Wednesday Volume 676 13 May 2020 No. 58 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 13 May 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/. 229 13 MAY 2020 230 Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife) (SNP): House of Commons What steps he is taking to support businesses in Northern Ireland (a) during the covid-19 outbreak and (b) in preparation for the end of the transition period. Wednesday 13 May 2020 [902573] The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Rob Butler (Aylesbury) (Con): What steps the Government has taken to support (a) businesses and (b) the self-employed in Northern Ireland during the covid-19 PRAYERS outbreak. [902584] The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Lewis): The UK Government are backing businesses in The House entered into hybrid scrutiny proceedings Northern Ireland through UK-wide measures including (Order, 21 April). the coronavirus job retention scheme and the self-employed income support scheme. In preparation for the end of [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] the transition period, we are committed to implementing the protocol. That includes unfettered access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. Oral Answers to Questions Dave Doogan [V]: The Secretary of State will already be aware of the vital cross-border trade and employment dynamics that existed pre-covid between counties such as Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh and neighbouring NORTHERN IRELAND County Donegal. What planning is taking place with the devolved Administration in Belfast and the Irish Government to ensure that the emergence from lockdown The Secretary of State was asked— promotes an urgent regeneration of the crucial cross-border EU Office: Belfast economy? Colum Eastwood (Foyle) (SDLP): What discussions Brandon Lewis: The hon. Gentleman makes a very he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the good point. We are very focused on the whole economy EU’s request to establish an office in Belfast. [902570] of Northern Ireland. In fact, one of the biggest and most financially well-supported growth deals in the whole The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon of the United Kingdom is the one in Northern Ireland Lewis): I have regular discussions with the Executive on dealing with exactly these economic issues. I can assure the protocol and wider matters, and I look forward to him that I have regular meetings with the First Minister having further productive discussions with Ministers and the Deputy First Minister, and also co-chair a before the end of the transition period. fortnightly meeting with the Republic of Ireland’sTánaiste, to be sure that we take, where appropriate and proper, a Colum Eastwood [V]: I thank the Secretary of State joined-up approach. for his answer. But given the dismissive attitude of some in his Government on this particular issue, how can we Douglas Chapman [V]: The Secretary of State will in Northern Ireland have any confidence that he will value the importance of lifeline ferry services, and the faithfully implement the Northern Ireland protocol? news of potentially 1,000 job losses at P&O is devastating. Given all that is happening right now, is it not surely the What assessment has he made regarding the impact of time to begin to agree to a transition period extension a reduction or loss of the P&O Cairnryan to Larne so that we can finally get a proper agreement on Brexit, service, and what discussions has he had with P&O and which is, in our view, impossible to do at this time? the trade unions on safeguarding this vital link between Scotland and Northern Ireland? Brandon Lewis: There is no reason why the European Commission should be requiring a permanent presence Brandon Lewis: I was pleased to be able to announce in Belfast to monitor the implementation of the protocol. only a week or two ago the £17 million package that we We are focused on our determination to ensure that we put in place to protect the five ferry routes to ensure fulfil all of our obligations to deliver on the protocol. that we keep connectivity for Northern Ireland with the The best way we can give certainty and confidence for rest of the United Kingdom. I have had conversations business is to follow through and deliver on our promise with P&O and other ferry operators only in the past few to make sure that we leave and have everything in place days. at the end of December this year. Rob Butler [V]: Just as in my constituency of Aylesbury, Covid-19: Support for Businesses small businesses and the self-employed are a vital part of the economy in Northern Ireland. As we move to the Dave Doogan (Angus) (SNP): What steps he is taking next stage of the coronavirus crisis, how will my right to support businesses in Northern Ireland (a) during hon. Friend ensure that they have all the guidance and the covid-19 outbreak and (b) in preparation for the support that they need to regain lost trade and to flourish end of the transition period. [902572] once more? 231 Oral Answers 13 MAY 2020 Oral Answers 232 Brandon Lewis: My hon. Friend makes a really good Brandon Lewis: We are aware of that issue, and I hope and important point. Throughout the crisis, both I and to be able to outline exactly how we are dealing with it the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for very soon. It is something we are aware of and looking Worcester (Mr Walker), have been in regular contact to rectify. with businesses across Northern Ireland to ensure that we understand the pressures that they are facing, and to Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley) (DUP) [V]: make sure that we can work with the Northern Ireland Further to the question from the hon. Member for Executive to continue to focus on the economic recovery Sheffield, Heeley (Louise Haigh), it is also the case that in the form that they need. He is quite right: wherever Northern Ireland citizens who hold a Northern Ireland we are in the United Kingdom, including in Great driving licence cannot use that document to verify their Yarmouth, we have to make sure that we are focused on claim for support from the self-employed income support the small businesses that are often the heartbeat of our scheme. Clearly, that is entirely wrong. It means that communities. We are also determined to make sure that self-employed people in my constituency are being we do that in partnership with the Northern Ireland disadvantaged and cannot make their claim or have it Executive. verified. Will the Secretary of State liaise with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Treasury to Mr Speaker: We go across to Louise Haigh, who is ensure that Northern Ireland driving licences are an standing in as the temporary shadow Secretary of State, acceptable document for the purposes of verification for and wish Tony Lloyd well. the self-employed scheme? Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab) [V]: Thank Brandon Lewis: Yes, I am happy to work with the right you, Mr Speaker. Can I also send all our love and best hon. Gentleman to see whether we can find a logical, wishes to my hon. Friend and predecessor, the Member sensible and swift solution to that challenge. for Rochdale (Tony Lloyd), who continues to make a recovery from covid-19? Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson: Can the Secretary of State The Secretary of State will regret, as I do, the disrespectful advise us what additional funding he is seeking to way in which the devolved nations were cut out of the support the Northern Ireland economy, as we hopefully Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday and the emerge from lockdown over the next few weeks and months? confusion that reigned across the UK as a result. Will He will be aware of the situation with our economy, as he commit to ensuring that the Northern Ireland Executive with the economy across the United Kingdom. We are are fully consulted and informed on the next phase of all anxious to know what additional support might be lockdown and future changes to messaging? available from the Treasury for the recovery of our economy in Northern Ireland. Brandon Lewis: I would like to offer the hon. Lady a warm welcome to her new role. I look forward to Brandon Lewis: The right hon. Gentleman makes a working with her for the benefit of the people of Northern good point. It is hugely important that we are ready, as Ireland. If you will indulge me briefly, Mr Speaker, I we come out of lockdown, to not just recover from the want to pay tribute to the hon. Member for Rochdale economic situation with coronavirus but then turbocharge (Tony Lloyd), who served in his post admirably for over the economy across the United Kingdom, and particularly two years and through three different Secretaries of in Northern Ireland to see the economy flourish and State; I hope that the hon. Lady only deals with one grow. We have given £1.2 billion to the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in her time in office. I was hugely Executive through the Barnett consequentials. That is pleased to hear of his recovery, and I am glad that he on top of the UK-wide schemes, such as the job retention has decided to continue to represent the people of scheme.