Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 November (HL1933), why they do not intend to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, despite the commitment set in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP1021)
Answer
The Government is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market while implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, including having regard to all aspects of the Northern Ireland economy.
Section 10(1)(b) refers to the Joint Report between the UK and EU negotiators of October 2017, which makes reference, among other things, to the all-island economy. The all-island economy is a fact and greatly to the benefit of businesses and people in Northern Ireland, as is Northern Ireland’s trade within the UK internal market.