Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many companies were registered on the UK Trader Scheme at the highest point of its operation.
Answered by Lord Roborough - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As of 30 September 2023, when the UK Trader Scheme was replaced by the UK Internal Market Scheme, 5,700 businesses were authorised on the UK Trader Scheme. Around 3,800 businesses were actively using their authorisation in 2023.
Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many companies are registered on the UK Internal Market Scheme which are based in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Roborough - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As of April 2024, over 7,800 businesses are authorised under the UK Internal Market Scheme, including over 4,100 which are established in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the commencement of section 45B of the UK Internal Market Act 2020, what export procedures will apply to goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain to goods that are in temporary storage in accordance with Article 144 of Regulations (EU) No 952/2013; what is a practical example of what a business moving a good in this context will encounter in terms of paperwork and checks; when the export procedure will be commenced; and how they plan to apply the procedure if there is no Border Control Post at Cairnryan.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Windsor Framework removes the requirement for export procedures that existed under the original Protocol and the subsequent 2020 agreement on the need for "equivalent information", with such controls only applying to a niche set of goods. Consistent with this, we have now laid domestic legislation under the Safeguarding the Union package that expressly prohibits export procedures applying to goods moving Northern Ireland to Great Britain, restoring our unfettered access safeguards. Detailed guidance on the treatment of relevant goods where exceptions apply is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the commencement of section 45B of the UK Internal Market Act 2020, what export procedures will apply to goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain when placed under a procedure listed in Article 210 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013; what is a practical example of what a business moving a good in this context will encounter in terms of paperwork and checks; when the export procedure will be commenced; and how they plan to apply the procedure if there is no Border Control Post at Cairnryan.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Windsor Framework removes the requirement for export procedures that existed under the original Protocol and the subsequent 2020 agreement on the need for "equivalent information", with such controls only applying to a niche set of goods. Consistent with this, we have now laid domestic legislation under the Safeguarding the Union package that expressly prohibits export procedures applying to goods moving Northern Ireland to Great Britain, restoring our unfettered access safeguards. Detailed guidance on the treatment of relevant goods where exceptions apply is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding was added to the Welsh block grant as a result of the 2016 agreement on the Welsh Government’s fiscal framework in each financial year from 2017/18 to 2021/22.
Answered by Baroness Penn
The Block Grant Transparency publication sets out a full breakdown of funding for the Welsh Government, including the impact of the 5% uplift.
The publication is regularly updated after each UK Budget. The next update is expected before summer recess following Spring Budget 2023.
The most recent publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-december-2021
Asked by: Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received about allegations of fraud connected to the Dolphin Trust; what steps they plan to take to safeguard UK investors' investments in the Trust; and whether the Trust is operating in the UK.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Government are aware of the allegations of fraud made against the German Property Group (GPG), formerly known as the Dolphin Trust.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are working closely with financial advisers who have advised customers to make these investments and operators of Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) whose customers currently hold investments with GPG.
The FCA have published a joint statement with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Financial Ombudsman Service. The statement sets out what UK consumers should do if they invested in GPG via an FCA authorised firm, either a financial adviser firm or a SIPP operator, and they believe they were mis-sold. It can be accessed on the FCA’s website.
Companies under the German Property Group are incorporated in Germany and have never been authorised by the FCA. However, consumers should be assured that the FCA are working closely with all relevant external stakeholders on this matter and will share any further updates as and when they are able to.