Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Border Target Operating Model 2024-02-29

2024-02-29

View full transcript on Parliament.uk -->
TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Daniel Zeichner Lab
Cambridge
▸ Context
Businesses are concerned about potential delays and additional costs due to new import controls. The Food and Drink Federation estimates an extra £250 million a year in costs.
I challenge him: is he really saying there will be no extra costs for our hard-pressed constituents as a result of all this extra bureaucracy?
Steven Baker
We are not saying that, but I would say to the hon. Member that appropriate import controls are fundamental to ensure that we can protect the UK's food supply chain from biosecurity risks. Inflationary impacts on food for consumers will be at most less than 0.2 percentage points over a three-year period.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the question of whether there would be additional costs to constituents directly.
Refused To Acknowledge Specific Cost Impacts
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Nia Griffith Lab
Llanelli
▸ Context
The Government's own projections indicate a £330 million yearly cost for UK businesses due to the border scheme, with additional checks starting in April. Previous port scenes were chaotic.
What assessment has the Minister made of the full inflationary impact of these measures on UK food bills and what preparations are in place to prevent chaotic scenes at ports?
Steven Baker
I hope to protect the people of Wycombe and the whole United Kingdom from unsafe pork and chicken. An outbreak of African swine fever would be a fundamental threat to our pig industry. The cost of foot and mouth in 2001 was £12.8 billion, at 2022 prices.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the inflationary impact or port preparations directly.
Changed Subject To Disease Outbreaks And Cost Estimates
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Kirsty Blackman SNP
Aberdeen North
▸ Context
There is concern over additional costs and red tape for small businesses as a result of new import controls.
Have the Government made any assessment of the additional cost to SMEs, and how many businesses will go under as a result?
Steven Baker
We are not expecting businesses to go under. We need to protect our borders from public health risks, but we will work carefully with stakeholders.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the specific assessment of costs to SMEs or business closures directly.
Refused To Acknowledge Specific Cost Impacts
Response accuracy