Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the ability of orchestras in Northern Ireland to recruit freelance musicians from the Republic of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

My Department has not made a specific assessment of the ability of orchestras in Northern Ireland to recruit freelance musicians from Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

As has been made clear, we are committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA) and have agreed principles with the Commission to preserve the CTA and associated rights as included in the UK:EU Joint Report. Rights to work, study, access to social security and public services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals.