Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support the Government is providing to Northern Ireland businesses to help them manage increased (a) fuel prices and (b) costs arising from the UK leaving the EU.

Families and businesses in Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, will benefit from the 12-month cut in fuel duty announced at Spring Statement. The main rates of petrol and diesel will be cut by 5 pence per litre. This is only the second time in 20 years that the main rates of petrol and diesel have been cut, and overall it represents the largest cash-terms cut that has ever been applied to all fuel duty rates at once.

In respect of the UK having left the EU, the UK continues to seize new opportunities as we strike trade deals with the world’s fastest growing markets. This includes the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which will help ensure businesses continue to get the support they need to trade effectively with the EU.

The Government’s current priority is to deal with the issues in the Northern Ireland Protocol and we are committed to continuing intensive talks with the EU to resolve these.

The Government also continues to support businesses in Northern Ireland. This includes £350 million spent on the Trader Support Service (TSS), which is a free service that has been set up to support businesses to adapt to changes required under the Protocol by providing education and facilitating the completion of customs and safety and security declarations.

Additionally, in December 2020, the government announced the £400 million New Deal for Northern Ireland. This financial package is aimed at supporting businesses to operate after the Transition Period, whilst also ensuring that Northern Ireland is ready to seize the trade and investment opportunities ahead.