UK-EU Future Relationship Businesses 2020-12-02
2020-12-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Discusses the impact of negotiations between the UK and EU on Northern Ireland's trade relationships, specifically focusing on the potential benefits under the Northern Ireland protocol.
What assessment has been made of the effect on businesses in Northern Ireland of negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the EU? In fact, Northern Ireland businesses have a huge potential under the Northern Ireland protocol, and of course Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy tariff-free access to the EU market.
We want a relationship with the European Union that is based on friendly co-operation between sovereign equals and centred on free trade. The whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, stands to benefit from such a trading relationship with the European Union. In fact, Northern Ireland businesses have huge potential under the Northern Ireland protocol, and they will continue to enjoy tariff-free access to the EU market alongside unfettered access to the entire UK.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Discusses the importance of equivalence between UK and EU standards for seed potatoes, crucial for Scottish farmers exporting to Northern Ireland.
When will the Minister confirm a date on our attaining equivalence on seed products? If he cannot give us a date, is that not more evidence that the Government do not care about Scotland's farming communities?
Through the Joint Committee, we are working with the European Union on some of these final issues to ensure that we do have that free flow. We delivered £315 million last week to farmers across Northern Ireland and Scotland as evidence of our commitment.
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Assessment & feedback
Confirmation of date for equivalence status
Working With The Eu
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Discusses securing agreement on the classification of qualifying goods and defining at-risk goods, crucial for Northern Irish businesses' trade.
What progress has been made on securing such agreement and on defining at-risk goods? What measures will the Government bring forward in legislation to ensure that Northern Ireland businesses really do have unfettered access to the UK internal market?
We are committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland businesses have unfettered access to the rest of the United Kingdom. We legislated for the first phase with clauses in the UK Internal Market Bill. We push hard on securing agreement with the EU and accept tariffs should be paid on goods moving from GB into the EU but not within the UK.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Asks about securing a commitment from the EU to provide sufficient time for adjustment post-transition period.
What progress has been made in securing a commitment from the EU to a significant grace period to allow Northern Ireland businesses sufficient time to adjust to the new arrangements that will be introduced when the transition period ends on 31 December?
We are working with the EU and both sides have committed to resolving all issues, including securing flexibilities needed. The discussions continue closely around practical implications and operational delivery; I encourage businesses to sign up free with Trader Support Service.
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Assessment & feedback
Confirmation of grace period
Discussions Ongoing
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Northern Irish businesspeople are upset over accusations that they are ignoring the Brexit process, with only 30 days left before a hard Brexit. Businessman Stephen Kelly has suggested that the government's approach is chaotic.
The Secretary of State will know of the anger among Northern Irish businesspeople over the accusation by the Minister for Efficiency and Transformation that they have their head stuck in the sand on Brexit. Only 0 days from the hard Brexit cliff edge, does the Secretary of State appreciate that most people will have far more sympathy with Northern Irish businessman Stephen Kelly who suggests that it is the Government who have their head stuck somewhere else? Is it not the case that Northern Ireland businesses have simply been an afterthought in his Government's chaotic hard Brexit?
If only the hon. Lady was talking to Northern Ireland businesses directly, as my team and I do regularly, most weeks. The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr Walker), also engages with businesses in Northern Ireland, as we have been doing consistently throughout this process—including Stephen Kelly, who I do know. It is the information from businesses that fed into the Command Paper that we issued earlier in the year, as well as the guidance that we issued and the work that we are doing to ensure not just that we have unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to mainland Great Britain—I hope that she and other colleagues will support us in ensuring that it is in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill to deliver unfettered access, which she claims in her question to support—but also that we get a good free flow of access to ensure that the whole UK internal market can work together, including Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about government awareness and sympathy towards business concerns was not directly addressed. Instead, the answer focused on engagement with businesses and unfettered access guarantees.
Engages With Businesses
Focusing On Free Flow Of Access
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State has admitted that clauses removed by the Lords from the UK Internal Market Bill will break international law. The Irish Government, US President-elect, and people of Northern Ireland believe these clauses breach the Northern Ireland protocol.
Given the fact that the Secretary of State has already admitted that the clauses removed by the Lords from the UK Internal Market Bill will break international law, and that the Irish Government, the new US President-elect and the people of Northern Ireland believe that those clauses breach the Northern Ireland protocol, will he commit today to not reinstating them in the Bill next week?
Actually, what those clauses have been about is ensuring that we have unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to Great Britain. That is something inherent in the protocol. It plays a part in delivering on one of the key sentences in the first few paragraphs in the Northern Ireland protocol that says we will ensure that we do not disrupt the everyday lives of people in their communities. I would have hoped that the hon. Gentleman would support us in ensuring the Northern Ireland businesses can trade in mainland Great Britain as part of the United Kingdom. That is what those clauses are about, as an insurance policy, but obviously our main focus and aim is to secure the right agreement for a wider free trade agreement with the EU, and indeed to work with the specialist Joint Committee.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about commitment not to reinstate clauses was not directly addressed. The answer focused on the purpose of those clauses and efforts towards securing agreements with the EU.
Focuses On Ensuring Unfettered Access
Aim Is Wider Free Trade Agreement
Response accuracy