Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 6 January that Northern Ireland has “a competitive advantage” because it is in the EU Single Market for goods, whether they have made any assessment of the possible competitive disadvantages to (1) England, (2) Wales, and (3) Scotland, of not being within the EU Single Market; and if so, what was the result of any such assessment.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
On 24 December 2020, the Government secured an agreement with the EU that takes back control of our laws, borders, money, and fisheries.
This is the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quota. Businesses will be able to continue to trade on that basis, selling to their customers in the EU, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free, protecting consumer prices.
This is good news for families and businesses in every part of the UK, as it means the whole of the UK can make the most of the freedoms that have come with the end of the transition period.
In addition, the UK is now free to strike its own trade deals worldwide to the general benefit of all.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many haulage lorries have been delayed at UK borders as a result of inadequate paperwork each week since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Goods are moving effectively between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and there are no significant queues at Northern Ireland ports.
Border Force has put in place additional resource in Northern Ireland to manage any operational requirements following the end of the Transition Period, including under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the requirements of the Protocol.
Goods also continue to move effectively between Great Britain and the European Union. Compliance with new border requirements continues to improve. The numbers of HGV freight turned back at the Short Straits, either for lack of border readiness or inability to present a negative COVID test has been low and decreasing over time, with an average of less than 5% over the period from 20-26 January. The Government is working with industry to ensure traders understand the new border requirements.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on the sovereignty of the UK.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 was approved by Parliament on 23 January 2020. It implemented the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union. It sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU including the Northern Ireland Protocol. As the Protocol itself makes clear, the UK as a whole, including Northern Ireland, has left the EU customs territory. The future of the Protocol is in the hands of the people of Northern Ireland, with Northern Ireland’s elected institutions to determine whether to extend or end its alignment provisions four years after the end of the transition period.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define (1) a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and (2) a hard border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
As set out on gov.uk, and in the Government's December Command Paper, our unfettered access policy will mean that Northern Ireland businesses can continue to move their goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, and place them on the whole UK market, without new barriers being put in place. That is given full effect through our phased approach. In the first phase, which has been operating since 1 January, goods moving directly from Northern Ireland directly to Great Britain will benefit from unfettered access. There will be no new checks or controls on those movements. And even where goods move indirectly via Ireland, there will be no tariffs on those movements. This will be followed up with a second phase over the course of 2021 which will focus the benefits of unfettered access specifically on genuine Northern Ireland businesses. Alongside that, the UK Internal Market Act 2020 ensures that those businesses will continue to place those goods on the GB market.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, how they define "unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom's internal market."
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
As set out on gov.uk, and in the Government's December Command Paper, our unfettered access policy will mean that Northern Ireland businesses can continue to move their goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, and place them on the whole UK market, without new barriers being put in place. That is given full effect through our phased approach. In the first phase, which has been operating since 1 January, goods moving directly from Northern Ireland directly to Great Britain will benefit from unfettered access. There will be no new checks or controls on those movements. And even where goods move indirectly via Ireland, there will be no tariffs on those movements. This will be followed up with a second phase over the course of 2021 which will focus the benefits of unfettered access specifically on genuine Northern Ireland businesses. Alongside that, the UK Internal Market Act 2020 ensures that those businesses will continue to place those goods on the GB market.
Asked by: Steven Bonnar (Scottish National Party - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent discussions he has had with devolved Administrations on the December 2020 Northern Ireland Protocol agreement with the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
I was pleased that we could agree a fantastic deal on the Protocol in December. It delivers on the commitments we made to the people of Northern Ireland, maintaining unfettered access, protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK Customs Territory, and ensuring that Great Britain to Northern Ireland trade flows as smoothly as possible.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is in constant contact with the Executive on matters relating to the Protocol, as was the case throughout the Transition Period. This includes regular engagements with the First and deputy First Ministers, as well as cross-Government forums like the EU Exit Operations Committee and JMC(EN).
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent assessment the Government has made of the effect of implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol on Northern Ireland's economy.
Answered by Robin Walker
Whilst the Northern Ireland economy is facing significant challenges, particularly due to Covid-19, I am confident that Northern Ireland has a promising economic future.
Through the Northern Ireland Protocol, local businesses have unfettered access to the rest of the UK Market whilst also retaining access to the EU Single Market for goods.
The unique opportunities afforded by the Protocol allow Northern Ireland to be promoted as a great place to live and work, strengthening and growing its economy as a competitive and world class base for global businesses.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the arrangements contained in the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland constitute a regulatory border in the Irish Sea.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Every part of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, is an integral part of the Kingdom. As a result of the devolution settlements, there are legal and regulatory differences between the constituent nations. The Northern Ireland Protocol and the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill ensure unfettered access for goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the Kingdom. The Protocol does make specific provisions in relation to the movement of goods, but it does not constitute a "border". The UK government has made extensive investment and arrangements to facilitate free movement of goods to Northern Ireland, and, working with the devolved administration, will keep under review all necessary actions to ensure that is delivered.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) exit and (b) safety and security declarations will be required on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland on 1 January 2020.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the Government’s Command Paper, ‘The Northern Ireland Protocol’, laid in Parliament on 10 December. This provides details of the agreement in principle reached by the Co-Chairs of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee regarding the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as well as further information on the UK Government’s work to implement the Protocol and support businesses as it comes into force.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources they have made available for the establishment of border control posts in Northern Ireland; where any such posts will be established; and what is their current status of readiness.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is committed to upholding its obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol. That includes, as we have set out previously including in our Command Paper, expanding some existing Northern Ireland points of entry for agrifood goods. The construction of expanded point of entry facilities is being led by the Northern Ireland Executive, with UK Government support.
We are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, port authorities, district councils, and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland to take this work forward, and to take all measures possible in a timely way. We are also continuing discussions with the EU in the Joint Committee at pace, informed by close working with the Executive to secure a pragmatic approach to agrifood checks.