Contributions
680 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillWe have had significant debate on this matter on Second Reading and I do not wish to prolong proceedings any further at this stage. I look forward to hearing from right hon. and…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillAs I have said, these are the measures that we need to take now to ensure that the scheme remains on a legal footing. These are the steps that need to be taken to ensure that any…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI was about to conclude, but I will give way to the hon. Gentleman, because he is irresistible.06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillAs I have said, the figures will all be individual, and it is impossible for me to give the hon. Gentleman a generality from the Dispatch Box. However, he is right to say that the…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI do want to make some progress, but I recognise that many interests are involved. I will give way to the right hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) and to the hon. Member…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThat is why a buy-out scheme is available: so that boiler owners can choose individually. I cannot say exactly what the rate will be, because it will depend on, for instance, the…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillWe cannot easily compare schemes: there are different set-up costs and fuel costs in different parts of the United Kingdom. Differences apply. The work done by the Department for…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. I will come on to the detail of the renewable heat measures and the work undertaken. The Department for the Economy in Northern…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillAs I say, I have enormous sympathy for people in this situation. I have met the Ulster Farmers Union and my officials have met individual farmers to talk about it. I well…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI will now give way to the hon. Member for Belfast East.06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI will come on to the details of why the decisions have been taken, the advice that we have received from the Department for the Economy and the request that it put in. However, I…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillAs I said, this situation has resulted from a decision by the European Commission on state aid rules, and failure to do this will mean no subsidies being paid to anybody. I fully…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillWhat we are doing today is setting the rate. We are not setting any of the reliefs or allowances or support that is already available. Nothing that is there is changing and we are…06 Mar 2019HANSARDDevolved GovernmentI can assure the right hon. Gentleman of that. Despite the lack of a devolved Executive, we now have a fully constituted Policing Board to ensure that we have proper governance…06 Mar 2019HANSARDUN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against WomenI do agree with the right hon. Gentleman on that. Interestingly, even the majority of those people who say in polls that they want to see change to the abortion laws in Northern…06 Mar 2019HANSARDDevolved GovernmentThe threat level in Northern Ireland—the level of threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism—is “severe”, and there is currently no suggestion that it will change. I had a…06 Mar 2019HANSARDDevolved GovernmentI think that all parties and all politicians in Northern Ireland want devolution to work. We want to find a way through this. My hon. Friend is absolutely right: there is no…06 Mar 2019HANSARDDevolved GovernmentMy hon. Friend has made the important point that in the absence of Ministers at Stormont, it is incumbent on the Government to ensure that, when necessary, steps are taken to…06 Mar 2019HANSARDDevolved GovernmentOn the first day of Lent, we continue our feast of Northern Ireland business. I am working closely with the main Northern Ireland parties to restore devolved government. I met the…06 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillI understand the concerns that have been raised; I have met Retail NI and others. Clearly, we are only increasing business rates in line with inflation, but a number of measures…06 Mar 2019