Contributions
2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, I am a veteran of listening to baleful predictions about what might happen if the British people made the decision that they did. The Government have made it clear that…02 Jun 2020HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, I watched the evidence given by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and by Mr David Frost. I thought that they came over—I hope your…02 Jun 2020HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, the Government seek to extend the opportunities of our being outside the European Union and to enable businesses and citizens to prepare for the change for which the…02 Jun 2020HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, I do not agree with the noble Lord in the picture that he presents of either unpreparedness or impossibility. We will seek and are seeking a free trade agreement with…02 Jun 2020HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, I cannot give a particular figure in reply to the noble Baroness, but, as I have tried to stress to her before, the Government recognise fully the importance of securing…02 Jun 2020HANSARDEU: Plans for No DealMy Lords, at the end of this year we will have recovered our economic and political independence on the basis of the agreement that we reached in October. Whether our relationship…02 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolI agree with what my noble friend has said about the place of Northern Ireland. Indeed, I have just affirmed that myself and I am pleased to repeat it. I think and hope that the…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolI thank both noble Lords. I had noted down to say that the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, had always been constructive in his responses, but I was a bit disappointed when he opened by…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for her remarks. I can certainly give her the final assurances that she seeks. We will deliver unfettered access. We will legislate for it. We…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I regret to say that some of the noble Lord’s question rather broke up on my computer. However, I think I heard him say at one point that there will be checks on both…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I welcome my noble friend’s comments and his recognising that this Administration wish to reach an amicable agreement with our European friends; it is our hope, desire…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I fear that I do not have all the answers here. On facilities, I understand that any increase in costs will be met, but I will confirm that with the noble and learned…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolThe status of Northern Ireland under the protocol is well known and often discussed. Northern Ireland will effectively be operating within the EU single market but also within the…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I do not know about klaxons; I have always found them rather unpleasant. The United Kingdom Government regard Northern Ireland and its people as equal in every way to…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I believe that in practical terms it will be possible to address the issues that the noble Lord points to, in so far as those difficulties exist. There is a little…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I may stand corrected, but I believe that the mechanism of the consent is set out in the protocol. That is the mechanism that will apply.21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, as my noble friend said, we will engage with businesses and traders about the requirements of the protocol. That will certainly be a priority in the coming weeks. She…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, I must tell the noble Lord, as I have told others, that this Government’s view is that there is no need to implement the protocol for there to be an office of this…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, first, the Government hope that we will conclude a free trade agreement; that is our policy and our objective. I am not sorry to say—but from the noble Baroness’s point…21 May 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland ProtocolMy Lords, there are currently checks on animals in Belfast. The island of Ireland has a special epidemiological status and both parties on this side wish to safeguard that. There…21 May 2020