Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

Planning for COP26 is progressing in all areas and we are continuing to work closely with the venues and our delivery partners to ensure that we deliver the facilities and logistics needed for the event, in line with the requirements outlined by the UNFCCC.

Alongside summit preparations, the COP26 President, ministers and senior officials have been engaging with a wide range of UK and international partners.

Last month, COP President Designate Alok Sharma initiated a comprehensive round of consultations with the chairs of all UNFCCC negotiating groups to complement his ongoing informal engagement with international partners – which has included trips to Gabon, Ethiopia, Egypt and Nigeria already this year. And we continue to engage our international partners extensively at a technical level, as well as through our diplomatic network around the world.

The UK is committed to delivering an ambitious and inclusive COP26. We know that approaching our Presidency in a fair, inclusive and balanced way will lead to the most sustainable outcomes.

We will champion inclusivity throughout our COP Presidency and use our position as Presidency to empower and amplify the voices of those whose views are often most marginalised, addressing their needs and priorities in the run up to, and at the COP itself.

We are working with a diverse group of Friends of COP, leading figures from around the world who are sharing their expertise in support of a successful summit. This includes Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. We are also engaging regularly with the UNFCCC constituency focal points, which include the Trade Union non-governmental organisations.

The Government’s Race Disparity Audit (RDA) and its website, Ethnicity Facts and Figures, was launched in October 2017. The website is world first and has been welcomed internationally for its open and data-driven approach to highlighting inequalities of outcomes.

In response to its findings, Government has taken action to increase diversity in employment.

This includes launching the Race at Work Charter which aims to increase ethnic minority representation in all sectors, and providing targeted employment support in twenty areas around the country with high rates of ethnic minority unemployment to boost earning potential.

In 2018/19, the Government consulted on options for exploring possibilities for employer- level ethnicity pay reporting. Following the consultation, Government met with businesses and representative organisations to understand the barriers to reporting. The Government is continuing to analyse this data and is committed to responding to the consultation by the end of the year.

In addition, this year the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities was established and is examining all aspects of continuing racial and ethnic disparities in Britain. It is building on the work of the Race Disparity Unit. The Commission is carrying out a deeper examination of what the causes of these disparities are, and is seeking to establish what works to address them effectively, including in employment and enterprise.

We want transgender people to be free to live and to prosper in modern Britain. We have looked carefully at the issues raised in the consultation, including the impact of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 on trans people. It is the Government’s view that the balance struck in this legislation is correct, in that there are proper checks and balances in the system and also support for people who want to change their legal sex.

We will make the gender recognition certificate process kinder and more straightforward. We will cut bureaucracy by enabling applications via gov.uk and will reduce the fee from £140 to a nominal amount. We know from our research that improving healthcare support is a priority for transgender people. That’s why three gender clinics will become operational this year, which should see waiting lists cut by around 1,600 patients by 2022 and why the GEO is providing funding for Dr Michael Brady, the UK’s National LGBT Health Advisor, and working with him and the NHS to improve transgender people’s experience.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is a world leading policy that places a proactive equality duty on public bodies, and those exercising public functions, to consider the potential effects of key decisions on groups with protected characteristics. Government departments are each individually responsible for ensuring their compliance with the PSED.

Assessments of significant policy and operational changes are routinely undertaken by Departments and other public bodies as part of PSED compliance. There is however no statutory requirement to publish assessments and decisions on publication are a matter for the public body concerned, given the particular circumstances.

The Government has implemented significant measures to reduce the spread of the virus in all communities, especially for people who may be at higher risk. This includes ensuring that those in high-contact professions get targeted testing and translating key public health messages into different languages.

The Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, is also leading cross-government work on the findings of the Public Health England Report “COVID-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes”. This includes reviewing the effectiveness and impact of current actions being undertaken by government departments and their agencies to directly lessen disparities in infection and death rates of COVID-19. She will shortly be submitting her first quarterly report to the Prime Minister updating him on progress with this work.

The decision to charge suspects in England and Wales with criminal offences is made either by the police or by the CPS depending on the nature of the offence involved. The CPS make the decision to charge in serious cases but over the last five years the police have made the charging decision in 61% to 63% of the cases that are prosecuted by the CPS. In cases in which the CPS make the decision to charge, the CPS had a charging rate of between 74.5% and 77.7% over the last five years.

