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The British Government \u201cwill be setting out more detailed plans for extensive HMRC support for NI businesses\u201d in the summer, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said, as he faced cross-party calls for clarity over Brexit trade arrangements.<\/p>\n
Tory chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee Simon Hoare said that businesses \u201cdon\u2019t quite know what they are preparing for\u201d in the run-up to the end of the transition period.<\/p>\n
Speaking during Commons NI questions, Mr Hoare said: \u201c(He) knows that NI business wants to prepare to make Brexit a success, the problem is that they don\u2019t quite know what they are preparing for \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he persuaded of the merits of providing stepping stones between now and December 31 so that business knows what to prepare for and in what time frame?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis said: \u201cWe will set out further details to help businesses prepare for the end of the transition period at the earliest appropriate moment \u2026 further guidance will be published this summer to make sure that people and businesses know what they need to do to prepare for the end of the transition period which will be at the end of December this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
SNP Tommy Sheppard (Edinburgh East) called for clarity for NI businesses, asking: \u201cThe minister says consultations are ongoing, but does he not see that this cannot drag into the autumn, that business needs clarity now, given the preparation for a no-deal exit takes months?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he cannot provide this then he owes it to business to extend the transition period until proper answers are found.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis said: \u201cWe will not be extending the transition period, we have made that point clear \u2026 We will be setting out more detailed plans for extensive HMRC support for NI businesses \u2026 and we will issue that guidance this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cFor NI businesses trading with the rest of the UK, they are part of the UK customs territory, they will have unfettered access.\u201d<\/p>\n
DUP Westminster leader Jeffrey Donaldson (Lagan Valley) asked: \u201cIs the Government actively seeking a waiver from the EU to prevent the need for customs declarations on goods being shipped between GB and NI and how advanced are such discussions if they are taking place?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis replied: \u201cWe do continue to take forward discussions on the implementation of the Protocol \u2026 Provisions must include the minimum possible bureaucratic consequences for businesses and traders and we will respect what we have promised, which is unfettered access.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThere should be no tariffs in internal UK trade because the UK is a single customs territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary (interim) Louise Haigh raised concerns over aerospace job losses.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cSix hundred job losses at Bombardier, 400 at Thompson Aero, another 200 at risk from the cancellation of the Airbus Neo project.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthern Ireland cannot afford to lose these jewels in the crown of their economy. So will the Secretary of State ensure the Government steps in with a strategy and support for the aerospace sector similar to that provided by France, Germany and the US?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis responded: \u201cWe are determined to do everything we can to support all sectors of our economy and obviously from my point of view the NI economy as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labour\u2019s Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) called for the Government to increase defense procurement to support the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cNorthern Ireland is reported to be heading for a prolonged economic downturn. Its aerospace industry is in crisis, with significant job losses from Bombardier and Thompson Aero.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Secretary of State could stop further decline by putting pressure on the Treasury to accelerate defense procurements. Why hasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding, Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker said: \u201cThe Covid-19 outbreak has had a severe impact on the aviation and aerospace sectors around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK Government has already provided significant support to the sector, including through the business interruption scheme and the job retention scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n