Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to visit the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland before Christmas 2018; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State visited the border on 2 November recognising the importance of protecting the communities on both sides. The former Secretary of State visited Northern Ireland twice this year and I visited in October for meetings with civil society and human rights bodies as part of a wider programme of engagement carried out by Government ministers and officials.

We remain committed to agreeing a mutually advantageous deal with the EU. It is a key part of these negotiations that we deliver for the people of Northern Ireland and deliver on all our commitments in the joint report including with regard to North/South cooperation, the Belfast Agreement and the integrity of the Single Market