While the police and other investigators are responsible for conducting inquiries into any alleged crime and gathering evidence to inform a charging decision, prosecutors work closely with police during the investigation stage to assist with the building of strong cases. The recently introduced Director of Public Prosecution’s Guidance on Charging 6^th Edition (DG6) supports this work to ensure cases are robustly prepared by police and prosecutors pre-charge.

This reflects aspects of the revised Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure; both came into effect in England and Wales on the 31 December 2020.

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.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs carefully reviewed the provision of Border Control Post (BCP) facilities in Kent. It is the UK Government’s intention that SPS checks on goods arriving through the short straits should be undertaken at Sevington Inland BCP. This will ensure protection of the nation’s biosecurity and reduce import burdens for trade whilst also managing operating costs.

A key part of the review was consideration of the required capacity needed for SPS checks in Kent. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is confident that Sevington BCP has sufficient capacity to handle the volume of expected checks at the Short Straits, as set out in the Border Operating Model, with robust, dynamic, and effective operational measures ready to call upon if needed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Government departments are engaging with stakeholders across all affected sectors in all parts of the United Kingdom and the EU to ensure that they understand the coming changes outlined in the Border Target Operating Model and are ready to continue to move goods across the border. We have not identified any specific risk of disruption to imports to the UK as a consequence of the BTOM at this stage and will continue to engage with all parts of the supply chain ahead of each implementation stage.

In implementing this new control regime for the first time on EU imports we are carefully monitoring the range of potential risks, including those that may impact food supply-chains.

We are working with importers to try to manage those risks in a structured way, considering whether there are appropriate contingencies which we or they can deploy if and when required.

In accordance with usual practice, we will undertake a programme of operational testing with users of the border prior to the changes being implemented to ensure that any potential issues are identified and resolved. We recognise this new model for importing Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods will require some businesses and their supply-chains to adapt their business models.

Information is being shared through a series of live and virtual engagement events and communications outlining actions required as a result of the new changes. Guidance is available on GOV.UK.

The Border Target Operating Model was published in August 2023, setting out the timeline for import controls which will be implemented from the end of January 2024. The biosecurity and security reasons for these changes are set out in the Border Target Operating Model. The publication of the Border Target Operating Model gave clarity to businesses about which import controls will be introduced and when, and gave sufficient time for businesses to prepare.

The Government engaged extensively with stakeholders prior to the publication of the final Border Target Operating Model and in response to stakeholder feedback some of the implementation milestones were moved in order to give businesses more time to prepare. Stakeholder readiness for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model has therefore been taken into account and prioritised throughout.

It is the responsibility of businesses who are impacted by these changes to prepare for upcoming controls. To help businesses with these changes, the Government is carrying out a comprehensive programme of engagement both in the UK and in the EU to ensure businesses understand the changes, and are therefore prepared for the new 2024 import controls.

The Government has not received significant feedback from stakeholders to suggest that they are not prepared for the introduction of new controls. The Government will continue to engage with and support business as the Border Target Operating Model is implemented from the end of January 2024.

The Border Target Operating Model was published in August 2023, setting out the timeline for import controls which will be implemented from the end of January 2024. The biosecurity and security reasons for these changes are set out in the Border Target Operating Model. The publication of the Border Target Operating Model gave clarity to businesses about which import controls will be introduced and when, and gave sufficient time for businesses to prepare.

The Government engaged extensively with stakeholders prior to the publication of the final Border Target Operating Model and in response to stakeholder feedback some of the implementation milestones were moved in order to give businesses more time to prepare. Stakeholder readiness for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model has therefore been taken into account and prioritised throughout.

It is the responsibility of businesses who are impacted by these changes to prepare for upcoming controls. To help businesses with these changes, the Government is carrying out a comprehensive programme of engagement both in the UK and in the EU to ensure businesses understand the changes, and are therefore prepared for the new 2024 import controls.

The Government has not received significant feedback from stakeholders to suggest that they are not prepared for the introduction of new controls. The Government will continue to engage with and support business as the Border Target Operating Model is implemented from the end of January 2024.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlines a pragmatic and phased implementation approach starting from January 31 2024, designed to give all relevant parties sufficient time to prepare ahead of its introduction.

We will continue to engage with and monitor the sentiment of stakeholders across all parts of the United Kingdom, affected sectors, and our trading partners around the world to ensure readiness for the phased introduction of our new model.

