The Government has set out a unilateral offer to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK in all scenarios, and has been urging all Member States to do the same for UK nationals living in their countries.<\/p>
Despite the welcome progress made by some Member States to protect the rights of UK nationals in their countries, there are other areas where the offer to UK nationals falls short, particularly in relation to healthcare. This is why the Government supported the objective of the Costa amendment on the 27 February, as a ring-fenced agreement would achieve our aim of providing certainty to citizens whatever the outcome of negotiations. The Government is now writing to the EU institutions seeking clarity on their position in regards to ring-fencing the citizens\u2019 rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>
If a joint UK-EU commitment to ring-fence citizens cannot be achieved, protecting the rights of UK nationals in the EU would, in a no deal, ultimately be a matter for the EU and individual Member States. We are urging them to take all necessary measures to do so. The Foreign Secretary has written to all of his counterparts, and the Government is holding further urgent discussions with Member States to seek assurances on the rights of UK nationals in the EU.<\/p>
<\/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" : "2019-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-06T10:52:45.5Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit"} , "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 he has made of the potential merits of negotiating a series of bilateral agreements on citizens' rights and other potential areas of common understanding with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"} ], "uin" : "226611"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1078740", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1078740/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Implementation Period - as set out in Part Four of the Withdrawal Agreement - is intended to give businesses and citizens certainty. Without a Withdrawal Agreement, there can be no Implementation Period. That is why we are working with the EU so Parliament can support a deal and the UK can leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March 2019.<\/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" : "2019-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-04T16:20:59.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Brexit"} , "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 plans he has to negotiate a separate transition period with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"} ], "uin" : "226617"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1078747", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1078747/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We continue to have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across Government on all aspects of exiting the EU, including on fisheries policy.<\/p>
The Government has been absolutely clear that as we leave the EU, we will be become an independent coastal state. For the first time in more than 40 years, we will introduce our own independent fisheries policy and decide who can fish in our waters, and on what terms.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4134", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Spelthorne"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kwasi Kwarteng"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-04T16:22:32.347Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fisheries"} , "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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on negotiations on fishing policy after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"} ], "uin" : "226623"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055374", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1055374/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify free trade agreements with rest of world partners and, if the backstop were to come into force following the Implementation Period, implement any elements that do not affect the functioning of the backstop. The backstop is not something that either the UK or the EU would ever want to come into force and, if it were to come into effect, both sides have been clear it should only be in place for a short time. The UK and EU are also legally obliged under the Protocol to use their best endeavours to facilitate trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, recognising the importance of that trade.<\/p>