Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of parcel delivery services in implementing new rules in line with the requirements of the Northern Ireland Protocol and new rules brought into operation after the end of the transition period.

Earlier this month, the Government took several temporary operational steps to avoid disruptive cliff edges which could have affected the delivery of parcel services. These included extending the temporary arrangements that the Government set out on parcels before the end of the transition period, giving further time to parcel operators to prepare for new requirements and minimise the impact on day-to-day lives in Northern Ireland.

We remain committed to meeting our obligations in the Northern Ireland Protocol and doing so in a pragmatic and proportionate way, taking full account of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

The Government is continuing to support parcel operators and businesses across sectors to adapt to the new trading arrangements with the EU. It is also working closely with industry and counterparts in the EU to help goods move smoothly and resolve issues quickly.