Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how may border posts her Department plans to erect to inspect movements of goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have committed to providing unfettered access for Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods to the Great Britain market and have enshrined these protections in law. This means Qualifying Northern Ireland goods, except for a small subset such as those subject to international obligations, will face no new checks and controls. We made clear in the draft Border Target Operating Model that Irish goods will be subject to checks when moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain. The Government is rightly engaging with the Welsh and Scottish Governments to ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place on the west coast to support these movements.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Office on the consultation documents for the draft Border Target Operating Model.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Officials from NIO, NI Exec and DAERA have been consulted regularly on the TOM as it has developed to ensure compatibility with the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Marine Management Organisation had with Maritime Systems Ltd to resolve issues which led to removal of type approval for that company's inshore vessel monitoring systems.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.
All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.
The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.
The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.
I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Marine Management Organisation on the decision to remove type approval for inshore vessel monitoring systems provided by Maritime Systems Ltd.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.
All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.
The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.
The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.
I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reasons the Marine Management Organisation has given for removing type approval for inland vessel monitoring systems from Maritime Systems Ltd..
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.
All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.
The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.
The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.
I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Marine Management Organisation had with suppliers of inshore vessel monitoring systems other than Maritime Systems Ltd before deciding on type approval.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The current I-VMS Project that facilitates access to U12 fishers in England, to secure an I-VMS device, did so through a ‘Type Approval’ process. This process required suppliers of I-VMS devices to demonstrate that their device met the I-VMS Functional Technical Specification, which included agreeing to Requirements of Participation.
All prospective suppliers were invited to engagement workshops ahead of any formal decision making relating to the approval of their devices’ Type Approved status.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of financially supporting fishers to secure suitable, replacement devices for equipment which has had type approval withdrawn.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fishers who purchased a Maritime Systems device and their industry representatives are being kept directly informed, and have been provided with guidance, including being signposted to further support from the Marine Management Organisation.
The costs associated with supporting fishers and re-starting the I-VMS Project is still being assessed.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Marine Management Organisation has made of the impact on fishermen of removal of the type approval for inshore vessel monitoring systems by the Maritime Systems Ltd.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Fishers who purchased a Maritime Systems device and their industry representatives are being kept directly informed, and have been provided with guidance, including being signposted to further support from the Marine Management Organisation.
The costs associated with supporting fishers and re-starting the I-VMS Project is still being assessed.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2023 to Question 110866 on Animal Welfare: Public Consultation, when she plans to hold discussions with the poultry industry on suitable timing for a consultation on the use of cages for laying hens.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to exploring the use of cages. However, no formal timelines for consultations have been confirmed as yet.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of potential border control posts in Northern Ireland as a result of the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A business case for the construction of SPS inspection facilities in Northern Ireland will be prepared. I will provide an update to the House in due course.
The latest information available as to costs borne by DAERA is set out in my answer to the Rt Hon member for Lagan Valley of 28 November to PQ 92116.