Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that discussions on the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention include trade between mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade - within our clear red lines - because having a smooth trading relationship with European partners is essential to driving growth at home.

This is one of those options we are open to looking at to reduce barriers, and it’s right and responsible that we are looking at it to determine what is in the national interest of the whole of the UK. But we do not currently have any plans to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.