Contributions
574 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsWe are prioritising free flow across the border rather than customs revenue in the case of no deal, but we want as much free flow as possible in either scenario. There is detailed…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI thank my hon. Friend for all his work on the short straits. I understand that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has visited both the Dover and the Calais sites, and I…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsAs I have said, I went to the border. It does not take long to feel the pain, the fear and the uncertainty. That is part of daily life, separate from Brexit in many ways, and I…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI think I have already answered that question in part. I have agreed to write in response to the part that I have not answered, and I will copy the right hon. Gentleman into my…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsObviously I recognise the importance of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. As for the specific terminology “a string of border posts” being in a Government document, I have…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsIt is a complex situation, but one to which we think we can find an answer. A category of “trusted traders” is certainly something that any competent Government would be looking…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI recognise that as a potential way forward. I think it would limit the Government’s negotiating capacity, and there will clearly be opportunities for the House to interact in…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsThat is certainly our intention. While on my feet, may I take the opportunity to say that I think I misheard the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) and may have…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI know it to be true because, before my hon. Friend came to this House, I had to negotiate the cost of my printing requirements at elections, and I know that he is a very canny…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsThe right hon. Gentleman is right in his first statement. I am entirely trying to reassure the House on behalf of the Government of the first point. I had the pleasure while…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI thank my hon. Friend for that supportive comment. We are resolved. We will press on. We will try to get a deal. That is our preference, and we will do so and leave on 31 October.01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsAs tempting as it is, I have been clear that I will not get into the detail of those proposals or non-papers.01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI have been very clear that there will be no infrastructure on the border. I have also been clear that the proposals are currently under negotiation, and I will not go into the…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsThat is clearly a very important issue. It is one of the issues that I looked at when I was on the border. I am not sure that I used exactly the right words in the House. I should…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI thank the hon. Lady. It is important that, as well as my saying it, Government communications rebut the inaccuracy. I will make sure that that happens rapidly and in the right…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsUnlike the hon. Lady, I do not want to put a border in Northern Ireland or in Scotland. I believe full-heartedly in the Union. It creates a risk in terms of the Belfast/Good…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsTo clarify, the Government have no plans to put in those checks. We clearly cannot compel the Irish Government to do or not do anything.01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his continued support and thoughts on this issue. He and other colleagues feeding into the process have added great value, and I hope that we will…01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsIs the hon. Gentleman asking whether the Minister will rule out imposing direct rule?01 Oct 2019HANSARD Irish Border: Customs ArrangementsThe hon. Gentleman accused me of dividing the kingdom, but he asked specifically in the same sentence for a vote on parting the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom, as one—the…01 Oct 2019