Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when the Government plans to publish its proposals for a Northern Ireland backstop after the UK leaves the EU.

In June the Government set out its proposals for a Temporary Customs Arrangement. After Salzburg, the Prime Minister made clear that the Government would bring forward further proposals on the backstop, which it has done in the context of our negotiations with the EU. The EU has responded positively and discussions are ongoing.

We have always said that we are not going to provide a running commentary on talks. We have made progress but there remain a number of unresolved issues relating to the backstop. We are working hard to agree a backstop which upholds the commitments both sides made in December, which would of course be published.