Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to address additional (a) costs and (b) administration faced by small businesses in Northern Ireland as a result of the Irish Sea border; and whether he plans to support local businesses to access supplies from the rest of the UK.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the Government will ensure the interests of small businesses are embedded into our Industrial and Trade Strategies, as part of a comprehensive approach to delivering on our economic growth mission. The Windsor Framework established a broad set of arrangements to support Great Britain-based businesses to move goods to Northern Ireland, including to small businesses based in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme reduces checks and administrative burdens on retail agrifood movements. The Northern Ireland Plant Health Label scheme removes unnecessary costs and enables previously prohibited goods to enter Northern Ireland. The first stage of the UK internal market scheme was implemented in 2023, and ensures thousands of businesses can move goods without being subject to customs duties. The Government works closely with industry stakeholders and trade associations on the implementation of these arrangements and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials are in the team supporting the Windsor Framework Review; what their roles and responsibilities are; what criteria were used to select that team; what the composition is of the selection panel for the Second Permanent Secretary for EU and International Economic Affairs; how that panel was appointed; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the Windsor Framework Review is (a) transparent and (b) independent.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Support arrangements for the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework are being put in place. Those arrangements will reflect routine Government practice for providing appropriate support to a panel or review. The Review will operate under the leadership of the Rt Hon the Lord Murphy of Torfaen and in line with the Terms of Reference which have been published by the Government.
The selection process for the Second Permanent Secretary for EU and International Economic Affairs was overseen by the First Civil Service Commissioner. She was joined on the selection panel by the Cabinet Secretary and the HM Treasury Permanent Secretary.