Ms Rowena Dwyer:

One of the most challenging issues which has arisen for a relatively small number of companies and sectors is that of rules of origin. All companies are making sure they are abiding with the rules of origin. In some instances, there are tariff implications arising from it. Flour is a major issue. It is a feature of trade agreements that these rules of origin have to be followed.

It is really about what potential investments can be made and how companies can be supported to make the adjustments to this challenge. It is looking in the short term at what support can be given to companies to address their supply chain configurations. It is then about looking in the longer term at the potential options for funding such as the Brexit adjustment reserve. Has it the potential to support enterprise and sectors impacted by Brexit to offset or make adjustments to continue trading in a competitive manner? It is not a straightforward answer but it is about looking at how companies can be supported to make investments to address this issue.

The options around flour are about changing supply chains. None of those are immediate, however. Companies will have to be supported to do so.