Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals

Laura Farris Excerpts
Wednesday 18th November 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Laura Farris Portrait Laura Farris (Newbury) (Con) [V]
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Work is continuing at pace to get Northern Irish businesses to sign up to the trader support service, but how confident is the Minister that all qualifying businesses will have signed up by the deadline? Will he consider a temporary concession for any businesses that, come January, say that—for whatever reason—they were unaware of this service, or failed to sign up in time?

Robin Walker Portrait Mr Walker
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My hon. Friend makes an interesting suggestion that I will happily take away and consider. Progress so far with 7,000 businesses having signed up is good, but of course we want to see more. She is right to say it is important that all businesses in Northern Ireland, particularly the many small businesses that form the backbone of the economy, are aware of this scheme, and we should continue to encourage them to sign up.