Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shipment of Goods: Great Britain to Northern Ireland

Wednesday 10 May 2023 · 4 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 Government are engaging extensively with businesses to explain what has been agreed under the framework, and will provide detailed guidance over the summer on how the green lane will operate.
  • We need to implement the framework that we have agreed, and will keep it under constant review.
  • The data required to go to Northern Ireland on the green lane will be no more than that required to ship within Great Britain.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Theresa Villiers Con
Northern Ireland Business & Trade
Context

The Windsor framework affects trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, creating significant challenges for businesses.

Question

What steps has the government taken with Cabinet colleagues to provide guidance to businesses on shipping goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the current trading arrangements?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government are engaging extensively with businesses to explain what has been agreed under the framework, and we will be providing detailed guidance over the summer on how the green lane will operate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify exact steps or provide a timeline for when guidance will be available.

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Q2 Theresa Villiers Con
Brexit
Context

The Windsor framework has not resolved all issues related to Northern Ireland's trade with Great Britain, including control over its own laws.

Question

When will the Government review the Windsor framework, considering it does not remove all frictions on trade or restore power sharing? Will this be part of the TCA review taking place over the next two years?

Answer from Steven Baker

We need to implement the framework that we have agreed, and of course we will keep it under constant review. I am grateful that she raises the TCA review. One great benefit of the Windsor framework is that now that we have a much more positive relationship with both Ireland and our European Union partners, it is possible that we could achieve great things in that TCA review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific timeline for reviewing the Windsor Framework or confirm its inclusion in the TCA review.

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Q3 Paul Girvan DUP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Businesses were misled into believing that customs declarations would not be required under the green lane.

Question

When will businesses have the freedom to trade within their own UK without additional paperwork, given that customs declarations are still required?

Answer from Steven Baker

What will be shared is ordinary commercial data. The data required to go to Northern Ireland on the green lane will be no more than that required to ship within Great Britain—across, say, to Isle of Wight.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify when businesses can expect trade without additional paperwork or clarify exact requirements for documentation.

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Q4 Richard Thomson
Northern Ireland Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The British Potato Trade Association sees the Windsor framework as a step towards reopening seed potato trade with the EU.

Question

What further guidance will be issued to exporters of seed potatoes? What is being done to enable Northern Irish consumers to access high-quality Scottish seed potato exports, and what efforts are planned for replicating market access in other parts of Europe?

Answer from Steven Baker

I see no practical reason why [sending seed potatoes to all of Europe] should not happen. My right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet mentioned the TCA review. I would love to be able to deliver seed potatoes to all of Europe way before that, and I very much hope that the hon. Gentleman will support us as we seek to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific guidance details or confirm timelines for market access replication efforts.

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