Contributions
920 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThe noble Baroness asks a question to which I once again do not have an adequate answer, but I think that it would be fair to say that appropriate funds must be set aside to…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThe noble Lord is correct to ask about the parameters. I cannot say with accuracy what the exact numbers are. I am aware of how many emails I have received—that number is 75—but I…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy noble and learned friend makes a useful point. I can happily confirm that this will not affect the legal rights or standing of any of those who have been affected by the scheme…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThat the Bill do now pass.19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, perhaps I may touch upon the remarks of my noble friend Lord Cormack. My team will reach out to him very shortly on the question of the Assembly and what we might well…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillOne of the challenges in trying to compare the schemes across these islands is that a like-for-like comparison of the various elements is hard. However, the rate of 12% is broadly…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThe noble Lord is right to raise that. I dearly hope that we do not reject the Bill now because, even if we were to act with a certain degree of urgency, it would still be a delay…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for affording me the opportunity to make some points of clarification. He is absolutely right to say that I am not in charge of that department.…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I will begin in a slightly eccentric way. I have to make a correction of one of my earlier statements. In the debate last week, I stated that, “the scheme in Great…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillThe noble Lord makes an interesting point. Unfortunately, I will not comment on it at this particular moment. The reason the noble Lord, Lord Empey, and I seemed to be scrambling…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillInterestingly enough, this was always known; it was just never fully understood or applied. What the Government here have sought to understand is exactly what information the…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentI am unaware of any Stormont lock and cannot comment upon that. On the question of where we stand as a country, the constitution must be respected, as must devolution. That is why…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentMy Lords, what progress has been made? Not enough. The Secretary of State continues to work closely with the main political parties in Northern Ireland to restore devolved…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentI am happy to confirm the first point the noble Lord made; it has been far too long since there was an Executive in Northern Ireland. The noble Lord will be aware that over the…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentAs soon as we are in a position to make that announcement, we will do so.18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentBrexit is Banquo’s ghost at every meeting the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland undertakes in Northern Ireland—of that I can be absolutely certain. The important thing is to…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentNo single party can claim to speak for any area whatever. There is a diversity of opinion in Northern Ireland and we must respect that diversity in every one of its manifest forms.18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentThe role of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is vital to the functioning of the situation in Northern Ireland as we understand it. In reality, civil servants have been placed in…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentThe noble Lord is correct: polarisation is a great risk in Northern Ireland. As we have said before, we are making every endeavour to restore the Assembly and are exploring every…18 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Devolved GovernmentMy Lords, the Government have not ruled out using an external facilitator. Indeed, they are actively considering that point. However, it is important to stress that circumstances…18 Mar 2019