Northern Ireland Affairs committee to hear from DExEU and NI Office ministers in border inquiry

Both the EU and UK have stated their support for maintaining the Common Travel Area, upholding the Belfast Agreement and avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland. There is disagreement about how these high-level principles should be achieved. The Government is coming under increasing pressure to clarify how its proposals can achieve these aims whilst also respecting the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union.

The evidence session will examine the Government’s proposals for establishing a post-Brexit border regime with particular focus on; customs arrangements, regulatory divergence and avoiding physical infrastructure. It will scrutinise the extent of contingency planning for a ‘no deal’ scenario and options for a transitional phase.

The Committee will also investigate whether sufficient resource has been allocated to Northern Ireland in order to make the border a success.

Wednesday 29 November

Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

From 9.30am:

• The Hon Chloe Smith MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
• The Hon Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union