Recommendation 31

The UK government set out its proposals in a July 2021 Command Paper.96 The Cabinet Office told us that it wants to apply a risk-based approach whereby for most goods only those which are at risk of crossing from Northern Ireland into the EU customs area in Ireland are subject to checks.97 This would mean forming a trusted trader scheme within which companies would certify whether their goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland would stay within the UK with a light-touch assurance regime for this scheme.98 The Cabinet Office told us that the EU has responded in the ongoing negotiations with some practical approaches of its own. The Cabinet Office also told us that the EU has begun to open up to ideas that they had previously said could not be done. Negotiations remain ongoing, and the Cabinet Office told us that, with good will and constructive approaches on both sides, it is hopeful of resolution.99 91 Q 78 92 C&AG’s Report, para 4.15 93 Q 193 94 Q 199 95 Q 73 96 HM Government, Northern Ireland Protocol: the way forward, CP 502, July 2021 97 Q 187 98 C&AG’s Report, para 4.3 99 Q 74 20 EU Exit: UK Border post transition