Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a representative from Northern Ireland to the Financial Inclusion Committee.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
On 5 December, I convened a Financial Inclusion Committee which has been established to tackle the problems of financial exclusion. Through this committee, I will work with consumer groups and industry on the development of a Financial Inclusion Strategy.
This strategy must work for the whole of the UK. As such, I have written to my counterparts in Devolved Governments to update them on this work and extend the offer to input on an ongoing basis, both at ministerial and official level. More widely, we will be working closely with a number of organisations from across the UK, beyond the core committee, to ensure that the development of the strategy is informed by a range of perspectives and expertise.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had on the potential merits of appointing a Northern Ireland representative to the Financial Inclusion Committee.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq
On 5 December, I convened a Financial Inclusion Committee which has been established to tackle the problems of financial exclusion. Through this committee, I will work with consumer groups and industry on the development of a Financial Inclusion Strategy.
This strategy must work for the whole of the UK. As such, I have written to my counterparts in Devolved Governments to update them on this work and extend the offer to input on an ongoing basis, both at ministerial and official level. More widely, we will be working closely with a number of organisations from across the UK, beyond the core committee, to ensure that the development of the strategy is informed by a range of perspectives and expertise.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to ensure that small businesses in Great Britain are aware of his Department's guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988, published on 5 December 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
My officials have been engaging regularly with businesses on the new General Product Safety Regulations in Northern Ireland. The guidance for businesses has been shared with the business community in Great Britain and Northern Ireland through existing channels. My officials are also engaging with businesses through drop-in sessions, both before and after the Regulation takes effect in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will meet with online consumers in Northern Ireland experiencing difficulties buying goods from Great Britain.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and are constructively working with all stakeholders, including consumer groups, to protect the UK Internal Market. HM Government continues to support businesses in ensuring a smooth flow of goods between Northern Ireland (NI) and the rest of the UK. This includes through the provision of guidance and advice, as offered through the Trader Support Service and published online.
It is important that we consider consumer views when developing policy. As such, DBT meets consumer representatives from across the UK, and works with the NI Department for the Economy to support people in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to monitor the application of the guidance entitled General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland: Guidance for businesses on Regulation 2023/988, published on 5 December 2024.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department will be monitoring the application of the new General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland and will keep the guidance on the Regulation under review to ensure we are supporting businesses to trade freely across the UK.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations 2023 on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to buy goods from Great Britain.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway to be compliant with the new Regulation to continue trading with the EU.
The Department for Business and Trade’s Office for Product Safety & Standards has issued guidance on the application of the General Product Safety Regulation in Northern Ireland to support businesses.
This will be kept under review and DBT will continue to engage businesses directly to ensure the government is supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK. My department continues to have regular engagement with DBT on this new Regulation.
Asked by: Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on the ability of consumers in Northern Ireland to buy goods from Great Britain.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway to be compliant with the new Regulation to continue trading with the EU.
The Business department has issued guidance in this area (General product safety regulations: Northern Ireland - GOV.UK), and we will keep this under review. The government will continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.