Irish Border: Checks and Customs Arrangements

Debate between Lord Duncan of Springbank and Lord Redesdale

Tuesday 1st October 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

My noble friend asks an important question, to which the answer has been straightforward. It is the intention of this Government to leave the European Union on 31 October.

[Lord Redesdale (LD)]

My Lords, like the Minister I have only got information from Radio 4 on what is going forward, but that seems to be common parlance. Excuse my ignorance of the situation, but my under- standing is that a border between two countries is set as a line. However, the Minister is indicating that there will be no checks on the border, but the border zone could be 10 miles wide.

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

Again, the Prime Minister made it very clear this morning, on the show which we all tuned in to, that that is not what he is proposing at all. There will be no new infrastructure on the border. I hope the negotiations which are taking place right now will lead to a successful conclusion which can be interrogated by this House in due course.