Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK Industrial StrategyEconomic growth is the priority for this Government, and our industrial strategy is central to achieving it. Last week I co-hosted a roundtable with the Minister for the Economy…02 Apr 2025HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024I have regular discussions with the Executive about the financial situation and about their plans. The truth is very simple: all Governments around the world, including the…02 Apr 2025HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024Of course the increase in employer’s national insurance will be difficult for some firms—that is clearly the case—but, as I said, the North Ireland economy is growing faster than…02 Apr 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI am not familiar with that particular bit of evidence. The right hon. Gentleman cites one group of lawyers who hold one view, but it will not surprise the House if I say that it…02 Apr 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI expressed that view to the veterans I met this afternoon, when I thanked them for their service in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. The right hon. Member invites…02 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Industrial StrategyLast Thursday I visited Foyle port and its innovation park. A new data centre will be built there to tap into the renewable energy that is available alongside it. That is a really…02 Apr 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI really welcome the opportunity that the right hon. Member for Goole and Pocklington (David Davis) has given me and the House to listen to this debate, and I welcome the…02 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Industrial StrategyMy hon. Friend gives me the chance to talk about the great success of Wrightbus, based in Ballymena, which has won a huge new order from Go-Ahead. It is making the electric and…02 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Industrial StrategyI have already pointed out examples of that investment. To Harland and Wolff, I would add the order that is going to Thales to make more missiles for Ukraine, which will create an…02 Apr 2025HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024The record £18.2 billion funding settlement for 2025-26 will provide Northern Ireland with funding in line with its independently assessed level of need, and it is now for the…02 Apr 2025HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024The figures the hon. Gentleman just referred to do not reflect the Treasury’s assessment of the number of farms that will be affected, which is based on claims submitted in the…02 Apr 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI would like to give the right hon. Gentleman an assurance that when parliamentary time allows, I plan to bring forward legislation to try to find a way forward. The House will be…02 Apr 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkThe answer is this: as a sovereign country, it falls to us to decide how we check goods that arrive in our territory. For quite a period after our leaving the European Union, the…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkThe hon. and learned Gentleman may disagree. I am expressing the Government’s view, which is that it is not a credible basis. One thing is absolutely clear: the answer was never…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkIf the hon. Gentleman wishes to provide me with further information about the particular example he has raised, I will of course look at it. On trade, I have a slightly different…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkI congratulate the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) on securing the debate. The House, once again, has been left in no doubt but that he speaks about…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkIf I heard the hon. and learned Gentleman correctly, from a sedentary position he said, “punishment”. I could not disagree more. I would encourage him to reflect on what he has…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkI am not asking anyone to be grateful for anything; I am simply pointing out to the House the problem that was created in the first place when we left the European Union.04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkIt depends on the hon. Gentleman’s definition of “freely.” There are requirements that certain goods must meet. There is the retail movement scheme and the horticultural scheme,…04 Mar 2025HANSARDTrade Diversion and Windsor FrameworkI can only apologise to the hon. Gentleman. I try hard to be punctilious about responding to correspondence. Those watching will have noted what he said, and he can, I hope,…04 Mar 2025