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Written Question
Joint Consultative Working Group
Tuesday 2nd March 2021

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether, at the meeting of the Joint Consultative Working Group on the Northern Ireland Protocol on 29 January 2021, the rules of procedure adopted by that Working Group were those included as an Annex to the EU’s Council Decision 2020/1599 adopted on 23 October 2020; and whether any amendments were made to those proposed rules of procedure.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Article 15(2) of the Northern Ireland Protocol establishes that the Joint Consultative Working Group shall be composed of representatives of the United Kingdom and the European Union. The Government has committed to including representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the UK delegation to meetings. The JCWG briefly convened for a very short period on 29 January to adopt the Rules of Procedure. This was not a full meeting so was attended by limited delegations of only three officials from each side.

The Rules of Procedure adopted by that Working Group were those included as an Annex to the EU’s Council Decision 2020/1599 adopted on 23 October 2020; and no amendments were made.

The Working Group will continue to meet at dates decided by the co-chairs.


Written Question
Joint Consultative Working Group
Tuesday 2nd March 2021

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which (a) UK Government and (b) Northern Ireland Executive Departments were represented at the meeting of the Joint Consultative Working Group on the Northern Ireland Protocol on 29 January 2021; and which officials from those Departments attended that meeting.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

Article 15(2) of the Northern Ireland Protocol establishes that the Joint Consultative Working Group shall be composed of representatives of the United Kingdom and the European Union. The Government has committed to including representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the UK delegation to meetings. The JCWG briefly convened for a very short period on 29 January to adopt the Rules of Procedure. This was not a full meeting so was attended by limited delegations of only three officials from each side.

The Rules of Procedure adopted by that Working Group were those included as an Annex to the EU’s Council Decision 2020/1599 adopted on 23 October 2020; and no amendments were made.

The Working Group will continue to meet at dates decided by the co-chairs.


Written Question
Trade: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 23rd December 2020

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 33 of The Northern Ireland Protocol, CP346, published on 10 December 2020, which categories of trader (a) can and (b) cannot benefit from a grace period to 1 April 2021 from official certification for products of (i) animal origin, (ii) composite products, (iii) food and feed of non-animal origin and (iv) plants and plant products.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

As the Command Paper underlines, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will engage in a rapid exercise to identify the authorised traders able to draw on the grace period from official certification for products of animal origin, composite products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants and plant products. The Government will not discriminate against smaller suppliers or between different companies in implementing these practical measures. This list will be in place by the end of the year.


Written Question
Technical Alternative Arrangements Advisory Group
Monday 9th March 2020

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates meetings of the Government’s Technical Alternative Arrangements Advisory Group took place since June 2019.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Alternative Arrangements Technical Advisory Group met on the 20th June, 17th July and 12th September 2019.

The Alternative Arrangements Business and Trade Union Advisory Group met on 26th June, 10th July and 29th August 2019.

The new Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland in the Withdrawal Agreement which was agreed with the EU on the 17th October 2019 and ratified by the UK on the 23rd January 2020 ensures the whole of the UK will be a single customs territory outside the EU Customs Union. It replaces the backstop provisions of the previous Withdrawal Agreement.


Written Question
Business and Trade Union Alternative Arrangements Advisory Group
Monday 9th March 2020

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates meetings of the Government’s Business and Business and Trade Union Alternative Arrangements Advisory Group took place since June 2019.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

The Alternative Arrangements Technical Advisory Group met on the 20th June, 17th July and 12th September 2019.

The Alternative Arrangements Business and Trade Union Advisory Group met on 26th June, 10th July and 29th August 2019.

The new Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland in the Withdrawal Agreement which was agreed with the EU on the 17th October 2019 and ratified by the UK on the 23rd January 2020 ensures the whole of the UK will be a single customs territory outside the EU Customs Union. It replaces the backstop provisions of the previous Withdrawal Agreement.


Written Question
Elections: Proof of Identity
Wednesday 14th November 2018

Asked by: Simon Hoare (Conservative - North Dorset)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

Whether the Government plans to undertake additional voter ID pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Chloe Smith

Again, Mr Speaker, the British public deserves to have confidence in our democracy. Eleven local authorities have confirmed that they will be taking part in Voter ID pilots for the 2019 local elections. The pilots will provide further insight into ensuring the security of the voting process.