Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Conclusion 1
First Report: Unfettered Access: Customs Arrangements in Northern Ireland after Brexit
Published 14 Jul 2020
Paragraph 8
Addressed to Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and customs arrangements after Brexit All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
With less than six months to go, businesses are still in the dark about what they should be preparing for on 1 January 2021. The situation is now urgent, and the continued lack of detail risks Northern Ireland not being prepared for the new trading arrangements, an outcome which would have significant economic consequences. We remain to be convinced that the Government fully understands that its political approach, apparently informed by limited understanding of how business works, provides neither the clarity nor the detail that Northern Ireland business requires. Political theory cannot trump commercial necessity. We also remain to be convinced that the cumulative impact of Protocol uncertainty, coupled to Covid-19, has been fully reflected upon.
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, First Report: Unfettered Access: Customs Arrangements in Northern Ireland after Brexit (HC 161), paragraph 8, 14 July 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 14 September 2020 (deadline 14 September 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out its approach to implementing the Protocol, stressing commitments to "unfettered access" and business support, while giving limited direct answers to several of the Committee's specific requests.
- On sharing Joint Committee papers, it says agendas and summary minutes "may be made public at the discretion of the co-chairs", balanced against "the need for sensitivity as negotiations progress". It says the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster "will continue to keep Parliament informed".
- On scrutiny of future EU legislation within the scope of the Protocol, the government states only that it "is considering the process" after the end of the Transition Period.
- On support for traders, it points to a free Trader Support Service "backed by up to £200 million in funding", saying the service "will be operational later this month". It says further guidance will follow "at the earliest opportunity" as EU discussions progress.
- On tariffs, it says there should be no tariffs on internal UK trade and that "full use will be made of waivers and reimbursements". On state aid, it will provide further information "before the end of the Transition Period".