Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Grant Excerpts

Wednesday 5th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

As I say, if people have the merit to represent their country, there is no reason why they should not, subject to the rules of the governing body of their sport.

[Peter Grant (Glenrothes) (SNP)]

8. What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential implications for border infrastructure in Northern Ireland of legislative proposals for a single UK customs territory.

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

12. What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential implications for border infrastructure in Northern Ireland of legislative proposals for a single UK customs territory.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Karen Bradley)]

The Government’s commitments in respect of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland have been consistently clear. There will be no physical infrastructure on the border or related checks and controls. This commitment is also reflected in the December joint report text, which we have committed to translate into legally binding text in the withdrawal agreement.

[Peter Grant]

In nine months, all that the Government have done by way of proposals for an open border in Ireland is to demand that 27 other sovereign states change their customs systems in order to collect customs duties on behalf of this Government. Why do the Government expect every other country in the European Union to sort out the mess that they have created?

[Karen Bradley]

With all due respect, I think the hon. Gentleman is confusing our proposals in the White Paper on the future relationship with our proposals for the legal, binding text for the protocols in paragraph 49 of the joint report, which we have committed to making into a legal text. We are working with the European Union on coming up with a text that we can all live with, but we will not accept the text that was put forward by the European Commission.