Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 3rd November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Kemi Badenoch]

It amazes me that, even now, Brexit is still being blamed for everything. It is about time that the Opposition, who call other people complacent, paid attention to what is going on in the world and got off their personal hobby-horses. On car manufacturing, there is an issue with battery supply from the US, as everybody knows. We are doing everything that we can to support companies in getting the parts that they need. The export support service is doing a fantastic job, and I commend the officials who work in it.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T4.   When couriers demand payment of duty on goods from the European Union, with which we have a free trade agreement, are we being ripped off?

[Kemi Badenoch]

Items moving between countries normally attract customs duty and import VAT, but my right hon. Friend will know that the trade and co-operation agreement means that there will be no customs duty on goods moving between Great Britain and the EU if the goods meet rules of origin. Delivery companies may charge their clients handling fees for moving products internationally, but the Government do not have control over those charges, which are a commercial matter.