During the passage of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in the Commons the Government committed to providing a statement about the impact of all EU exit bills on equalities legislation (which includes provisions on disability as a protected characteristic). The Government\u2019s commitment requires the relevant Minister to make and publish a statement for each EU exit bill indicating:<\/p>
a. whether the bill amends, repeals or revokes any part of the Equality Acts 2006 or 2010 or any secondary legislation made under those Acts and, if it does make such changes, an explanation of the effect of each change; and<\/p><\/li>
b. that in relation to the policy which is given effect by the Bill, the relevant Minister \u201chas had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010.\u201d<\/p><\/li>
c. The Government will be making such a statement in respect of the WAB (which will be set out in the Explanatory Notes accompanying the Bill on its introduction); and this analysis has been carried out to inform decision-making on the Withdrawal Agreement and as preparation for the equality statement.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>
The UK Government is committed to ensuring that there is no regression inequalities as we leave the EU. The Equality Act 2010 sets out wide-ranging equalities protections, and incorporates virtually all existing EU equalities law and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) case law. In some areas, domestic legislation goes further than EU requirements - for example the public sector equality duty, which places a proactive duty on public authorities to consider how their policies or decisions would affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. There are also domestic requirements that ensure non-discrimination in access to goods and services on grounds of disability.<\/p>
The Withdrawal Agreement also sets out a commitment to 'no diminution of rights, safeguards or equality of opportunity' in Northern Ireland, as set out in the Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity Chapter of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, results from the UK's withdrawal from the EU. A dedicated mechanism will be put in place to ensure this process.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-29T17:11:20.657Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Disability: Equality"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what impact assessments have been conducted by the Government on the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the disabled community as a protected characteristic.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4412", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Lisa Cameron"} ], "uin" : "190485"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005792", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005792/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Ministers and officials from DExEU and other Government departments speak regularly to stakeholders from a variety of sectors, including disability groups, voluntary sector organisations, and organisations representing EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, to understand their concerns and priorities regarding our EU exit. Last year, our former Minister Rt. Hon. Baroness Anelay met with members of the Disability Charities Consortium, which represents eight disability charities.<\/p>
It is important to note that all disability protections covered in domestic legislation, namely the Equality Act 2006 and Equality Act 2010 (and equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland) will also continue to apply after exit.<\/p>
Part of the design of the Settled Status scheme for EU citizens in the UK has been to meet the needs of this group. On 25 October, the Home Office announced grant funding of up to £9 million for voluntary and community organisations across the UK to provide support to EU citizens who might need additional help when applying for their immigration status through the EU Settlement Scheme. The grant will help these organisations to both inform vulnerable individuals about the need to apply for settled status and support them to complete their applications under the scheme.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/strong> As the Prime Minister has made clear, we are committed to securing a deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom including Welsh-speaking communities. The UK Government has been working closely and effectively with the Welsh Government, the Secretary of State for Wales and Welsh stakeholders on EU Exit to ensure this.<\/p> This includes, for example, the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations and the Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations. The Ministerial Forum recently discussed the UK Government\u2019s proposals for continued cooperation with the EU on culture and education as well as options for continued participation in successor schemes to EU funding programmes, such as Creative Europe, which I understand has played a role in supporting a number of Welsh language projects. We welcomed the Welsh Ministers\u2019 contributions to this discussion.<\/p> While the Welsh language is a devolved matter, we fully recognise its importance as part of the United Kingdom\u2019s rich culture and will continue working with the Welsh Government, the Secretary of State for Wales and Welsh stakeholders to ensure their concerns on this matter are taken into account as we leave the EU.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "189593"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:18:11.853Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Welsh Language"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what representations he has received from (a) the Secretary of State for Wales, (b) the Welsh Government and (c) the Welsh Language Commissioner on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on (i) Welsh speakers and (ii) Welsh-speaking communities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1397", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hywel Williams"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arfon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hywel Williams"}
], "uin" : "189595"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003697", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003697/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK are ongoing. To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence. We have agreed an implementation period that will last for 21 months beginning on exit day until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, UK boats will have the same access to EU waters as they do now.<\/p> The UK Government sees no reason why pleasure vessels used for recreational purposes should see any change as a result of the UK\u2019s exit from the EU. For the most part, it is the rules and regulations of coastal states that apply rather than EU legislation, and maritime transport is liberalised at the international level.<\/p> We understand that other matters will be relevant to the owners of boats such as the right to the land, dock and refuel and these will be covered by our negotiations on the future relationship.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T16:52:58.093Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Boats"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the areas in EU waters in which UK boats will be able to sail after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Royston Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Southampton, Itchen"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Royston Smith"}
], "uin" : "189748"}
], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 4, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]}
}
<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:48:32.473Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which groups his Department has consulted to help ensure that the interests of disabled people are safeguarded in the process of the UK leaving the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4412", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Lisa Cameron"}
], "uin" : "190486"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003635", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003635/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "