Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 23 October 2017, on the European Council, Official Report, column 35, what assessment he has made of which technological devices for monitoring the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would be excluded in the event that there is no physical infrastructure at that border after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The UK wants a customs arrangement with the EU that facilitates the freest and most frictionless trade in goods possible, and which, crucially, avoids a hard border and any physical border infrastructure on the island of Ireland. The Government has been clear that avoiding any physical infrastructure is an essential aim and welcomes the European Commission’s agreement on this.