Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the European Commission’s proposals on EU customs reform of 17 May 2023 on Northern Ireland, in the context of the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has been engaging with the European Commission including through the UK/EU annual Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin.
The EU has expressed the need for consultation with the UK to take into account potential implications for Northern Ireland.
The Government published an Explanatory Memorandum in August 2023 setting out relevant considerations in relation to the EU’s proposed reforms. As the reforms develop, we will continue to monitor the progress and to assess any potential impacts on UK businesses.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with her relevant EU counterparts on the potential impact of the European Commission’s customs reform proposal of 17 May 2023 on exporters.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has been engaging with the European Commission including through the UK/EU annual Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin.
The EU has expressed the need for consultation with the UK to take into account potential implications for Northern Ireland.
The Government published an Explanatory Memorandum in August 2023 setting out relevant considerations in relation to the EU’s proposed reforms. As the reforms develop, we will continue to monitor the progress and to assess any potential impacts on UK businesses.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the European Commission’s customs reform proposals of 17 May 2023 on exporters to the EU.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has been engaging with the European Commission including through the UK/EU annual Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin.
The EU has expressed the need for consultation with the UK to take into account potential implications for Northern Ireland.
The Government published an Explanatory Memorandum in August 2023 setting out relevant considerations in relation to the EU’s proposed reforms. As the reforms develop, we will continue to monitor the progress and to assess any potential impacts on UK businesses.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Commissioners have been appointed for the Law Commission Review of the Friendly Societies Act 1992; and what the planned timetable is for that review .
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is working with the Law Commission and will release further information on the Review of the Friendly Societies Act 1992 and its timeline once the project timetable is confirmed.Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement entitled Law Commission reviews of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and Friendly Societies Act 1992, published on 19 June 2023, whether Commissioners have been appointed to conduct the reviews; what estimate he has made of when the review will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement, the Government has invited the Law Commission to conduct reviews of the Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and Friendly Societies Act 1992. The Treasury is now working with the Law Commission to formally agree a terms of reference and a timetable for each review once the projects are formally agreed.
The Law Commission’s statement on the reviews can be found here: https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/law-commission-invited-to-review-legislation-on-cooperatives-and-friendly-societies/
The Government expects that the reviews will start in the autumn.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the effective delivery of the Single Trade Window; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The 2025 Border Strategy, published in December 2020, committed to deliver a world-leading Single Trade Window (STW). This will provide a gateway between businesses and UK border processes and systems, allowing users to meet their import, export and transit obligations by submitting information once, and in one place.
The goal is to create a seamless new “digital” border, where technologies and real-time data will save time and cost and improve customer experience at the border. This will help UK businesses of all sizes take advantage of new trading relationships and enhance the UK’s position as a global trading partner
There are frequent discussions among colleagues across Government, at both official and ministerial levels, as well as engagement with businesses, to ensure the effective delivery of the Single Trade Window.
Ministers will update the House in due course as the work develops.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the de minimis customs threshold to £1000; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The customs duty de minimis threshold allows for ease of trade when importing low value consignments, benefiting businesses and consumers. This threshold remains under continuous review as part of ongoing work to develop and enhance our independent customs regime.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) aviation partners and (b) stakeholders on the potential merits of a trial to assess the merits of reforming canalisation; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.
The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.
To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reforming canalisation for (a) reducing cargo emissions and (b) increasing exports; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.
The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.
To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of canalisation procedures for speeding up airside freight transhipment times; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
As the customs authority, HMRC works alongside Border Force to ensure that border processes are as smooth as possible, whilst targeting cross-border threats.
The 2025 UK Border strategy sets out the Government’s vision for the UK border to be the most effective border in the world. At its core, that strategy is about making it as straightforward as possible for businesses to comply with customs requirements whilst keeping the UK safe and protecting our fiscal interests.
To achieve this strategy, the Government is working in partnership with industry to drive forward a programme of modernisation and innovation to improve the end-to-end passage for goods imported and exported through all the UK’s airports and sea ports, including canalisation.