Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November 2023 (HL180), what are the timescales for commencing operational testing with users of the border before changes are implemented; how users will be identified and selected to undertake the operational testing; and how they will ensure that the users are representative of the logistics industry.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Cross-government testing is mainly focused on the connectivity of systems aligned to the implementation of the physical checking regime in April 2024. The cross-government team, led by the Cabinet Office, has already begun its operational testing programme with a number of internal tabletop exercises conducted between October and December. These will help ensure that live tests will be directed towards key aspects of the end to end process. The programme is moving towards live testing with users which will take place between February and April, prior to the implementation of the checking regime at the end of April. We are in the process of identifying users through both engagement with industry and our colleagues in local government and the Port Health Authorities. Operational testing is about the full end to end process and will cover each aspect of the supply chain including traders, hauliers and carriers.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November 2023 (HL180), whether they plan to publish an assessment of the state of readiness of (1) the UK, and (2) EU member states, for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government is prepared for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model and is working with EU member states to ensure they are prepared ahead of implementation in three stages: January 2024 (health certificates), April 2024 (physical checks) and October 2024 (safety and security).
The Government has monitored preparedness of businesses in both the UK and the EU through a readiness survey which has attracted over 2000 responses. The Government has also engaged directly with EU based businesses through a series of overseas visits to meet industry figures and raise awareness of the forthcoming controls. The Government is engaging UK businesses both via existing business-government engagement routes, and, on the BTOM specifically, through a series of commodity-specific webinars.
The Government has engaged with the European Commission directly, and with EU Member States individually on a government-government level to ensure that EU authorities are prepared for the controls.
Whilst we do not feel it is necessary to publish a readiness assessment, we will continue to monitor preparedness and to support businesses as the Border Target Operating Model is implemented.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 22 November 2023 (HL136), whether they received representations from businesses and business groups that they would need all the information to prepare for the Border Target Operating Model at least six months or a year before implementation.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government initially published a draft model in April 2023. The purpose of the draft was to gather feedback from businesses to enable the Government to make changes based on their representations. Following this, the Government moved some of the implementation milestones in the final Border Target Operating Model in order to give businesses more time to prepare. The final Border Target Operating Model was published in August 2023 which gives businesses sufficient time to prepare ahead of the planned timetable. The first implementation milestone (health certificates) is at the end of January 2024, followed by a physical checking regime at the end of April 2024 and then safety and security checks in October 2024.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November 2023 (HL180), what potential risks have been identified as a result of the Government’s monitoring.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government has adopted a cross-departmental approach to identify and manage risks, including agreeing mitigations. I am chairing regular Small Ministerial Group meetings to ensure Ministerial oversight. Specific risks identified at present through cross-government monitoring include data monitoring availability, infrastructure readiness, West Coast checks start date, IT alignment, and the charging regime due for implementation once physical checks commence.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November (HL183), whether they have undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of differing user charges at government run Border Control Posts and non-government run Border Control Posts on (1) traffic flows, (2) congestion, and (3) emissions.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Alongside other measures that are likely to have an economic impact on international trade, estimates for relevant user charges and fees - including the Common User Charge - were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
We calculated the inflationary impact over a 3 year period through the academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model as its full effect on consumer food prices will not be immediate. As such, we have no plans for a formal review of measures introduced through implementation of the Border Target Operating Model one year after introduction. We will review the Border Target Operating Model in line with the Magenta Book guidance on evaluation and further announcements will be made to Parliament as and when required. The Magenta Book guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e96cab9d3bf7f412b2264b1/HMT_Magenta_Book.pdf
We have not identified any differential impact on traffic flows, congestion and emissions that might be caused by different levels of user charges.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November (HL183), whether they plan to review the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model once it has been fully in place for 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Alongside other measures that are likely to have an economic impact on international trade, estimates for relevant user charges and fees - including the Common User Charge - were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
We calculated the inflationary impact over a 3 year period through the academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model as its full effect on consumer food prices will not be immediate. As such, we have no plans for a formal review of measures introduced through implementation of the Border Target Operating Model one year after introduction. We will review the Border Target Operating Model in line with the Magenta Book guidance on evaluation and further announcements will be made to Parliament as and when required. The Magenta Book guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e96cab9d3bf7f412b2264b1/HMT_Magenta_Book.pdf
We have not identified any differential impact on traffic flows, congestion and emissions that might be caused by different levels of user charges.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November (HL183), whether the Common User Charge is being defined as a ‘tariff measure’ and therefore not included in its modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Alongside other measures that are likely to have an economic impact on international trade, estimates for relevant user charges and fees - including the Common User Charge - were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.
