Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent steps he has taken with the European Commission to ensure that there is not a hard border on the island of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union has regularly met with the EU Commission to discuss preparations for leaving the EU.

The Government has been clear that the unique social, political and economic circumstances of Northern Ireland must be reflected in any arrangements that apply in a no deal scenario. We are absolutely committed to upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and would do everything possible to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

In a no deal scenario, the UK Government is committed to entering into discussions urgently with the European Commission and the Irish Government to jointly agree long-term measures to avoid a hard border and to limit the impact of a no deal exit on life on the island of Ireland.

We have confirmed a unilateral approach to checks, processes and tariffs to do all we can to avoid a hard border. The UK Government would not introduce any new checks or controls on goods crossing from Ireland to Northern Ireland, including any new customs declarations for nearly all goods.

The UK temporary tariff regime would therefore not apply to goods crossing from Ireland into Northern Ireland.

We would need to apply a small number of measures strictly necessary to comply with international legal obligations, protect the biosecurity of the island of Ireland, or to avoid the highest risks to Northern Ireland businesses - but these measures would not require checks at the border.