Trade in the UK 2022-11-09
2022-11-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The issue pertains to the difficulties faced by businesses due to the protocol, involving significant customs declaration costs.
What steps his Department is taking to help Northern Irish businesses trade with the rest of the UK. The Government's approach has spent £340 million on the trader support service for 2.3 million customs declarations through the end of the year under the protocol, illustrating the problems with it.
The Government are committed to ensuring that businesses can trade freely throughout the United Kingdom. Our approach includes spending £340 million on the trader support service for 2.3 million customs declarations through the end of the year under the protocol, illustrating the problems with it. We are in constructive dialogue to deliver change and keep the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill before Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps taken to assist businesses directly are not detailed, focusing instead on spending and dialogue.
Under Review
Constructive Dialogue
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question highlights the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in business operations.
Northern Ireland boasts some of the UK's most innovative businesses. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that Northern Irish businesses are placing environmental, social and governance considerations at the heart of their operations? Does he agree that cementing Northern Ireland's place as a global leader in ESG will stimulate regional jobs and growth and will turbocharge investment in the Province and across the UK?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that Northern Ireland boasts some of the UK's most innovative businesses and is a fantastically attractive place to invest. An increasing number of organisations in Northern Ireland report on environmental, social and governance standards. I regularly visit businesses in Northern Ireland, as does the Secretary of State.
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Assessment & feedback
Steps taken specifically for ESG are not detailed; focuses on general attractiveness and regular visits.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the need for dual market access, both within the UK and in Europe.
What businesses in Northern Ireland want, alongside political stability, is dual market access. As well as working to ensure that businesses have access to the rest of the UK market, will the Minister ensure that access to the European market will be preserved and that the Government will do nothing to compromise it?
We are committed to maintaining dual market access. We hope to negotiate a position with the European Union in which that is possible, while preserving the east-west strand of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. We want to restore the constitutional status of Northern Ireland while ensuring that market access.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitments or actions for dual market access are not provided; focuses on negotiation and constitutional aspects.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question raises concerns about the political damage caused by the Government's failure to begin negotiations earlier and seeks a commitment for a negotiated settlement.
May I take the opportunity to associate myself and my party with the Secretary of State's remarks about the 35th anniversary of the bombing in Enniskillen? Our thoughts are with all those who continue, to this day, to be affected by that event. Maroš Šefčovič has said that if there is political will, issues around the Northern Ireland protocol could be resolved within a couple of weeks. Does the Secretary of State understand the political damage that has been caused by the Government's failure to begin negotiations on the issue earlier in the year? Will he commit to doing all he can to achieve a negotiated settlement before the year is out?
I shall have to answer procedurally, but of course we understand the political implications of where we are. The most significant is the collapse of the institutions because of the legitimate concerns of Unionism and of the DUP in particular. We recognise the legitimate interests of all parties, including the European Union and Ireland. Of course if we completely conceded our interests we would achieve a deal within weeks, but this country and Government are humble in accepting EU interests and resolute in defending own.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to achieving a negotiated settlement by the year's end is not given; focused on procedural aspects and implications of concessions.
Procedural
Response accuracy