Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Northern Ireland Protocol Negotiations

Wednesday 8 December 2021 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government presented a Command Paper outlining how to resolve issues within the Northern Ireland protocol.
  • The EU's proposals do not remove the need for unnecessary checks on goods and lack support from businesses or society.
  • The UK Government has been clear and transparent about its intentions regarding the Northern Ireland protocol.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Northern Ireland
Context

The Northern Ireland protocol is causing issues with unnecessary checks on goods, affecting businesses and society.

Question

What assessment has been made of the progress of the negotiations with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The status quo cannot continue. The UK Government presented a Command Paper outlining how to resolve the serious issues within the Northern Ireland protocol. However, the EU's proposals do not remove the need for unnecessary checks on goods and lack support from businesses or society.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or concrete action plan

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Martyn Day SNP
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

Members have stated that the Prime Minister promised to renege on the Northern Ireland protocol in the future.

Question

How can any future trade or negotiating partner trust the UK when it is clearly acting in bad faith with the Northern Ireland protocol?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The UK Government has been clear and transparent about our intentions all along, from launching the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill to taking action in March. The current situation is not working for the UK internal market or anyone in Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address trust issues directly

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The Northern Ireland protocol was negotiated by the Government, but they now claim it does not work.

Question

Is the Secretary of State embarrassed to stand here as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in a Government who have effectively thrown Northern Ireland under the bus in the name of Brexit?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The objectives include ensuring everyday lives and communities are not disrupted, respecting the UK internal market and all three strands of the Good Friday agreement. The EU's implementation breaches these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address embarrassment or harm to Northern Ireland

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs
Context

The issue is affecting international relationships, steel matters, and fragile ecology in Northern Ireland.

Question

May I urge the Secretary of State to speed up negotiations on the Irish sea checks and regulations?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My right hon. Friend is correct that we need to resolve this quickly, but EU needs to recognise issues on the ground in Northern Ireland and move towards resolution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a timeline for resolution

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

Despite Lord Frost's talks, no agreement has been reached on the transporting of medicines to Northern Ireland.

Question

Will the Secretary of State give a concrete guarantee that an agreement on medicines will be reached before Christmas?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

That issue is at the heart of Lord Frost's discussions with the EU. The hon. Lady highlights a clear problem, and we need the EU to come to the table with proposals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete guarantee before Christmas

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Mark Francois Con Rayleigh and Wickford
Northern Ireland
Context

The Secretary of State has been talking about invoking Article 16 but has not done so.

Question

Where is your Bill, Brandon?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My right hon. Friend is correct that we have not yet triggered article 16; conditions have been met but it's the start of a process.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to triggering Article 16 immediately

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Northern Ireland
Context

Recent ONS data indicates Northern Ireland is faring well due to the protection of the protocol, but there are issues with local councils.

Question

Will he acknowledge that there has been a year-long campaign of reality distortion to mask the fact that the protocol is required by people in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

We want the protocol to work, but at present it does not. Engagement with business groups highlighted the status quo does not work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not acknowledge support for the protocol or distortion campaign

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Bernard Jenkin Con Harwich and North Essex
Northern Ireland
Context

The Government's legal representatives are currently stating in court that parts of the Northern Ireland protocol represent a temporary suspension of elements of the Act of Union. There is concern about the duration and implications of this suspension.

Question

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Government's legal representatives are now telling the courts that the Northern Ireland protocol represents a temporary suspension of parts of the Act of Union. When will this temporary suspension come to an end?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My hon. Friend will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on an open court case, but we are determined to ensure we resolve the issues for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland and for the UK internal market.

Not addressed: When the temporary suspension will end

How: Inappropriate To Comment On An Open Court Case

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email