Wednesday Volume 635 7 February 2018 No. 94 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 7 February 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1473 7 FEBRUARY 2018 1474 Karen Bradley: The United Kingdom Government House of Commons have been clear that we do not want to see a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The Irish Government have said the same, as has the European Wednesday 7 February 2018 Commission. I think it is clear that we will make sure there is no hard border. The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con): The voice of Wales and Scotland is being heard loud and clear in the current Brexit negotiations. That of PRAYERS Northern Ireland most certainly is not, because of the impasse. In answer to Questions 4 and 5, the Secretary of State will no doubt say that the solution is the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] restoration of the Executive, but if the Executive is not restored, what will she do to make sure the voice of Northern Ireland is heard in the current negotiations in Oral Answers to Questions Brussels? Karen Bradley: I thank my hon. Friend, the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. He will know that I have been working extraordinarily hard over the NORTHERN IRELAND last few weeks on talks, and I will address those matters when I answer Questions 4, 5 and others. The important point is that for Northern Ireland’s voice to be heard in The Secretary of State was asked— the way the Scottish and Welsh voices are heard, we need a devolved Government in Stormont. That is what Leaving the EU: Cross-border Trade we are working towards. 1. Stephen Gethins (North East Fife) (SNP): What Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con): I welcome the Secretary recent discussions she has had with the Irish Government of State to her place and the fact that she is in discussions on cross-border trade after the UK leaves the EU. with the Irish Government. In her discussions, has she [903756] reflected with the Irish Government on what would happen to cross-border trade if one part of these islands 2. Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and that was in the common travel area joined Schengen, as Kirkintilloch East) (SNP): What recent discussions she the Scottish National party keeps arguing for? That has had with the Irish Government on cross-border would see a border not just in the Irish sea but across trade after the UK leaves the EU. [903757] this island. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Karen Karen Bradley: We are clear that the economic and Bradley): I have regular conversations with the Irish constitutional unity of the United Kingdom is fundamental Government on a range of issues. We both recognise the to all we are doing, and we are determined to ensure importance of the trade that takes place across the island that the UK single market—the most important single of Ireland, which is worth some £4 billion to the Northern market to Scotland and to Northern Ireland—is retained. Ireland economy. Equally, though, we must not forget the importance of the GB markets to Northern Ireland, Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Bearing in mind where sales are worth some £14.6 billion. Weare committed that the United Kingdom is Ireland’s largest trading to protecting both these vital markets. partner and that 30% of all employment in Ireland is in sectors that are heavily related to UK exports, will the Stephen Gethins: Scottish Government analysis has Secretary of State outline what discussions have taken shown that a no-deal scenario could cost Scotland up to place to ensure that this mutually beneficial partnership 8.5% of its GDP. Government analysis suggests that continues unhindered by the petty point scoring, statement Northern Ireland could be cost up to 12% of its GDP. making, headline grabbing whims of EU leadership? Does she believe any analysis she has seen, and is this Karen Bradley: The hon. Gentleman puts his point too high a price to pay to keep a Tory civil war from more eloquently than I could ever dream of. breaking out? Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Given that the Irish Karen Bradley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of Republic would lose out most if there was not a good State for Exiting the European Union has dealt with the deal with the European Union, is the Secretary of State issues concerning the leaked report. It is important to making it clear to all the Irish Ministers she is meeting state that the UK Government want to achieve a good that they have a role to play with the European Union deal for the whole United Kingdom that protects the and that they should be standing up for their country’s economic integrity of the United Kingdom. attitudes and making sure we get a good deal, which is to their benefit? Stuart C. McDonald: If this Government are so determined to take us out of the customs union and the Karen Bradley: The reality is that a good deal is a single market, how do they see us avoiding a hard win-win for everybody—not just Ireland but all the border on the island without having a hard border in EU27 member states. Not having that is a lose-lose; the Irish sea? nobody benefits from not having a good deal. 1475 Oral Answers 7 FEBRUARY 2018 Oral Answers 1476 Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP): we are committed to helping young people across the The Prime Minister has been clear that there will be no country to develop the skills they need for the future. continuing customs union between the UK and the EU. My hon. Friend will appreciate, however, that delivering Does the Secretary of State agree that that means a apprenticeships in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. divergence of regulations between Ireland and Northern As such, that is another reason why we need to see a Ireland and that paragraph 49 of December’s agreement restored Executive up and running. must be activated? In that case, will she tell us what “specific solutions to address the unique circumstances of the Maria Caulfield: Employers in Northern Ireland recently island of Ireland” told members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee she is proposing? that while there is no Northern Ireland Executive in place they are having to pay the apprenticeship levy but Karen Bradley: The hon. Lady makes the point that have no access to the funds to take on apprentices, thereareuniquecircumstancesinNorthernIreland—unique because without an Executive the block grant is not anywhere across the whole of Europe—and those unique being distributed. The apprenticeship levy in Northern circumstances have to be reflected. The UK Government’s Ireland is turning into a stealth tax for businesses. Does intention is to resolve the matter of north-south trade—and the Minister agree that this is another reason why we east-west trade—through the overall UK-EU agreement, urgently need a Northern Ireland Executive in place? but we are absolutely determined to make sure that we respect the integrity of the north-south border and that Mr Vara: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, we respect the agreements that were made in Belfast and gives an excellent example of why it is so important nearly 20 years ago. that we have a devolved Assembly up and running again. Important decisions, such as the one she mentioned, Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab): May I welcome need to be taken, and that is why we need the Assembly the glistening new team to the Front Bench? I am sure up and running as soon as possible. the whole House agrees with me in saying how pleased we are—we are absolutely delighted—that the Secretary Paul Girvan (South Antrim) (DUP): It is worrying of State’s predecessor is recovering so well from his that we hear of the loss of apprenticeships, and yesterday surgery. May I particularly welcome the Parliamentary we had an announcement that Williams Industrial Services Under-Secretary? He is the eighth Minister that I have in my constituency has actually gone into administration. had the privilege of shadowing; I do not know whether What help will the Minister give us to ensure that we this attrition is anything to do with my personal behaviour, retain manufacturing and the apprenticeships there? but I plead not guilty. Now that the new team have had a chance to find Mr Vara: May I say at the outset that I am very sorry their way around, particularly on the border, and they to hear about the position of the company in the hon. have studied the issue of the electronic border, do they Gentleman’s constituency? I very much hope that the believe that such a frontier is feasible or is it just a employers will follow all the legal processes by way of fantasy? consultation and everything else that needs doing as far as the employees are concerned. Karen Bradley: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his warm words. I too pay tribute to my predecessor, who I On the promotion of more jobs, it is clearly important am pleased to say is recovering well at home. I know the that the devolved Assembly is up and running because it whole House wishes him well, wishes him a speedy has a critical role to play.