Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Northern Ireland Protocol

Tuesday 6 September 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Northern Ireland protocol is not delivering its stated goals of peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and protecting the Belfast/Good Friday agreement.
  • The Minister discussed the UK's need for association with Horizon Europe, noting the EU's failure to implement this association as agreed in the trade and cooperation agreement.
  • The protocol is described as a thorn in the side of relations between the UK and Ireland, and there is a call for humility in recognizing the legitimate interests of all parties involved.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Deidre Brock SNP
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs
Context

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has sparked concerns about its potential effects on the UK's international relations, particularly in relation to trade and diplomatic ties with other countries.

Question

What discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill on the UK's international relationships?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The Northern Ireland protocol is not delivering the goals set out in it. First and foremost among those is ensuring peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and protecting the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. The protocol is also disrupting east-west trade, including by doubtless affecting businesses in the hon. Lady's constituency. Northern Ireland is an integral part of the UK and we must resolve the very real problems it is facing, which is why we have introduced the Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on discussions with international counterparts about the bill's impact on international relationships.

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Q2 Deidre Brock SNP
Brexit
Context

Researchers and academics have expressed concern over the UK's lack of pathway to associate membership in Horizon Europe, a key EU research programme. This has implications for funding and collaborative opportunities.

Question

University College London's chair of science and research policy recently said that the UK has “no pathway to association” with Horizon Europe and that leaving Horizon knocks us back both in reputation and in substance. Will the Government finally accept this as a truth? What does the Minister say to researchers and academics up and down the UK who are missing out on precious funding and collaboration with European partners?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I am grateful for the hon. Lady's passionate espousal of the need for us to be a member of Horizon, Euratom and the other programmes, all of which were agreed, as she will recall, in the trade and co-operation agreement. The EU has failed to implement our association with that, and there is no linkage. I would ask the hon. Lady, with the scientific community of this country, to stand up to the EU and say that inappropriate linkages should be resisted, that they are damaging them, damaging us and damaging our joint endeavours to tackle the greatest challenges facing mankind, and it is something that needs to change.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly address whether the government accepts the situation or what actions will be taken for researchers missing out on funding and collaboration opportunities.

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Q3 Steven Baker Con
Northern Ireland
Context

There is growing consensus that the current protocol has become a source of tension and needs to be resolved through negotiation or other means.

Question

I think we can all agree that the protocol, as it stands today, has become a thorn in the side of relations between us and Ireland, and indeed a thorn in Ireland's side. Is it not time that we proceeded with the humility to recognise the legitimate interests of all parties to the protocol and the fierce resolve to say enough is enough and it is time to solve the evident problems that have arisen and to evolve the protocol in a negotiated way, if possible, but in any event to a solution that can last?

Answer from Graham Stuart

My hon. Friend is right. The protocol is not delivering the main objectives set out on its face. That is why something has to be done. I was delighted to spend Friday and Saturday at the British-Irish Association with the Taoiseach and the Irish Foreign Minister and, indeed, the vice-president of the European Commission. I believe, as I am sure my hon. Friend does, that our clear preference for a negotiated solution is the right one. I would further add that the Bill includes the facility to accelerate any negotiated agreement, and that is very much our offer to the EU. We prefer a negotiated solution. It is very important to put this right.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify how discussions will proceed with humility and resolve beyond stating preference for negotiation.

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Q4 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Northern Ireland
Context

The protocol has faced criticism for its impact on trade, democracy in Northern Ireland, and costs to consumers and businesses.

Question

Can the Minister assure us that in any of his discussions with his international counterparts he will robustly argue that the protocol cannot continue? Will he explain that it has ripped apart the Belfast agreement, it has undermined democracy in Northern Ireland, it has increased costs to consumers and businesses, it has disrupted Great Britain and Northern Ireland trade and displaced it with trade from the Republic, and it is being cynically used by the EU as a mechanism to punish the UK for leaving the EU, regardless of the cost to the people of Northern Ireland?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman makes very strong points. At the heart of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement is the idea of communities coming together, to have the Executive, to make sure that we put the war-torn years and all that tragedy behind us. It is clear that not just one party in Northern Ireland but the entire Unionist community has ruled out the protocol as a route to delivery of that. And, of course, there is disquiet in all communities, as can be found in the surveys of, for instance, the University of Liverpool's Institute of Irish Studies.

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether discussions will robustly argue against the protocol's continuation but instead discussed community sentiment and survey results.

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Q5 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

The government's focus on the protocol amid a cost-of-living crisis has raised concerns about potential trade barriers with Europe and negative impacts on the public.

Question

We are facing a cost of living crisis in which bills are sky-rocketing and people across the country will face the choice between eating or heating. Instead of proposing a solution, the Conservatives have spent the summer ramping up the rhetoric on the protocol, to risk new trade barriers with Europe. This Minister has had a recent elevation. Will he take this opportunity to commit to scrapping the reckless Northern Ireland Protocol Bill so that the Government can begin serious negotiations with the EU to fix the protocol and avoid hitting the British public in their pockets?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for yet again making it so crystal clear, both to the House and to the British public, that in any dispute he and his party will always side with the EU and not with the interests of the British people. [Interruption.] As he says, I am horribly new to this brief. The first thing I did on the first weekend after my appointment was to read the protocol. It does not matter how we look at it, the protocol is not functioning and it is not working. For him and his party to suggest that it is us and not the EU that needs to change tack shows that, yet again, he betrays the British people and shows why Labour now, in the past and in the future is unfit for office.

Not addressed: The answer did not address whether the bill will be scrapped or negotiations begun but instead attacked the opposition party.

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Q6 Alyn Smith
Northern Ireland
Context

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is being debated, with concerns about its legality and impact on relations between the UK and EU.

Question

I find myself in unexpected agreement with the right hon. Member for East Antrim: I do believe that the protocol is being cynically abused. However, I do not think it is being abused by the EU but rather by the future Prime Minister. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is wrong in international law and most MLAs support the protocol. It has put backs up across the EU and there are ways to reform the protocol within it. Will the Minister please pass on my view that the bill makes sense only as a vehicle for proving toughness towards Europe?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I am new to this but have looked at the protocol and it is not working. There are three main priorities: protecting the single market, ensuring peace in Northern Ireland through community consent as required by the protocol, and preventing unnecessary blockages for east-west trade. I suggest reading the protocol rather than insisting on its imposition.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about passing on the message to the future Prime Minister was not addressed.

How: Suggesting The Questioner Read The Protocol Instead Of Addressing The Specific Request

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