Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether construction has begun on the expanded infrastructure required at each Border Control post in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The UK Government has been working closely with the Northern Ireland (NI) Executive, and specifically DAERA, on additional or expanded Border Control Post designations at NI points of entry. Work is ongoing at the Points of Entry at Larne, Belfast and Warrenpoint Ports to deliver the facilities needed to undertake sanitary and phytosanitary checks on goods coming into NI from Great Britain (GB) following the end of the transition period. This work has been principally informed by existing trade patterns.
The UK Government is in negotiations with the EU about GB-NI movements. Once these negotiations are complete and a clear process for GB-NI has been defined we will communicate this.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any EU officials will be involved in inspecting (1) agricultural produce, (2) foods, or (3) other goods, entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain after 31 December.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Further to Article 12(1) of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the authorities of the United Kingdom are responsible for implementing and applying the provisions of Union law made applicable by the Protocol. This includes the administering of checks on agri-food moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, from 1 January 2021.
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, with reference to the policy paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, CP226, whether the point of entry facilities required under the the terms of that protocol have been built.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to PQs 106397 and 106398 on 2 November 2020.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the compliance with the terms agreed under the (a) Belfast Agreement, (b) St. Andrew's Agreement and (c) subsequent bilateral agreements between the UK and Republic of Ireland of the Irish Government's steps to enforce border checkpoints between the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government is committed to working with the government of Ireland on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been regular discussions on how to achieve a joint approach, including between Ministers and officials from the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, and from the Irish Government.
There is a determination to work together to ensure that measures safeguard the health and wellbeing of UK and Irish citizens, and abide by obligations under the Belfast Agreement and the Common Travel Area.
The enforcement of Covid restrictions in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions his Department had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland prior to the imposition of border checks on the UK-Republic of Ireland border.
Answered by Robin Walker
Since the start of this pandemic, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met regularly with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to coordinate the coronavirus response.
The Secretary of State and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs recently chaired a conference call with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Health Ministers to discuss the ongoing response to Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.
There has been no discussion of the imposition of checks in the Republic of Ireland. The enforcement of Covid restrictions in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Border Operating Model on the movement of (a) urgent medical supplies and (b) other goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Border Operating Model, published 13 July, covers trade between Great Britain and the EU only. As for goods movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, guidance was published on 8 August. That guidance is being updated on an ongoing basis and in response to developments, including discussions in the UK-EU Joint Committee.
As for medical supplies, the Department of Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations and Crown Dependencies, is working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans to help ensure continued supply of medicines and medical products to the whole of the UK, at the end of the transition period. With respect to Northern Ireland, guidance will be set out in due course, taking into account discussions in the Joint Committee as appropriate.
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, with reference to the The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, CP226, whether point of entry facilities resulting from requirements under that protocol have been purchased.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The UK Government is committed to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol. Work is being progressed right across Government and in partnership with the devolved administrations, with ongoing oversight and scrutiny in the usual way. The tender process for the construction of expanded point of entry facilities is being led by DAERA, with UK Government support. The contract has been awarded. We continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to progress this work.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have with the Northern Ireland Executive about the preparedness of ports of entry in Northern Ireland for the end of transition period.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Northern Ireland Office and Defra Ministers and officials continue to engage regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive as we get on with delivering the Protocol and preparing for the end of the transition period.
The Northern Ireland Executive and its relevant departments are critical partners and our engagement is intended to enhance understanding of approach and ensure appropriate planning.
We continue to support the Northern Ireland Executive on implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in a way that minimises any frictions on the flow of agrifood trade and works for Northern Ireland businesses and citizens. This work includes providing support to deliver the sanitary and phytosanitary operational arrangements necessary post-transition, including all elements relating to the people, processes, IT and facilities at Northern Ireland Points of Entry.
We have already reached an in-principle agreement to fund the costs of implementing agrifood requirements in Northern Ireland, as part of our wider commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement to engage with the Executive on the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland and the Protocol as we examine funding options to support preparedness.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what personnel would be necessary to manage any agreed administrative border between Great Britain and the island of Ireland; and where these personnel would be located.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The UK’s approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol was set out in the Government’s Command Paper on The UK's Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, published on 20 May. As the document made clear, there will be no new physical customs infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
We have however, always been clear that some process will be required on agri-food goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, in order to respect the pre-existing status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change VAT arrangements in the UK after the transition period; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
From 1 January 2021, the UK will need to introduce new arrangements for VAT at its borders. New measures for movements of goods within and into Great Britain were published on 20 July, and the treatment of travellers with personal goods, which was recently subject to consultation, will be made available in due course. The Government continues to work through the implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including in relation to VAT, and is committed to providing guidance on how the Northern Ireland Protocol will work ahead of the end of the transition period.
There are no further changes planned to domestic UK VAT law following the end of the transition period and any future changes are for the Chancellor to announce at fiscal events.