Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that people living in Northern Ireland who fly from airports in Northern Ireland to EU countries can avail themselves of the same duty free benefits that are available to people flying from airports in Great Britain.

Duty-free shopping is available to individuals buying excise goods when leaving the UK, depending on their destination. It is available when leaving Great Britain to go to any destination outside the UK, although duty may be liable upon arrival, subject to allowances applied by that country. Individuals who leave Northern Ireland to go to any destination outside the UK or the EU may also benefit from duty free, subject to the same controls.

In the case of EU destinations and trips to Ireland, individuals who leave Northern Ireland are able to carry unlimited duty paid products to take to the destination or on return from that destination, and no further duty is due on arrival or return.

Introducing duty-free shopping for individuals moving between Northern Ireland and the EU or Ireland would require the introduction of allowances and controls to ensure duty is paid where those allowances are exceeded.

Otherwise, unlimited amounts of duty-free tobacco and alcohol could flow between Ireland and Northern Ireland, undermining domestic suppliers who must charge excise on these goods, and the UK’s ability to collect tax revenues to fund public services.