Lords Protocol Committee writes to Foreign Secretary launching inquiry into Windsor Framework

Over the coming months the Committee will examine the economic, political, legal and constitutional implications of the Framework, taking oral evidence from business representatives, civic society representatives, academic and legal experts and political representatives.

The Committee also welcomes written submissions by 4pm Tuesday 2 May 2023 from anyone with experience or expertise on topics including:

• The overall assessment of the Windsor Framework;
• Customs procedures and the movement of goods;
• Agrifood;
• VAT and excise;
• Medicines;
• The movement of pets;
• Veterinary medicines;
• Regulatory divergence;
• The application of EU rules in Northern Ireland;
• The democratic deficit and the ‘Stormont Brake’;
• New structures for UK-EU cooperation;
• Engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders;
• The governance of the Framework, including arbitration and the role of the CJEU.

Read the full call for evidence and find out how to submit evidence.

The Committee’s first public evidence session of its inquiry will take place at 3.15pm on Wednesday 22 March 2023 and will be available to watch in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster or on Parliament TV.

The Committee will hear from:

• Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at Institute for Government
• Anton Spisak, Senior Fellow at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
• Dr Andrew McCormick, Former Director General of International Relations at Northern Ireland Executive
• James Webber, Partner at Shearman and Sterling

Lord Jay of Ewelme, Chair of the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Committee Committee said:

“On the 27 February 2023 the UK and EU announced the Windsor Framework, which they described as ‘a set of meaningful changes to the Protocol and its operation which will provide lasting certainty and stability for citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland.

“Our Committee will now be undertaking the vital task of testing this claim through detailed analysis of the new Framework. From 22 March through to the end of May, we’ll meet and take evidence from business representatives, civic society representatives, academic and legal experts and political representatives on some of the core economic, political, legal and constitutional questions that the Framework gives rise to.

“Diversity comes in many forms, and hearing from a range of different perspectives means that Committees are better informed and can more effectively scrutinise public policy and legislation.

“As well as our invitation to the Foreign Secretary to appear before the Committee, we also welcome and value the views of anyone with experience or expertise of the issues under investigation, and invite them to respond to our call for evidence by 4pm on Tuesday 2 May 2023."