) The owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work referred to in subsection (1) through the request of increased service payments from the leaseholders or tenants of that building. (3) The owner of a building shall reimburse leaseholders for the proportion of increased service payments that have been collected since 17 June 2017 for the purposes of covering remedial works referred to in subsection (1). (4) This section does not apply to a leaseholder who is also the owner or part owner of the freehold of the building.” 2 Consideration of Lords Amendments: 11 January 2021 Fire Safety Bill, continued Stephen McPartland Royston Smith Mr Philip Hollobone Mr John Baron Caroline Nokes Bob Blackman Richard Graham Damian Green Anne Marie Morris Tom Tugendhat Andrew Selous Tom Hunt Sir David Amess Andrew Rosindell Henry Smith Sir Robert Neill Nick Fletcher Elliot Colburn Sir Mike Penning Mr William Wragg Mr Virendra Sharma Stephen Hammond David Warburton Richard Fuller Sir Roger Gale Tracey Crouch Paul Blomfield Dr Matthew Offord To move, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment.
    [Show full text]
  • Register of Interests of Members’ Secretaries and Research Assistants
    REGISTER OF INTERESTS OF MEMBERS’ SECRETARIES AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (As at 11 July 2018) INTRODUCTION Purpose and Form of the Register In accordance with Resolutions made by the House of Commons on 17 December 1985 and 28 June 1993, holders of photo-identity passes as Members’ secretaries or research assistants are in essence required to register: ‘Any occupation or employment for which you receive over £380 from the same source in the course of a calendar year, if that occupation or employment is in any way advantaged by the privileged access to Parliament afforded by your pass. Any gift (eg jewellery) or benefit (eg hospitality, services) that you receive, if the gift or benefit in any way relates to or arises from your work in Parliament and its value exceeds £380 in the course of a calendar year.’ In Section 1 of the Register entries are listed alphabetically according to the staff member’s surname. Section 2 contains exactly the same information but entries are instead listed according to the sponsoring Member’s name. Administration and Inspection of the Register The Register is compiled and maintained by the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Anyone whose details are entered on the Register is required to notify that office of any change in their registrable interests within 28 days of such a change arising. An updated edition of the Register is published approximately every 6 weeks when the House is sitting. Changes to the rules governing the Register are determined by the Committee on Standards in the House of Commons, although where such changes are substantial they are put by the Committee to the House for approval before being implemented.
    [Show full text]
  • THE 422 Mps WHO BACKED the MOTION Conservative 1. Bim
    THE 422 MPs WHO BACKED THE MOTION Conservative 1. Bim Afolami 2. Peter Aldous 3. Edward Argar 4. Victoria Atkins 5. Harriett Baldwin 6. Steve Barclay 7. Henry Bellingham 8. Guto Bebb 9. Richard Benyon 10. Paul Beresford 11. Peter Bottomley 12. Andrew Bowie 13. Karen Bradley 14. Steve Brine 15. James Brokenshire 16. Robert Buckland 17. Alex Burghart 18. Alistair Burt 19. Alun Cairns 20. James Cartlidge 21. Alex Chalk 22. Jo Churchill 23. Greg Clark 24. Colin Clark 25. Ken Clarke 26. James Cleverly 27. Thérèse Coffey 28. Alberto Costa 29. Glyn Davies 30. Jonathan Djanogly 31. Leo Docherty 32. Oliver Dowden 33. David Duguid 34. Alan Duncan 35. Philip Dunne 36. Michael Ellis 37. Tobias Ellwood 38. Mark Field 39. Vicky Ford 40. Kevin Foster 41. Lucy Frazer 42. George Freeman 43. Mike Freer 44. Mark Garnier 45. David Gauke 46. Nick Gibb 47. John Glen 48. Robert Goodwill 49. Michael Gove 50. Luke Graham 51. Richard Graham 52. Bill Grant 53. Helen Grant 54. Damian Green 55. Justine Greening 56. Dominic Grieve 57. Sam Gyimah 58. Kirstene Hair 59. Luke Hall 60. Philip Hammond 61. Stephen Hammond 62. Matt Hancock 63. Richard Harrington 64. Simon Hart 65. Oliver Heald 66. Peter Heaton-Jones 67. Damian Hinds 68. Simon Hoare 69. George Hollingbery 70. Kevin Hollinrake 71. Nigel Huddleston 72. Jeremy Hunt 73. Nick Hurd 74. Alister Jack (Teller) 75. Margot James 76. Sajid Javid 77. Robert Jenrick 78. Jo Johnson 79. Andrew Jones 80. Gillian Keegan 81. Seema Kennedy 82. Stephen Kerr 83. Mark Lancaster 84.
