Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NI Protocol Bill: Discussions with the EU

Wednesday 22 June 2022 · 6 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has had recent discussions with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill but the EU has not been willing to make necessary changes.
  • Government published a Command Paper last year outlining solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol issues, which the EU has not properly engaged with.
  • The UK Government argues that they are not fully implementing the Northern Ireland protocol due to easements, standstill periods, and grace periods.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Martin Docherty SNP
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has been introduced by the UK Government. The MP is questioning recent discussions with the EU regarding this bill.

Question

What recent discussions the Government has had with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

Our preference remains to resolve the problems with the protocol through talks. Our door remains open to discussions, but the EU has so far not been willing to make meaningful changes to the protocol, which are necessary to deliver the solutions needed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on recent discussions and their outcomes were avoided

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Q2 Gavin Newlands SNP
Northern Ireland Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

The Government has introduced the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, leading to concerns about its impact on international relations and trust.

Question

How do the Government plan to be seen as a good faith partner in international negotiations ever again?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

Last year, we published a Command Paper that set out solutions, with which the EU has never properly engaged. We have continually been in engagements and negotiations with the EU. It is right that we table this legislation at this point as well to resolve the issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans on restoring trust were not provided

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Q3 Martin Docherty SNP
Northern Ireland
Context

Belfast Harbour reported significant increases in trade and profits, raising concerns about the impact of unilaterally changing the Northern Ireland protocol.

Question

Why would their Government jeopardise 25.6 million tonnes of cargo by unilaterally changing the Northern Ireland protocol?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The hon. Gentleman should read the full article, because then he would realise that, between the easements, the standstill and the grace periods, we are not actually fully implementing the protocol let alone the other business that Belfast harbour takes in that has nothing to do with the protocol.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on jeopardizing trade were avoided

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Q4 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

Many issues related to trade and movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland involve plant and animal-related concerns.

Question

What progress have the Government made in trying to secure an arrangement between the UK and the EU on veterinary and sanitary and phytosanitary matters?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My hon. Friend makes an important point. One frustration with this failure by the EU to see the flexibility that we need is that, by resolving some of these issues, we could have avoided the need for us to legislate and to take this period of time to resolve things.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific progress details were not provided

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Q5 Jacob Young
Northern Ireland
Context

The question is related to the impact of any arrangement with the EU on the balance of the Good Friday agreement.

Question

Can the Minister confirm that any arrangement we reach with the EU in relation to the protocol will take account of and address the issues that are disrupting the delicate balance of that agreement?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is important that we respect the balance in that agreement. It is important because it has given us peace for 24 years, and that is where our focus is.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments regarding maintaining balance were not made

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Q6 Richard Thomson
Northern Ireland Brexit Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The Government's decision to limit parliamentary time for scrutinizing the Northern Ireland Protocol has been questioned.

Question

Does the Secretary of State regret the decision taken by the Government to curtail the amount of parliamentary time available to Members to scrutinise that before Brexit was done?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

I think the hon. Gentleman is arguing to go back in time and take even longer to get Brexit done. I am not sure the British public or anybody would thank him for that, but of course the business of the House is generally agreed through the usual channels; that is always the case.

Not addressed: Specific regret was avoided and parliamentary processes were discussed instead

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