EU Exit: End of Transition Period Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

EU Exit: End of Transition Period

Lord Purvis of Tweed Excerpts
Wednesday 15th July 2020

(4 years, 3 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord True Portrait Lord True
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My Lords, on the absolute specifics of what the noble Lord raises, which is an important issue, it would probably be better if I provide him with a detailed reply in writing.

Lord Purvis of Tweed Portrait Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)
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My Lords, on 27 February a noble Lord, Lord True—I believe it was the same one—was asked in the House about concerns that there would be friction for business in imports and exports. He said that the Government hoped that any friction

“will be minimal or non-existent”.—[Official Report, 27/2/20; col. 286.]

Now that we know that 150,000 companies are likely to have over £200 million in export declarations, why does he believe that that noble Lord, Lord True, was so wrong? If the Minister does not accept the HMRC assessment of business costs—his own document says that HMRC is responsible for business trade data—what is the Government’s information on the business costs of the procedures they are now putting in place?

Lord True Portrait Lord True
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My Lords, I acknowledged in my response that there will be costs. I repeat what I said in the past —it is always pleasant to be reminded: the Government’s intention is that those be minimal. In the case mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney, access from NI to GB should be unfettered. I have given a reason why we do not accept the high end-costs which have been suggested, and I stand by it.