    [Show full text]
  • FDN-274688 Disclosure
    FDN-274688 Disclosure MP Total Adam Afriyie 5 Adam Holloway 4 Adrian Bailey 7 Alan Campbell 3 Alan Duncan 2 Alan Haselhurst 5 Alan Johnson 5 Alan Meale 2 Alan Whitehead 1 Alasdair McDonnell 1 Albert Owen 5 Alberto Costa 7 Alec Shelbrooke 3 Alex Chalk 6 Alex Cunningham 1 Alex Salmond 2 Alison McGovern 2 Alison Thewliss 1 Alistair Burt 6 Alistair Carmichael 1 Alok Sharma 4 Alun Cairns 3 Amanda Solloway 1 Amber Rudd 10 Andrea Jenkyns 9 Andrea Leadsom 3 Andrew Bingham 6 Andrew Bridgen 1 Andrew Griffiths 4 Andrew Gwynne 2 Andrew Jones 1 Andrew Mitchell 9 Andrew Murrison 4 Andrew Percy 4 Andrew Rosindell 4 Andrew Selous 10 Andrew Smith 5 Andrew Stephenson 4 Andrew Turner 3 Andrew Tyrie 8 Andy Burnham 1 Andy McDonald 2 Andy Slaughter 8 FDN-274688 Disclosure Angela Crawley 3 Angela Eagle 3 Angela Rayner 7 Angela Smith 3 Angela Watkinson 1 Angus MacNeil 1 Ann Clwyd 3 Ann Coffey 5 Anna Soubry 1 Anna Turley 6 Anne Main 4 Anne McLaughlin 3 Anne Milton 4 Anne-Marie Morris 1 Anne-Marie Trevelyan 3 Antoinette Sandbach 1 Barry Gardiner 9 Barry Sheerman 3 Ben Bradshaw 6 Ben Gummer 3 Ben Howlett 2 Ben Wallace 8 Bernard Jenkin 45 Bill Wiggin 4 Bob Blackman 3 Bob Stewart 4 Boris Johnson 5 Brandon Lewis 1 Brendan O'Hara 5 Bridget Phillipson 2 Byron Davies 1 Callum McCaig 6 Calum Kerr 3 Carol Monaghan 6 Caroline Ansell 4 Caroline Dinenage 4 Caroline Flint 2 Caroline Johnson 4 Caroline Lucas 7 Caroline Nokes 2 Caroline Spelman 3 Carolyn Harris 3 Cat Smith 4 Catherine McKinnell 1 FDN-274688 Disclosure Catherine West 7 Charles Walker 8 Charlie Elphicke 7 Charlotte
    [Show full text]
  • Defence Sub-Committee Oral Evidence: the Security of 5G, HC 201
    Defence Sub-Committee Oral evidence: The Security of 5G, HC 201 Tuesday 30 June 2020 Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 30 June 2020. Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tobias Ellwood (Chair); Stuart Anderson; Sarah Atherton; Martin Docherty-Hughes; Richard Drax; Mr Mark Francois; Mr Kevan Jones; Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck; Gavin Robinson; Bob Seely; Derek Twigg. Questions 184 - 260 Witnesses I: The Rt Hon. Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt Hon. Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Ciaran Martin, Chief Executive Officer, National Cyber Security Centre. Written evidence from witnesses: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Defence Examination of witnesses Witnesses: Ben Wallace MP, Oliver Dowden MP and Ciaran Martin. Q184 Chair: Welcome to the fourth oral evidence session of our investigation into the study of 5G security in the UK. I am delighted to welcome to this hybrid session the right hon. Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre. I am pleased that we have two Cabinet members in the room—I think that is a first—although they are at the other end of what is a huge room. You are very welcome indeed. Thank you very much for your time. Ciaran, you are joining us down the line, so hopefully you can hear us as well. We are very conscious that the Government are conducting their own study into the relationship with high-risk vendors, and that that will therefore frame some of your replies today, but I hope you will be as candid as possible, allowing us to explore the wider picture of our security and the development of 5G from a UK perspective.
