Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trade with Rest of UK

Wednesday 14 December 2022 · 5 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

  • The Government have committed to ensuring unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the rest of the United Kingdom market.
  • It is unacceptable that essential goods such as seed potatoes, used successfully in Northern Ireland for generations, can no longer reach people in Northern Ireland.
  • We continue talks with the European Union, and hope to reach a solution that is acceptable to both parties and will remove burdens on businesses and families in Northern Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The MP seeks clarity on government actions for businesses in Northern Ireland to trade freely within the UK.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help businesses in Northern Ireland trade with the rest of the UK?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government have committed to ensuring unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the rest of the United Kingdom market. We have therefore not implemented export declarations on goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, which has been subject to infraction proceedings by the European Union. Under the protocol, by the end of the year we will have spent £340 million helping traders to process 2.3 million customs declarations through the trader support service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was about steps being taken but the answer provided context and cost without committing to specific measures beyond no export declarations.

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Q2 David Duguid Con
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP highlights an issue affecting seed potato imports from Scotland to Northern Ireland, due to the protocol.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. He will be aware that seed potato imports to Northern Ireland from Scotland are deeply impacted by the protocol. The European Union is being hugely intransigent on the issue, despite high demand from the EU and Northern Ireland for the fantastic seed potato product that Scotland has to provide. What are the Northern Ireland Office and other UK Government Departments doing to address the issue?

Answer from Steven Baker

I am most grateful to my hon. Friend. It is unacceptable that essential goods such as seed potatoes, used successfully in Northern Ireland for generations, can no longer reach people in Northern Ireland. That is why I recently met representatives of Wilson's Country in Craigavon to discuss the issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer highlighted the issue but did not provide specific actions taken or commitments made by government departments.

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Q3 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The MP references new trade data that claims a rise in GB to Northern Ireland trade since the protocol was implemented.

Question

Of course we all agree that there needs to be a deal with the European Union to resolve some of the outstanding issues. Would the Minister care to comment on the data released just this morning that states that trade from GB to Northern Ireland is up by 7% since the protocol was implemented?

Answer from Steven Baker

I am sorry to say that I have not seen that data this morning. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for highlighting it; I shall be certain to look it up and reflect on it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister acknowledged the question but did not provide any comments or analysis of the data.

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Q4 Jeffrey M. Donaldson DUP
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP raises concerns about the cost and impact of the trader support scheme on Northern Ireland businesses.

Question

The reality is that, notwithstanding any data, many businesses in Northern Ireland are experiencing serious problems as a result of the protocol. The cost of the trader support scheme, as the Minister has acknowledged, is now well over £300 million—the equivalent of almost half a million pounds every single day. That money could be spent on public services in Northern Ireland. What are the Minister and the Government doing to address the issue?

Answer from Steven Baker

We continue to make that clear to our partners. We continue talks with the European Union, and I very much hope that we will reach a solution that is acceptable to us and to him, and will remove the burdens on his constituents and on businesses, individuals and families across Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister highlighted ongoing talks but did not provide specific actions or commitments beyond hopes of reaching an agreement.

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Q5 Jeffrey M. Donaldson DUP
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP outlines the objective to restore Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market.

Question

I appreciate the comments that the Minister has made. We share the same objective, which is to fully restore Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market. That means that in the future the default regulatory position for trade within the UK internal market should be British law; that British trading regulations and standards should apply across all the United Kingdom; and that EU law and regulations should apply only when goods are moving into the European Union—in any event, businesses are required to meet EU standards if they want to trade within the EU single market. Does the Minister agree that the restoration of our place within the UK internal market is our absolute priority?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Secretary of State and I agree that that is what we are trying to negotiate. If we are not able to negotiate it, it will be what we seek to deliver through our Bill, which continues to be before Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledged agreement on the objective but did not commit to specific measures or timelines beyond negotiating and potential legislation.

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