Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the preparedness of the UK's new Border Control Posts and related infrastructure for the new customs procedures coming into force on 1 July 2021.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK announced that it would introduce new border controls on imports coming into Great Britain from the EU in three stages up until 1 July 2021, as set out by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancester by Written Ministerial Statement on 15 June 2020. Government is supporting the infrastructure needed for these changes through £470m of investment, including £200 million for the Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) and a further £270m allocated to the provision of inland facilities. We are keeping progress on infrastructure and wider preparedness continually under review.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long it has taken on average for haulage lorries to cross the (a) GB-NI and (b) NI-GB route in each week since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Goods are moving effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and there are no significant queues at Northern Ireland ports.
Border Force has put in place additional resource in Northern Ireland to manage any operational requirements following the end of the Transition Period, including under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the requirements of the Protocol.
Goods also continue to move effectively between Great Britain and the European Union. Compliance with new border requirements continues to improve. The numbers of HGV freight turned back at the Short Straits, either for lack of border readiness or inability to present a negative COVID test has been low and decreasing over time, with an average of less than 5% over the period from 20-26 January. The Government is working with industry to ensure traders understand the new border requirements.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many empty haulage lorries have made the (a) GB-NI and (b) GB-EU crossings each week since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Goods are moving effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and there are no significant queues at Northern Ireland ports.
Border Force has put in place additional resource in Northern Ireland to manage any operational requirements following the end of the Transition Period, including under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the requirements of the Protocol.
Goods also continue to move effectively between Great Britain and the European Union. Compliance with new border requirements continues to improve. The numbers of HGV freight turned back at the Short Straits, either for lack of border readiness or inability to present a negative COVID test has been low and decreasing over time, with an average of less than 5% over the period from 20-26 January. The Government is working with industry to ensure traders understand the new border requirements.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many haulage lorries have successfully made the (a) GB-NI and (b) GB-EU crossings each week since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Goods are moving effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and there are no significant queues at Northern Ireland ports.
Border Force has put in place additional resource in Northern Ireland to manage any operational requirements following the end of the Transition Period, including under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the requirements of the Protocol.
Goods also continue to move effectively between Great Britain and the European Union. Compliance with new border requirements continues to improve. The numbers of HGV freight turned back at the Short Straits, either for lack of border readiness or inability to present a negative COVID test has been low and decreasing over time, with an average of less than 5% over the period from 20-26 January. The Government is working with industry to ensure traders understand the new border requirements.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many haulage lorries have been delayed at UK borders as a result of inadequate paperwork each week since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Goods are moving effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and there are no significant queues at Northern Ireland ports.
Border Force has put in place additional resource in Northern Ireland to manage any operational requirements following the end of the Transition Period, including under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the requirements of the Protocol.
Goods also continue to move effectively between Great Britain and the European Union. Compliance with new border requirements continues to improve. The numbers of HGV freight turned back at the Short Straits, either for lack of border readiness or inability to present a negative COVID test has been low and decreasing over time, with an average of less than 5% over the period from 20-26 January. The Government is working with industry to ensure traders understand the new border requirements.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions the (a) Exit Strategy and (b) Exit Operations Cabinet Committees have met since 1 January 2020.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ105615 on 22 October.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, on which dates the (a) Exit Strategy and (b) Exit Operations Cabinet Committees have met since 1 January 2020.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ105615 on 22 October.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many orders through contracts awarded by his Department are currently unfulfilled.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Departmental contracts are not managed centrally. Therefore, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is Cabinet Office policy that all contract managers have appropriate skills to ensure contracts are managed correctly. Any potential unfulfilled orders would be dealt with in accordance with the contract’s terms and conditions.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants have been seconded to his Department with security clearance since 1 March 2020.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of security clearance are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants have been seconded to the Treasury with security clearance since 1 March 2020.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of security clearance are not normally disclosed.