    [Show full text]
  • Download (9MB)
    A University of Sussex PhD thesis Available online via Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/ This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Please visit Sussex Research Online for more information and further details 2018 Behavioural Models for Identifying Authenticity in the Twitter Feeds of UK Members of Parliament A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF UK MPS’ TWEETS BETWEEN 2011 AND 2012; A LONGITUDINAL STUDY MARK MARGARETTEN Mark Stuart Margaretten Submitted for the degree of Doctor of PhilosoPhy at the University of Sussex June 2018 1 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................ 1 DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 5 FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................... 6 TABLES ............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Delivering Restoration and Renewal
    House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Delivering Restoration and Renewal Forty-fifth Report of Session 2016–17 Report, together with formal minutes relating to the report Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 6 March 2017 HC 1005 Published on 10 March 2017 by authority of the House of Commons The Committee of Public Accounts The Committee of Public Accounts is appointed by the House of Commons to examine “the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure, and of such other accounts laid before Parliament as the committee may think fit” (Standing Order No. 148). Current membership Meg Hillier MP (Labour (Co-op), Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Chair) Mr Richard Bacon MP (Conservative, South Norfolk) Philip Boswell MP (Scottish National Party, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) Charlie Elphicke MP (Conservative, Dover) Chris Evans MP (Labour (Co-op), Islwyn) Caroline Flint MP (Labour, Don Valley) Kevin Foster MP (Conservative, Torbay) Simon Kirby MP (Conservative, Brighton, Kemptown) Kwasi Kwarteng MP (Conservative, Spelthorne) Nigel Mills MP (Conservative, Amber Valley) Anne Marie Morris MP (Conservative, Newton Abbot) Bridget Phillipson MP (Labour, Houghton and Sunderland South) John Pugh MP (Liberal Democrat, Southport) Karin Smyth MP (Labour, Bristol South) Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP (Conservative, Berwick-upon-Tweed) Powers Powers of the Committee of Public Accounts are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No. 148. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publication Committee reports are published on the Committee’s website and in print by Order of the House.
    [Show full text]
  • Members of the House of Commons December 2019 Diane ABBOTT MP
    Members of the House of Commons December 2019 A Labour Conservative Diane ABBOTT MP Adam AFRIYIE MP Hackney North and Stoke Windsor Newington Labour Conservative Debbie ABRAHAMS MP Imran AHMAD-KHAN Oldham East and MP Saddleworth Wakefield Conservative Conservative Nigel ADAMS MP Nickie AIKEN MP Selby and Ainsty Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Conservative Bim AFOLAMI MP Peter ALDOUS MP Hitchin and Harpenden Waveney A Labour Labour Rushanara ALI MP Mike AMESBURY MP Bethnal Green and Bow Weaver Vale Labour Conservative Tahir ALI MP Sir David AMESS MP Birmingham, Hall Green Southend West Conservative Labour Lucy ALLAN MP Fleur ANDERSON MP Telford Putney Labour Conservative Dr Rosena ALLIN-KHAN Lee ANDERSON MP MP Ashfield Tooting Members of the House of Commons December 2019 A Conservative Conservative Stuart ANDERSON MP Edward ARGAR MP Wolverhampton South Charnwood West Conservative Labour Stuart ANDREW MP Jonathan ASHWORTH Pudsey MP Leicester South Conservative Conservative Caroline ANSELL MP Sarah ATHERTON MP Eastbourne Wrexham Labour Conservative Tonia ANTONIAZZI MP Victoria ATKINS MP Gower Louth and Horncastle B Conservative Conservative Gareth BACON MP Siobhan BAILLIE MP Orpington Stroud Conservative Conservative Richard BACON MP Duncan BAKER MP South Norfolk North Norfolk Conservative Conservative Kemi BADENOCH MP Steve BAKER MP Saffron Walden Wycombe Conservative Conservative Shaun BAILEY MP Harriett BALDWIN MP West Bromwich West West Worcestershire Members of the House of Commons December 2019 B Conservative Conservative
    [Show full text]
  • House of Commons Official Report Parliamentary
    Thursday Volume 664 26 September 2019 No. 343 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 26 September 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 843 26 SEPTEMBER 2019 Speaker’s Statement 844 there will be an urgent question later today on the House of Commons matter to which I have just referred, and that will be an opportunity for colleagues to say what they think. This is something of concern across the House. It is Thursday 26 September 2019 not a party political matter and, certainly as far as I am concerned, it should not be in any way, at any time, to any degree a matter for partisan point scoring. It is The House met at half-past Nine o’clock about something bigger than an individual, an individual party or an individual political or ideological viewpoint. Let us treat of it on that basis. In the meantime, may I just ask colleagues—that is all I am doing and all I can PRAYERS do as your representative in the Chair—please to lower the decibel level and to try to treat each other as opponents, not as enemies? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Speaker’s Statement Mr Speaker: Order. I genuinely am not convinced, but I will take one point of order if the hon. Gentleman Mr Speaker: Before we get under way with today’s insists.
