Speeches by Benn.

“I didn’t see that.”

“If it is okay, I will have to come back to the Committee having found out from the Department for Transport when they are going to take forward the commitment that they have already given.”

“As you are aware, the last Government allowed manufacturers to produce cars to either a GB standard or an EU standard, which created the problem to which you refer. We have been working to remedy that. Lilian Greenwood, when she was a Transport Minister, met car dealerships to discuss this, because we were all concerne…”

“A lot of the recommendations in Lord Murphy’s report relate to the Government. They are things that are within our control to deal with—anything that is relevant to the operation of the Windsor framework that does not go beyond the essential element that the Windsor framework is here and is the best means we have avail…”

“I know that you have just been taking evidence from him. I am very grateful to him for having undertaken the work. The Government will publish its formal response within the six months required under the arrangements that have been set out. I thought it was a very good report. It reflects what a number of other people …”

“It is not a game—it is really practical, in order to bring relief to the people of Northern Ireland.”

“And I didn’t. I was very careful not to say that everything was rosy, because in my preamble I accepted producing those statistics. I entirely get why businesses say, “Well, why are we having to march further up the regulatory hill, when we can see the promised land of the SPS agreement beckoning from the distance?” It…”

“There are a number of questions there. I met it last at the East-West Council, and I met individual members—Roger Pollen, for example—when I met the FSB recently. It was presenting its work programme to the East-West Council. I am grateful to all the members for agreeing to take on this task; they have a very important…”

“Businesses decide where they buy from and where they sell to. It is certainly not my understanding of the operation of the Windsor framework that there is a role for anyone else to tell businesses where they should buy from or to whom they should sell their goods. Is there?”

“I am not sure I understand the question.”

“I did indeed, and that is exactly what they said too. There is clear evidence that there are businesses in Northern Ireland that absolutely get the benefit that comes from having dual market access. I think it is all of our responsibility to promote that and to generate the understanding. In my experience, businesses w…”

“Always. Q126   Katrina Murray: The answer that you have given, Ms Johnson, is very helpful, because I particularly want to look at the real-life situation. Secretary of State, I think that every time you have come to this Committee to talk about the work of the Department, you have been asked a question about…”

“I think that the example I have just alluded to is not an example of ineffectiveness. There are people in Northern Ireland who are very unhappy about the decision that I took in relation to that particular application, but I have legal obligations; I followed them to the letter. That does not mean it does not work.”

“Fleur, I am going to turn to you at this point.”

“Sorry, just say that again. His review point being that some people—”

“But that shows that the democratic scrutiny mechanism worked—that is exactly my point.”

“He heard that from some of the people he spoke to, indeed, but if you take the example of the Stormont brake, about which a lot of views have been expressed, there has been one pulling of the brake. In those circumstances, the Secretary of State has a legal obligation to consider that decision against specific criteria…”

“My understanding is that the Assembly is looking at the same pile of legislation that is coming our way as we are looking at, and it is open to them to discuss that legislation and to request the explanatory memoranda. They can consider it; it is entirely a matter for them. Of course, we will give careful consideration…”

“Well, in the case of the non-agricultural—”

“No, it is indeed impressive. Did you say agricultural geographical indicators or non-agricultural—”