Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

EU Future Relationship Planning

Monday 6 July 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial team engages regularly in discussions across Europe covering various topics including Brexit.
  • Department of Defence is making preparations to ensure defence operations continue irrespective of the negotiations' outcome.
  • Discussions aim to ensure continued collaboration on security matters beneficial to the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Swansea East
Defence Brexit
Context

The UK faces an uncertain future after the transition period ends with no clear agreement on its relationship with the EU.

Question

What concrete plans has the Department of Defence made in anticipation that there will be no agreement by the end of the transition period?

Answer from James Heappey (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We aim to have a friendly co-operative relationship with the EU as sovereign equals centered on free trade. We are making preparations to ensure defence operations continue irrespective of the negotiations' outcome.

Answered
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Q2 Ruth Jones Lab Swansea East
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK and EU have a vested interest in continuing security co-operation post-Brexit.

Question

What specific discussions has the Minister held with European counterparts to ensure continued collaboration on security matters where it is beneficial?

Answer from James Heappey (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Our ministerial team engages regularly in discussions across Europe, covering not just Brexit but also bilateral and multilateral co-operations through various organisations. This work will persist regardless of the negotiations' result due to its significance for our military partnerships.

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