I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
The Windsor Framework is a significantly positive development. It comprehensively addresses the concerns raised by people and business in Northern Ireland. It ensures that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK internal market while at the same time having continued access to the EU Single Market
In particular, the Framework provides solutions for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It includes new customs and SPS facilitations which make it easier to move goods, especially retail food products, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while at the same time ensuring the necessary safeguards are in place to protect the EU’s single market.
The focus is now on the implementation of the agreed solutions.
The agreed trade facilitations apply in the first instance to goods moving directly between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Customs and SPS procedures applying to the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland via Ireland have not changed. As before, if an operator chooses to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via Ireland, they may either do so under transit procedures or by declaring the goods on arrival for the purposes of customs and any relevant import controls after which they can then be freely moved from Ireland to Northern Ireland.
Arrangements for the movement of goods between Ireland and other EU member states across the UK land bridge remain unchanged by the Windsor Framework.
Maintaining the smooth flow of goods across the land bridge has been a key priority of the Government’s Brexit planning. This will continue to be the case as the UK moves to gradually introduce import controls, starting end January next year, as recently announced as part of the UK Border Target Operating Model.
