Asked by Lord Spicer To ask Her Majesty’s Government when
they expect to report to Parliament on their negotiations on
reaching a financial settlement with the European Union in the
Brexit talks. The Minister of State, Department for Exiting the
European Union (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con) My Lords,
the Prime Minister provided an update to the...Request free trial
Asked by
-
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to report
to Parliament on their negotiations on reaching a financial
settlement with the European Union in the Brexit talks.
-
The Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European
Union (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con)
My Lords, the Prime Minister provided an update to the
House of Commons on Monday following the September
negotiations. This covered finances and was repeated in
this House. The question of the EU budget can be resolved
only as part of the settlement of all the issues that we
are working through. We are approaching discussions
constructively and are confident we can achieve an outcome
in the interests of both sides.
-
(Con)
I take the point, but when does my noble friend expect the
valuation of EU assets to be completed? Is it not the case
that if proper account is taken of the assets, we could
even end up with the EU paying us, rather than the other
way round? You first heard the idea here.
-
What a very interesting idea my noble friend puts forward—I
hope the EU Commission is listening very carefully.
However, he makes the serious point. When we issued the
Statement back in July, we made it clear that we will
honour our obligations, both legal and moral, to the
European Union but also that that is reciprocal. There are
obligations from the EU to us, including the valuation of
assets. It is a technical matter and part of the
discussions. I urge the Commission to get on with the work
of carrying out that valuation and considering a fair
apportionment of the amount.
-
(LD)
My Lords, the wording of the Florence speech may have been
seen as helpful here, but I fear that in Brussels and
Berlin it was seen as opaque in its real commitments to the
budget hole and obligations such as pensions—where I
declare an interest—and future relations. If we are hoping
that the European Council next week will at least widen a
little the mandate of Mr Barnier to prepare for phase 2,
would it not be wise to put some figures on those sums?
-
My Lords, this is a technical matter which will decide the
future not only of this country but the rest of Europe. One
does not go into that kind of negotiation by just opening
the doors of the Treasury and offering a certain number of
millions or billions of pounds. What we will do is look
very carefully at the paper put forward by the Commission
during the summer, in which it set out the list of treaties
and the clauses of those treaties and regulations that it
says form the legal basis of the money that should be paid
by this country. We want to be able to face the British
people and say: this is our obligation, this is why we
agreed to pay it, and we can justify every part of that
money.
-
(Lab)
My Lords, will the settlement take into account the failure
of the auditors of the Community to certify the accounts
for more than 10 years?
-
The noble and learned Lord makes a vital point, and I
certainly hope that it might.
-
(Lab)
My Lords, I was in Brussels this week and I heard welcome
for the Florence speech, but does the Minister accept that
this is not just a matter of the figures—that comes in the
longer term—but a question of process. Where I and others
are worried is that the British Government do not seem to
be clear about a willingness to go on sorting out the bills
between both parties over a series of years, which will go
beyond 2019.
-
My Lords, we have made it clear that we understand that
some of the discussions about our future relationship will
involve continuing investment in projects across Europe.
Clearly, the initial discussions about the withdrawal
agreement are focusing on those areas where there are
identifiable obligations. It is important that we move on
to the next stage about our future relationship because, as
the noble Lord has just pointed out, there will be
continuing commitments that we may indeed wish to make.
-
(Con)
My Lords, are we not singularly fortunate in having a
Chancellor who is entirely sensible and optimistic, who
looks forward to a good deal and who realises that no deal
would not be good for this country, and should we not give
him every possible support?
-
Yes, my Lords, the whole of the Cabinet is in the same
frame of mind.
-
The (CB)
My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether the huge value of
our fishing rights to 80% of our fish stocks will be
included in the settlement, either financially or by being
repatriated?
-
My Lords, this is clearly a crucial matter for all those
involved, not only in the industry at first cast but
throughout the supply chain. It is a matter for discussion as
we arrange the details not only of the withdrawal agreement
but about our future relationship. I assure the noble Earl
that the interests of all those involved are being taken
deeply into account on that matter.
-
of Kentish Town
(Lab)
My Lords, the FT today says that the Brexit talks are at a
“virtual political standstill”. One official involved says
that:
“There was nothing, zero, no progress”.
The British Chambers of Commerce says that further delay in
opening trade talks risks a “lose-lose scenario”. How many
more dire warnings about what this will do to the economy and
jobs do the Government need before they start negotiating
seriously?
-
My Lords, it was made clear by Monsieur Barnier and others
that the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence added new
momentum. That momentum has continued, and that was made
clear in the Prime Minister’s report to Parliament on Monday.
This week’s negotiations have proceeded at a technical level,
and we will hear later statements from the Secretary of State
and Monsieur Barnier about that. However, as we move to the
stage of wanting to have negotiations about our future
partnership, there will be political decisions to be made
about that. I and my colleagues have been engaging across
Europe in setting out the reasons why we think that it is
right, for the economy of all countries of Europe, that we
move to that negotiation swiftly.
-
(LD)
My Lords, is the Minister at all struck by how united the
Brussels team is on behalf the European Union and how divided
ours is?
-
My Lords, I am struck by the way the negotiating teams are
carrying forward the interests of their countries as a united
front. Whatever the media like to report, the fact is that
decisions taken are done so at Cabinet level in unity.
-
(CB)
My Lords, can the Minister please be candid with the House?
Can she say whether anything substantial or major has been
definitively agreed in phase 1? Can she give some examples
and assure a doubting Chamber?
-
My Lords, I have given several examples in the past and I am
happy to give some of the latest now, but until there is a
full agreement there is nothing agreed. To give an example of
the agreements so far, we have agreed most aspects of social
security co-ordination, which means that we have confirmed
that EU and UK citizens will continue to benefit from the
co-ordination rules for aggregating contributions made in the
EU and the UK, both before and after exit, and the rights
that flow from such contributions with regards to an uprated
state pension and reciprocal healthcare. I am very grateful
to the noble Lord for asking for detail.
|
