Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Northern Ireland Protocol Negotiations

Wednesday 22 June 2022 · 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 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government has had more than two meetings a month with business groups and made over 30 visits to businesses to discuss concerns.
  • The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill aims to restore balance by avoiding a hard border, protecting the UK's integrity, and safeguarding the EU single market.
  • The Minister dismissed concerns about the Bill's legality, citing the need to support UK businesses and the economy in Northern Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Northern Ireland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group has expressed significant concerns about the introduction of an all-encompassing dual regulatory regime.

Question

I understand that dairy farmers have similar concerns. Having heard about those issues, can the Secretary of State tell us what consultation the Government did with businesses before introducing this regime?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

We are in continual engagement with business. We have had more than two meetings a month with the wider group, and the Minister of State and I have made more than 30 visits to businesses that are members of those groups. We are in constant communication with business.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify what consultation was done before introducing the regime

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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Northern Ireland
Context

The focus is on protecting the UK's internal market from disruptions caused by the Northern Ireland protocol.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the practical and durable solution set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will do just that?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

My hon. Friend is spot on, as ever. Our legislation will restore the balance inherent in the objectives of the protocol, avoiding a hard border, protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom and safeguarding the EU single market.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if it protects the UK internal market specifically

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Q3 Craig Williams Con
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

The former head of the Government Legal Department suggests that the bill is illegal, based on previous actions by the Secretary of State.

Question

Based on this Government's track record, why should anyone believe what the Minister claims about this Bill's legality?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The hon. Gentleman tends to make a habit of standing at the Dispatch Box and taking the side of the EU over the UK, which is disappointing: what he should be doing is supporting the UK economy and supporting businesses and people in Northern Ireland, who want to see a resolution.

Not addressed: Did not address the legality question

How: Attacking The Opposition

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Q4 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland
Context

The Foreign Secretary argues for unilateral action on the protocol due to lack of support in one community.

Question

Can he confirm that the current plans also have the support of the nationalist community?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The hon. Gentleman talks about the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, but his tweets in the last couple of weeks have highlighted that he has possibly not even read it; I suggest that he at least gets equipped with who the signatories to the agreement are, so that he understands who the co-guarantors are.

Not addressed: Did not confirm support from nationalists

How: Attacking The Opposition

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Q5 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The EU has threatened to remove access for Northern Irish businesses to its single market.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that such a threat from the EU indicates it simply wants to punish Northern Ireland businesses because the UK Government want to protect the UK internal market?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point. It is right that we are looking to deliver on all three strands of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. We will never be looking at any sort of infrastructure; there cannot be a hard border on the island, in the same way that there should not be a hard border between east and west.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address if EU actions are punitive

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Q6 Jeffrey M. Donaldson DUP
Northern Ireland
Context

The Secretary of State is aware of significant business concerns regarding the dual regulatory regime.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on progress in the Northern Ireland protocol negotiations?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about issues affecting Northern Ireland more widely, including the Northern Ireland protocol.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on recent discussions

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Q7 Jeffrey M. Donaldson DUP
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The former Prime Minister Tony Blair stated the protocol poses a risk to the Good Friday agreement, prompting concerns about cross-community consensus in Northern Ireland.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the Good Friday Agreement and political institutions can operate only with cross-community consensus and not majority rule? Given this, does he also agree the Government needs legislation to address difficulties caused by the protocol?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The Government are clear that cross-community consensus is essential and the protocol undermines this. We aim to resolve these issues through proposed legislation despite unsuccessful EU negotiations, prioritizing protection of the UK internal market, people, businesses in Northern Ireland, and all elements of the Good Friday Agreement.

Answered
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Q8 Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The Government invested good faith in the Northern Ireland Protocol, but it has become incompatible with the Good Friday Agreement. The EU has previously used Article 16.

Question

Given the protocol's incompatibility with the Good Friday agreement and previous use of Article 16 by Ursula von der Leyen, will the Government now consider triggering article 16?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The EU has used Article 16 before during vaccine roll-outs, causing disruption and highlighting its approach. We are determined to resolve issues through our proposed legislation rather than triggering Article 16.

Partly answered

Not addressed: triggering article 16

How: We Do Not Want To Trigger Article 16, We Take Nothing Off The Table But We Are Clear That Our Proposed Legislation Resolves Issues

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