We calculated the inflationary impact over a 3 year period through the academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model as its full effect on consumer food prices will not be immediate. As such, we have no plans for a formal review of measures introduced through implementation of the Border Target Operating Model one year after introduction. We will review the Border Target Operating Model in line with the Magenta Book guidance on evaluation and further announcements will be made to Parliament as and when required. The Magenta Book guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e96cab9d3bf7f412b2264b1/HMT_Magenta_Book.pdf
We have not identified any differential impact on traffic flows, congestion and emissions that might be caused by different levels of user charges.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will repeat their modelling of (1) the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model, and (2) the additional cost to be incurred by businesses resulting from the Border Target Operating Model, once a decision on a Common User Charge is published; and if so, whether they will publish any such further modelling.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model was based on an academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model and focused on quantifying the impact on relevant non-tariff measures - policy measures likely to have an economic impact on international trade as they affect the price or quantity of traded products. The food price inflation model is available here: https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/128070/Final%20Report_Defra_December%202021.pdf?sequence=2.
The non-tariff measures analysed included those related to checks (for example the cost of pre-notification, the cost of Export Health Certificates and port fees) as well as upstream impacts (for example administrative processing time, training, certificates of origin and security deposits or guarantees when moving agricultural goods under licence).
We used a range of data sources to quantify and assess the relative impact of the different non-tariff measures associated with the Border Target Operating Model. The data included commercially sensitive information that would not be appropriate to put into the public domain, and in accordance with the principles of statistical propriety we cannot publish a partial explanation that includes only the publicly available sources.
We will publish our plans for the Common User Charge shortly. The Common User Charge will apply to Government-run Border Control Posts in England and may be extended to include other Government-run Border Control Posts across Great Britain once infrastructure plans have been finalised. We do not expect to have to amend our calculation of inflationary impact following publication of these plans.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assumptions they have made on the Common User Charge and charges to be applied at other Border Control Posts in (1) their modelling on the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model, and (2) their modelling on the additional cost to be incurred by businesses as a result of the Border Target Operating Model.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model was based on an academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model and focused on quantifying the impact on relevant non-tariff measures - policy measures likely to have an economic impact on international trade as they affect the price or quantity of traded products. The food price inflation model is available here: https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/128070/Final%20Report_Defra_December%202021.pdf?sequence=2.
The non-tariff measures analysed included those related to checks (for example the cost of pre-notification, the cost of Export Health Certificates and port fees) as well as upstream impacts (for example administrative processing time, training, certificates of origin and security deposits or guarantees when moving agricultural goods under licence).
We used a range of data sources to quantify and assess the relative impact of the different non-tariff measures associated with the Border Target Operating Model. The data included commercially sensitive information that would not be appropriate to put into the public domain, and in accordance with the principles of statistical propriety we cannot publish a partial explanation that includes only the publicly available sources.
We will publish our plans for the Common User Charge shortly. The Common User Charge will apply to Government-run Border Control Posts in England and may be extended to include other Government-run Border Control Posts across Great Britain once infrastructure plans have been finalised. We do not expect to have to amend our calculation of inflationary impact following publication of these plans.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish (1) their full modelling on the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model, and (2) their full modelling on the additional cost to be incurred by businesses as a result of the Border Target Operating Model; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model was based on an academically peer-reviewed food price inflation model and focused on quantifying the impact on relevant non-tariff measures - policy measures likely to have an economic impact on international trade as they affect the price or quantity of traded products. The food price inflation model is available here: https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/128070/Final%20Report_Defra_December%202021.pdf?sequence=2.
The non-tariff measures analysed included those related to checks (for example the cost of pre-notification, the cost of Export Health Certificates and port fees) as well as upstream impacts (for example administrative processing time, training, certificates of origin and security deposits or guarantees when moving agricultural goods under licence).
We used a range of data sources to quantify and assess the relative impact of the different non-tariff measures associated with the Border Target Operating Model. The data included commercially sensitive information that would not be appropriate to put into the public domain, and in accordance with the principles of statistical propriety we cannot publish a partial explanation that includes only the publicly available sources.
We will publish our plans for the Common User Charge shortly. The Common User Charge will apply to Government-run Border Control Posts in England and may be extended to include other Government-run Border Control Posts across Great Britain once infrastructure plans have been finalised. We do not expect to have to amend our calculation of inflationary impact following publication of these plans.