Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDClonoe InquestThere is no equivalence at all—none whatsoever—for the reasons that have been set out by Members in this exchange, following the question asked by the right hon. Member for Goole…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestAs history shows, decisions about potential prosecutions are taken by independent prosecutors. Such decisions are not determined by the Government; independent prosecutors have to…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point about how we come to tell the truth about what happened; to give the families answers—I have met many of them, as have my…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestAs I made clear at Northern Ireland questions recently, the Supreme Court issued a judgment on the interim custody orders relating to internment in 2020. The previous Government…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI accept the characterisation that the hon. Member has ascribed to the individuals. Clearly, in firing 60 rounds at the police station, we know what their intent was. That was…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI will only say to the right hon. Gentleman that the characterisation of the views that he attempts to attribute to me is incorrect, but I make no apology for telling the House…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestThat is not the Government’s position. The Government’s position is indeed to stand behind our brave armed services personnel—11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comments. I completely understand the concerns, which he has expressed with such passion, about our armed services personnel, including…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestAs I have previously indicated to the House, I am committed in all my discussions with many of those affected, including veterans, to finding a way forward that can command a…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his observations. The answer to his last question is: when parliamentary time allows. As soon as I am in a position to indicate when that…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestI do not support a rewriting of the past either. Of course we should stand with our armed service veterans, which is what the Ministry of Defence does. I will say, however, that…11 Feb 2025HANSARDClonoe InquestThe right hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. Societies around the world that have faced terrible conflict have each taken their own path to try to find a way forward. The release…11 Feb 2025HANSARDStormont Brake NotificationOn 20 December 2024, the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly provided to me a notification signed by 35 Members of the Assembly under schedule 6B of the Northern Ireland Act…21 Jan 2025HANSARDLegacy DiscussionsI have met both the Brown family and Alan Black, the sole survivor of the Kingsmill massacre. The trauma they have been through is hard for anyone else to appreciate. We all look…15 Jan 2025HANSARDHarland and WolffI certainly do. That is one of the great benefits of the commercial agreement that has been reached with Navantia on buying Harland and Wolff, and the adjustments made to the…15 Jan 2025HANSARDHarland and WolffI welcome the industry-led deal that will see Navantia UK purchase Harland and Wolff’s four shipyards in the UK, including that in Belfast. The Government have worked closely with…15 Jan 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthIt is indeed a vital economic route, and like the hon. Member, I look forward to seeing it improve, not least in the interests of safety, as quickly as possible.15 Jan 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthThe substantive provisions of the EU AI Act do not currently apply in Northern Ireland, and they would apply only following agreement by the withdrawal agreement joint committee.…15 Jan 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthI will look into the matter that the hon. Gentleman raises and I will come back to him.15 Jan 2025HANSARDEconomic GrowthI do indeed think that the Belfast economic corridor is a really good thing. We support it, and I look forward to seeing it develop and succeed.15 Jan 2025