Contributions
439 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIstanbul Convention and Northern Ireland Law on Domestic AbuseI am sorry to report that, while the UK has signed the Istanbul convention, we are one of only a handful of signatories that have not yet ratified it. So, in the absence of a…03 Jul 2019HANSARDIstanbul Convention and Northern Ireland Law on Domestic AbuseI am delighted to hear that there is broad support for the measures that we have just been discussing. I am sure that, when the Stormont Assembly reconvenes, it will be one of the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDCity Deals: ScopeThe hon. Gentleman will know that, in line with our 2017 manifesto commitment, we have already announced two city deals in Northern Ireland, with £350 million for Belfast and a…03 Jul 2019HANSARDIstanbul Convention and Northern Ireland Law on Domestic AbuseThe hon. Lady is absolutely right that the prelegislative scrutiny process by the Joint Committee made that recommendation. That has opened the door and it is certainly one of the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDCity Deals: ScopeI join my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in wishing the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen Pound) best wishes for his 21-and-a-few-months birthday. I am afraid I…03 Jul 2019HANSARDCity Deals: ScopeThe difficulty is that city deals are by definition local initiatives. We can lay foundations, but they need to be taken forward by local partners and local councils. Also,…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDraft Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) order 2019I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) Order 2019. It is…04 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) order 2019I should start by saying that I am delighted to hear that everybody is committed in principle to supporting this measure. That is tremendously reassuring. It is important that we…04 Jun 2019HANSARDDraft Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (extension of duration of non-jury trial provisions) order 2019I will endeavour to address that and any other comments in my final remarks, after I have given the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Ealing North, a chance to make his…04 Jun 2019HANSARDLegacy ConsultationYes, I do. Any solution must allow both unionists and republicans to achieve closure, and for all of Northern Ireland to draw a line and move on. Otherwise it will not last. We…22 May 2019HANSARDLegacy ConsultationAs the House heard earlier, we had over 17,000 responses to the consultation, many of them containing tales of personal tragedy and loss, so I hope that everyone will understand…22 May 2019HANSARDConfidence and Supply AgreementI tried to make this clear earlier, but let me repeat it, so that everybody is crystal clear. The confidence and supply agreement is not something that the Northern Ireland Office…22 May 2019HANSARDConfidence and Supply AgreementI am not quite clear what the very important and, I agree, very difficult issue of abortion laws in Northern Ireland has to do with the confidence and supply agreement. It is not…22 May 2019HANSARDConfidence and Supply AgreementThe Secretary of State has not had any meetings with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the confidence and supply agreement. The agreement is between the Conservative…22 May 2019HANSARDEmployment TrendsI am delighted to give some examples. Not only is unemployment now the lowest of the UK nations, at 2.9%, but the ratio of public sector to private sector jobs is rebalancing…22 May 2019HANSARDEmployment TrendsThe hon. Gentleman is a doughty battler for his constituents and for his constituency. I am sure that those involved will have heard his words and will be considering them…22 May 2019HANSARDEmployment TrendsI am happy to confirm that the latest labour market statistics for Northern Ireland show employment at a record high and unemployment at a record low. This is a long-term and…22 May 2019HANSARDConfidence and Supply AgreementThere has been a great degree of investment in Northern Ireland as a result of the confidence and supply agreement; the hon. Gentleman is right. There has been extensive spending.…22 May 2019HANSARDConfidence and Supply AgreementIt is very clear that the confidence and supply agreement does not incur Barnett consequentials and is separate. In that respect, it is rather like the city deals. I gently point…22 May 2019HANSARDProsecution of VeteransThe important thing, as we heard repeatedly in last week’s urgent question and in Monday’s Westminster Hall debate, is that for those servicemen and women who served under…22 May 2019