    [Show full text]
  • Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
    Monday Volume 552 5 November 2012 No. 63 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 5 November 2012 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2012 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 571 5 NOVEMBER 2012 572 compensation. Does my hon. Friend agree that the House of Commons position is unfair and should be reviewed by HMRC? Monday 5 November 2012 Steve Webb: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that case. I have corresponded with Treasury The House met at half-past Two o’clock colleagues about the issue, and, subject to their consent, I shall be happy to share with him the reply that I have PRAYERS just received. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Disability Strategy 2. Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): What progress he Oral Answers to Questions has made on the Government’s disability strategy. [126299] WORK AND PENSIONS The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Esther McVey): Fulfilling Potential, our The Secretary of State was asked— disability strategy, is being co-produced with disabled people. We published “Fulfilling Potential—The Discussions UK Pension-holders So Far” and “Fulfilling Potential—Next Steps” on 17 September. Our key themes, which we intend to 1. Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab): What steps he make a real difference, are early intervention, choice is taking to ensure that foreign conglomerates carry out and control, and inclusive communities. their responsibilities to UK pension-holders. [126298] The Minister of State, Department for Work and Stuart Andrew: Can the Minister explain what the Pensions (Steve Webb): As this is the first session of role of the disabled people’s user-led organisations will DWP questions since the announcement of the untimely be in the strategy? death of Malcolm Wicks, I hope that you will allow me, Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • EU Referendum 23Rd June 2016
    EU Referendum 23rd June 2016 Gerard Batten MEP Frequently Asked Questions Version No. 4 May 2016 1. Would leaving the European Union (‘EU’) endanger jobs and trade, and could the EU put up trade barriers against the UK? 2. What about the EU’s Common External Tariffs? 3. Would leaving the EU exclude Britain from the Single Market? 4. What about international trade deals that the EU has negotiated with the rest of the world – would we be excluded? 5. Isn’t about 50% of our trade with the EU? 6. Is it true that 3 million jobs depend on trade with the EU? 7. If the UK leaves the EU, what would happen to UK citizens living in Europe? Could they be deported? 8. If I own property in an EU member state, will it be safe? 9. If the UK leaves the EU, would I lose free access to member states’ public health services when I travel to Europe? 10. Hasn’t the EU helped to keep the peace in Europe? 11. Are we not stronger on the world stage as part of the EU, and would we not lose influence outside it? 12. Would Britain be ‘isolated’ outside the EU? 13. Should we remain in the EU in order to influence its decisions? 14. Why do more countries, for example Turkey, want to join the EU? 15. If we left, would we lose millions in EU grants? 16. How much does EU membership cost? 17. How many of our laws are made by the EU? 18. Other sources, like Nick Clegg MP, say that a much smaller number of our laws comes from the EU.
    [Show full text]
  • European Scrutiny Committee Oral Evidence: the UK's New Relationship with the EU, HC 122
    European Scrutiny Committee Oral evidence: The UK's new relationship with the EU, HC 122 Monday 17 May 2021 Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 17 May 2021. Watch the meeting Members present: Sir William Cash (Chair); Allan Dorans; Richard Drax; Margaret Ferrier; Mr Marcus Fysh; Mrs Andrea Jenkyns; Mr David Jones; Stephen Kinnock; Craig Mackinlay; Anne Marie Morris; Greg Smith. Questions 53-93 Witnesses I: Lord Frost, Minister of State, Cabinet Office, Emma Churchill, Director General, Border and Protocol Delivery Group, Cabinet Office, Rebecca Ellis, Director, Northern Ireland/Ireland Unit, Cabinet Office. Examination of witnesses Witnesses: Lord Frost, Emma Churchill and Rebecca Ellis. Q53 Chair: Thank you for appearing before the Committee, Lord Frost. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to welcome you to your new role. Your responsibilities are considerable. Now we have left the EU, the UK’s new and very sensitive relationship with Europe is of vital national importance. As an example, you have yourself indicated that the Northern Ireland Protocol is not currently operating properly. Our Committee continues to scrutinise all aspects of the UK’s new relationship with the EU, and we look forward to working with you and your team. We are especially interested in the following matters: your role and your priorities; the application of the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement; and the very fragile consent that has been given for the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol. That last point is particularly relevant
    [Show full text]