Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37521 on Import Controls: Northern Ireland, whether EU officials have assessed the completed border control posts.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

EU officials have assessed the SPS facilities at Foyle and Warrenpoint, we await their formal report.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures HMRC (a) has and (b) plans to put in place for validating goods from Great Britain presented on the red lane at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Warrenpoint and (iv) Foyle for release into the EU Single Market; how many (A) HMRC members of staff and (B) other government employees will be employed at the four ports to discharge these procedures from August 2025; what port infrastructure (1) has been (2) is being built at (a) Belfast, (b) Larne, (c) Warrenpoint and (d) Foyle to facilitate the discharging of these procedures; what the cost to the public purse has been of the construction of that infrastructure; and whether that infrastructure is (A) completed, (B) operational and (C) under construction.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Goods moving from Great Britain to the EU via Northern Ireland will complete a full customs declaration and pay the applicable rate of duty, subject to any waivers or reliefs, as an international goods movement. These customs declarations are validated electronically by HMRC’s Customs Declaration Service (CDS).

There are no HMRC employed staff at ports in Northern Ireland, and HMRC does not have, and is not building, any port infrastructure at ports in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 24053 on Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, what steps he has taken to ensure the (a) support arrangements for that review were independent and (b) independence of the review process in general.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Terms of Reference of the Review clearly state that the Secretariat arrangements provided to it should operate with full regard to the independence of the Review. It has remained a matter for the Reviewer to fulfil those Terms of Reference and reach their conclusions and recommendations independently of Government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money HMRC has taken in (a) duties and (b) tariffs for the EU on goods moving from Great Britain to the EU at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Warrenpoint and (iv) Foyle in 2025; and what is the value of any (A) duties and (B) tariffs outstanding.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC is responsible for collecting customs duties on behalf of the UK Government, not the European Union.

Under the Windsor Framework, where goods are moving from Great Britain to the EU via Northern Ireland, HMRC will charge the EU rate of duty. This duty is paid to HMRC and not remitted to the EU.

HMRC publishes data on customs duties collected on an annual and monthly basis. However, this is provided on a national level and is not broken down into movements via specific ports. The information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk.

HMRC does not disclose the value of outstanding customs duties as this data may be commercially sensitive. HMRC has well established processes to collect duties that are due, such as duty deferment accounts.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to prevent people smuggling at the border from Ireland into Northern Ireland.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. This is to detect those who intend to abuse CTA arrangements. Operational activity must be targeted and supported by specific intelligence of CTA abuse.

There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between all members of the CTA (UK, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies) to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.

Everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK’s immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) pregnancies and (b) abortions involving girls under the age of 16 have been reported by (i) NHS and (ii) independent abortion providers to (A) the police and (B) local authority safeguarding teams in each of the past five years; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all such cases involving potential (1) rape and (2) sexual exploitation are being (a) referred, (b) investigated, and (c) prosecuted.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information on the number of pregnancies and abortions involving girls under the age of 16 years old that have been reported by National Health Service and independent abortion providers is held by the police and local authority safeguarding teams.

We recognise the devastating impact sexual violence can have. The Government is committed to tackling rape and sexual offences and achieving the best possible outcome for victims. We expect every sexual offence to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

The Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Progress, published in April 2025, set out clearly the actions the Government is taking to respond to the final recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report. This includes the introduction of mandatory reporting, requiring individuals working with children, including health professionals, to report child sexual abuse when they are made aware of it.

National mandatory safeguarding training for all NHS staff is being strengthened for launch in early 2026. This will reinforce to staff their safeguarding responsibilities and support them in identifying and responding to victims of abuse.

Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard children accessing their services. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and coercion and to know how to respond. In addition, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has published national safeguarding guidance for children under 18 years old accessing early medical abortion services, which aims to ensure that robust safeguarding processes are embedded in all services. We expect all providers to have due regard to this guidance.

Decisions to investigate and bring prosecutions in England and Wales are for the police and Crown Prosecution Service respectively.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential combined impact of the (a) Windsor Framework (i) red and (ii) green lane border crossing requirements and (b) the implementation of the EU Import Control System 2 from 1 September 2025 on costs to businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road or rail into Northern Ireland.

Businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can access the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS), who will continue to support businesses to meet the arrangements under the Windsor Framework and safety and security declarations, including ICS2. This means that businesses using the TSS to bring goods into Northern Ireland will not need to register for ICS2.

As per the new arrangements for consumer parcels moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that came into effect on 1 May 2025, safety and security declarations continue to not be required.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative estimate of the potential impact of the EU Import Control System 2 on costs to businesses of the trade movements of goods (a) between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and (b) within other international internal markets.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road or rail into Northern Ireland.

Businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can access the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS), who will continue to support businesses to meet the arrangements under the Windsor Framework and safety and security declarations, including ICS2. This means that businesses using the TSS to bring goods into Northern Ireland will not need to register for ICS2.

As per the new arrangements for consumer parcels moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that came into effect on 1 May 2025, safety and security declarations continue to not be required.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64617 on the Independent Review on the Windsor Framework, whether he received the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by 9 July 2025; and when he plans to publish it.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review to the Government on 9 July 2025. The Government will publish it in full accordance with its existing obligations to do so.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64618 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland, whether he has received the first report of the Independent Monitoring Panel; and when he plans to publish it.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has not yet received the initial report of the Independent Monitoring Panel, whose first monitoring period ended on 30 June. We expect to receive the Panel’s report in due course and will publish it in accordance with the existing commitment to do so.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 65431, what proportion of overall costs the contracts for the construction of the border control posts allocate to payment on completion of the project.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As stated in the answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 65431, the Government has committed to a maximum funding allocation of £192.3 million for all the facilities at the 4 ports. Of this allocation, Defra has spent £111.3 million up to the 30 June 2025. Contractors invoice on a monthly basis for works completed within the period. Forecasts indicate that spend will be within budget.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 June 2025 from the hon. Member for North Antrim on a meeting arising from communal disorder in his constituency.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

I thank the Hon Member for his question. My officials have been in touch with his office on this matter.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the application of Import Control System 2 on goods movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland on the UK single market for goods.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security IT system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road or rail into Northern Ireland. ICS2 will introduce some new processes, improving existing safety and security arrangements for goods movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

HMRC has an extensive communications and engagement plan to support business readiness ready for the changes and businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can access the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS), who are supporting businesses via webinars and direct communications. TSS currently supports businesses to meet safety and security arrangements and will support with any changes under ICS2. Businesses using the TSS will not need to register for ICS2.

As per the new arrangements for consumer parcels moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that came into effect on 1 May 2025, safety and security declarations continue to not be required.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 15 July 2025 on Zero Emissions Vehicles, HCWS82, what support is being provided to public transport providers to purchase zero emission buses.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is reducing the number of different funding streams we pay to Local Transport Authorities. Major city regions will benefit from the recently announced £15.6bn Transport for Cities fund while our smaller cities, towns and rural areas will receive £2.3bn from the Local Transport Grant and over £800m bus capital funding. Local leaders can use this funding to invest in local prioritises, such as investment in new zero emission buses (ZEBs).

To support the domestic ZEB industry, the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was established in March 2025. A key objective of the Panel is to help create a steady pipeline of manufacturing orders. This pipeline involves gathering the necessary data on bus orders over the next ten years into one place so that it is accessible to all ZEB stakeholders. This will offer greater planning certainty to local transport authorities as they develop future decarbonisation strategies. Equally, UK-based manufacturers are well placed to benefit from this stability.

EU Import Control System 2

Road Traffic (No. 2)

The Open in Portrush

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Road Traffic

12 July celebrations and commending the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

Royal Black Preceptory 1000, Royal Black Institution and the Royal 13th at Scarva

Impact of net zero targets on UK agriculture and rural communities

Twelfth July Celebrations 2025

Irish Republic and Israel

Found: Submission from Mr Jim Allister KC MP (Traditional Unionist Voice) on the Road Vehicles (Type-Approval