Contributions
439 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I think that the answer to the hon. Gentleman’s detailed and precise question is yes, but if it is not, I will write to him to put the record straight. However, having followed…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)I completely sympathise with the hon. Gentleman. He is not the only person to have made that point this afternoon, and I doubt he will be the only person across the communities of…24 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Historical Abuse Bill (Northern Ireland)The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to say that where any criminal liability is implied, it will rightly be an independent prosecutorial decision taken not by politicians…24 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)I thank the hon. Gentleman and others who have been kind enough to express a hope that I will continue in my post. I am bathing in the love. It was very kind of the hon.…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)Yes, I am delighted to say that as often as necessary, as it bears repeating and needs to be put on the record. I am delighted to have the opportunity to say it to my hon. Friend,…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)First, I am delighted to hear that we are so strongly on the same wavelength. I refer not just to the hon. Lady and myself; as she rightly pointed out, this is a widely shared…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)I am delighted that the Opposition Front-Bench team support the broad principle, which I have just enunciated, and that we are of a very similar mind on this. That is extremely…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)Yes.22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)I certainly join the right hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to the unstinting and determined work done by victims’ groups over many years to get us to where we are today. We are…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the issue of the legacy of the troubles goes much wider than the specific point about the victims’ pension and that therefore…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)The right hon. Gentleman raises a broader and very important point, which is that, for victims who will qualify to begin with, it is important that we agree and understand that…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)Let me take the hon. Gentleman back to the point made by the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen Pound), who pointed out that there were four criteria under the Act that would…22 Jul 2019HANSARDPensions for Severely Disabled Victims (Northern Ireland)I am delighted to have the opportunity to respond to this urgent question and to clear up some worrying misconceptions that have been circulating over the weekend. Before I do,…22 Jul 2019HANSARD Points of OrderOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I, on his behalf, confirm that?18 Jul 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI am sorry, but I do not have time. This amendment attempts to bind the UK Parliament for a UK-wide issue. That breaches a pretty important precedent: that we try, at least, to…18 Jul 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillVoters will conclude that this is a clever piece of procedure that pretends to care about democracy, but in reality is trying to prevent a decision that has already been taken…18 Jul 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI will come to broader comments about the background politics in a second, but my hon. Friend has made his point. I should also point out that, alone among the various amendments…18 Jul 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI agree with the comments made by a number of colleagues on both sides of the House that this was originally a very simple three-clause Bill to change just two dates, and it is…18 Jul 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI have very little time. I will take one intervention, from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay (Mr Baron), but I will then have to make progress.18 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland Motorsport Taskforce ReportI congratulate the hon. Member for North Antrim (Ian Paisley) on producing the report, with an awful lot of help from the various bodies that were involved in its creation, and…15 Jul 2019