Brexit: Preparations

Lord Marlesford Excerpts
Tuesday 8th October 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan
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We have been very open about the fact that some of the sectors the noble Lord mentions face very real challenges due to the EU’s protectionist nature and the imposition of tariffs. We stand ready to help those sectors in a no-deal scenario and we have interventions ready to mitigate the worst effects of tariffs in those sectors.

Lord Marlesford Portrait Lord Marlesford (Con)
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My Lords, does my noble friend agree that for Northern Ireland to be outside the single market when Great Britain is inside it in no way infringes the constitutional position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom? If he does so agree, could not exactly the same argument apply to the customs union?

Lord Callanan Portrait Lord Callanan
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I thank my noble friend for his question. The proposal we have put forward is for Northern Ireland to be aligned with the EU single market for agri-foods and industrial goods but not part of the customs union, but he makes an important point.