Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Union regarding the future of the Windsor Framework.

The Government is committed to building a closer and ambitious relationship with the EU, to the advantage of the whole of the UK. This includes through new agreements on agri-food, electricity and emissions trading, which will benefit Northern Ireland through the Windsor Framework by smoothing flows of trade, lowering prices and increasing choice for consumers.

The Government remains clear that Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements should serve to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, account for Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances, and in doing so protect its access to both the UK and EU markets. Only that way can we deliver the certainty for businesses that has made Northern Ireland one of the fastest growing parts of the UK.