Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions HMRC have held with business representatives on when the trialling of the new Goods Vehicle Movement Service for trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will begin.

It is important that businesses understand how the protocol will be implemented so that they can make the necessary preparations for the end of the Transition Period. For that reason, the Government published a command paper on 20 May setting out the UK’s approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Ministers and officials are meeting Northern Ireland businesses regularly to provide clarity on approach and to allow for detailed discussion of proposals. HMRC are also engaging with industry partners who need to put systems in place for customs processes and will be extending that engagement in the coming weeks to businesses across the UK affected by the Northern Ireland Protocol to support them in getting ready.

To support the freight and logistics industry HMRC will be building a new optional IT system to facilitate the movement of goods. HMRC will continue to develop their systems in readiness for the end of the Transition Period and they are engaging with industry as plans develop.