The Government will run a series of in-person and online engagement events, and publish guidance detailing actions required as a result of the changes on GOV.UK. For example, we will work closely with our key trading partners to ensure the capacity and availability of certifiers for Export Health Certificates does not become a barrier to trade.

To ensure our own readiness for implementing the Model, departments with specific responsibilities will run and end-to-end operational testing, working with industry to identify any issues and support a smooth transition for each phase of the Model.

The Model represents an estimated £520 million saving for all importers compared to the Model originally planned for introduction in 2022. The actual cost to business will greatly depend on how businesses adapt their business models and supply chains to integrate the Model. As outlined in the BTOM, we estimate the costs of the Model at £330 million per annum overall, across all EU imports, which is around 0.13% of the overall value of EU goods imports to Great Britain. We estimate the measures introduced through the BTOM would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% in total over a 3-year period.

In contrast, an outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact: the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

The Government ran a consultation on charges for Government owned Border Control Posts from 12 June to 9 July, including a call for views on our intention to administer a single Common User Charge for eligible Sanitary and Phytosanitary consignments at government-run Border Control Posts. The outcome of this consultation will be published shortly.

The government published the draft Border Target Operating Model in April. This sets out plans to phase in security and biosecurity controls from 31 October in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with.

We developed the draft document alongside the Scottish and Welsh Governments and officials from the Northern Ireland Executive, and continue to work collaboratively to design and be able to implement a model for the whole of the UK.

We are also working closely with businesses to get this right. During the engagement period on the draft model we have spoken to UK and international businesses and their supply chains to help them understand the new requirements and gather their views on them. We have listened closely to the feedback we received from stakeholders and are carefully considering what more we can do to support business readiness for the introduction of new controls before the final TOM is published later this summer.

We have also been working through our embassies across the EU to ensure readiness in Member States. The final version of the model we publish will respond to the feedback we have had and will set out further detail to support supply chain readiness.

While businesses will need to prepare for new requirements, we will continue to take a pragmatic approach to the introduction of border controls to ensure trade is not disrupted.

The Government has engaged extensively with ports and carriers to ensure they are ready for the end of staged customs controls. We are confident that arrangements are in place to ensure the continued flow of trade over the Christmas period.

​The Government has invested £470 million for new infrastructure to carry out customs and biosecurity checks, including £200 million Port Infrastructure Fund grants for ports to build infrastructure onsite and £270 million for Inland Sites.

Parliamentary scrutiny is a key stage in the delivery of a Common Framework; Government officials remain in regular contact with relevant Parliamentary committees about this matter. The Government anticipates that frameworks will be made available for Parliamentary scrutiny in the Autumn and that the Devolved Administrations will follow a broadly similar timetable. The Government and the Devolved Administrations are committed to delivering Common Frameworks by the end of 2021. Following this, Common Frameworks will be kept under periodic review.

The majority of Common Frameworks intersect with the policy areas covered in Northern Ireland Protocol. Common Frameworks contain the governance structures needed to manage divergence arising as a consequence of new or amended EU law applied through the Protocol. Reporting on any divergence arising from the Protocol will be a matter for the relevant Common Framework-owning departments and their Devolved Administration counterparts to consider.

The Northern Ireland Executive has provided provisional confirmation for 21 Common Frameworks. Of the remaining 32 active areas in which a Common Framework is required, 28 Common Frameworks have now been provisionally confirmed and one has been fully implemented. Once sufficiently progressed, the Northern Ireland Executive will be sharing their Frameworks with the Northern Ireland Assembly to allow for Parliamentary Scrutiny in the same way colleagues across the UK Government will be sharing the provisionally confirmed Frameworks with the UK Parliament.

The majority of Common Frameworks intersect with the policy areas covered in Northern Ireland Protocol. Common Frameworks contain the governance structures needed to manage divergence arising as a consequence of new or amended EU law applied through the Protocol. Reporting on any divergence arising from the Protocol will be a matter for the relevant Common Framework-owning departments and their Devolved Administration counterparts to consider.

The Northern Ireland Executive has provided provisional confirmation for 21 Common Frameworks. Of the remaining 32 active areas in which a Common Framework is required, 28 Common Frameworks have now been provisionally confirmed and one has been fully implemented. Once sufficiently progressed, the Northern Ireland Executive will be sharing their Frameworks with the Northern Ireland Assembly to allow for Parliamentary Scrutiny in the same way colleagues across the UK Government will be sharing the provisionally confirmed Frameworks with the UK Parliament.