Wednesday Volume 685 2 December 2020 No. 145 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 2 December 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 291 2 DECEMBER 2020 292 while people desperately want certainty and a deal. Can House of Commons the Secretary of State give us any assurances that next week’s Bill will not further undermine the Northern Wednesday 2 December 2020 Ireland protocol and the chances of a deal and the certainty and the stability that people so desperately want? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Brandon Lewis: If the hon. Lady looks at the clauses PRAYERS in the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill, she will see that they are about protecting and delivering on the Good Friday agreement to ensure that there are no [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] borders. To deliver that, it is important that we have no Virtual participation in proceedings commenced border not just north to south, but east to west as well. (Order, 4 June). On the UK shared prosperity fund, if she looks at my [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] answer to the substantive question, she will see that I was very clear that the devolved authorities would be Mr Speaker: Order. I remind colleagues that a deferred part of that, but of course this is money over and above; Division will take place today. Members should be this is extra money that we will be looking to spend—in aware that the timings have reverted to between 11.30 am the same way that the EU has always been able to and 2 pm, though they continue to take place in the spend— once we have left the EU to ensure that those Members’ Library. Members will cast their votes by communities have the support that we have said they placing the completed Division slip in one of the ballot would have. boxes provided. If a Member has a proxy vote in operation, they must not vote in person in the deferred Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con) [V]: Does my Division; their nominated proxy should vote on their right hon. Friend agree that any spending requirements behalf. I also remind colleagues of the importance of and demands made by and within Northern Ireland social distancing during the deferred Division and ask would be enhanced and likely to receive a more welcome them to pick up a Division slip from the Vote Office and ear in the Treasury and elsewhere were the Executive to fill it in before they reach the Library if possible. The crack ahead and create the independent fiscal council, result will be announced in the Chamber at a convenient which would act as a very convincing mouthpiece for moment after the Division is over. those pleas? Brandon Lewis: My hon. Friend makes a hugely Oral Answers to Questions important and very accurate point. I think we sometimes forget this but the fiscal council was actually first agreed back in the “Fresh Start” agreement of 2015 and NORTHERN IRELAND recommitted to in the “New Decade, New Approach” deal of January this year. I have been talking to the The Secretary of State was asked— Executive about this. I had hoped to see it up and running by the autumn. I think it is important that the Structural and Investment Funding: Transition Period Executive and the Department of Finance get on with this and deliver on it. It will help them for budgeting Claire Hanna (Belfast South) (SDLP): What recent purposes and ensure that, in the same way that we have discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the the Office for Budget responsibility and the Irish potential merits of devolving spending in Northern Government have an independent fiscal council, people Ireland of (a) structural and (b) investment funding can be clear about the transparency and understanding after the end of the transition period to the Northern of the money being spent in Northern Ireland. I think it Ireland Executive. [909534] would be the right thing to do, and I am looking forward to seeing the Executive deliver it as quickly as possible. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon Lewis): The UK shared prosperity fund will help to UK-EU Future Relationship: Businesses level up and create opportunities for people and places across the United Kingdom. The Government will John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP): What assessment he co-ordinate funding on a UK-wide basis, working with has made of the effect on businesses in Northern Ireland the devolved Administrations and local communities to of negotiations on the future relationship between the ensure that it is used most effectively. The Northern UK and the EU. [909535] Ireland Executive and the other devolved Administrations will be represented in the fund’s governance structures The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon to help target this funding to the people and places that Lewis): We want a relationship with the European Union are most in need. that is based on friendly co-operation between sovereign equals and centred on free trade. Wewill have a relationship Claire Hanna [V]: The spending of the shared prosperity with our European friends—one that is inspired by our fund, according to clauses in the United Kingdom shared history and values. The whole of the United Internal Market Bill, would override devolution, with Kingdom, including, of course, Northern Ireland, stands no duty to consult on spend in devolved areas. We know to benefit from such a trading relationship with the that the internal market Bill intends to breach international European Union. In fact, Northern Ireland businesses law, and yesterday it was indicated that a further breach have a huge potential under the Northern Ireland protocol, of international law was likely to come in the taxation and of course Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy Bill. Far from being limited and specific, it seems that tariff-free access to the EU market, alongside unfettered disregard for the Good Friday agreement is unlimited access to the whole of the UK. 293 Oral Answers 2 DECEMBER 2020 Oral Answers 294 John Mc Nally [V]: I hope you are well, Mr Speaker. Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson: I thank the Secretary of Scotland is the largest exporter of seed potatoes in State for that helpful response. I am sure that he will the single market. It is a product on which a great many agree that those who talk loudly about the Good Friday Northern Irish potato farmers rely. This has been placed agreement are the people who are threatening the economic under threat by the lack of equivalence between the UK prosperity of Northern Ireland by insisting on measures and the EU after the transition period. When will the that are completely unnecessary in terms of protecting Minister confirm a date on our attaining equivalence on the agreement. Will he therefore indicate what progress seed products? If he cannot give us a date, is that not has been made in securing a commitment from the EU more evidence that the Government do not care about to a significant grace period to allow Northern Ireland Scotland’s farming communities? businesses sufficient time to adjust to the new arrangements that will be introduced when the transition period ends on 31 December? Brandon Lewis: Actually, it is quite the contrary. The hon. Gentleman can look at the delivery of money last Brandon Lewis: The right hon. Gentleman identifies, week, for farmers particularly. That is evidence of the quite rightly, the importance of ensuring that there is no Government’sdetermination to deliver on our commitment border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. to, and our understanding of the importance of, the We have accepted the sanitary and phytosanitary checks. agriculture and farming community across the United We are working with the EU, and both the UK and EU Kingdom, with £315 million going to Northern Ireland have committed to that intensified process, as colleagues farmers. Through the Joint Committee, we are working will have seen, and to resolving all outstanding issues with the European Union on some of these final issues with the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol, to ensure that we do have that free flow. We have been including securing the flexibilities that we need for trade saying to our partners and colleagues in the EU that from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. they need to play their part in being pragmatic about As I said, the discussions are ongoing. I hope that the ensuring that we continue to see that sensible free flow right hon. Gentleman will continue to understand that I of trade across the United Kingdom, as a sovereign am limited in what I can say as I do not want to nation. pre-empt the outcome of those discussions, but we continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley) (DUP): You Executive around the practical implications and operational look well, Mr Speaker. delivery. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been working with the Department of The Secretary of State will recognise the importance Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern to Northern Ireland businesses of getting agreement on Ireland, and with industry, traders, representative bodies the classification of qualifying goods and qualifying and local authorities to ensure that they are engaged, businesses as they relate to trade between Great Britain supported and ready for trading from January 2021.