Contributions
152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy 2025I absolutely accept that we can do even more to support such companies. The companies I have been meeting in relation to the defence growth deal have said that the opportunity to…11 Feb 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesI agree with my hon. Friend. He is right to highlight that, just recently, England had the second best monthly fall in waiting lists for 15 years. In Northern Ireland, the…11 Feb 2026HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy 2025My hon. Friend is entirely right. Some of the apprentices whom I met just last week told me that, over four years, they were more than £100,000 better off as a result of taking…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEducationI absolutely do. I have always said that this is not a case of cutting a cheque and walking away. There is work we can do with the Northern Ireland Executive, and we continue to…11 Feb 2026HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy 2025I reject that characterisation. The immunity that was offered by the last Government was false. We do not agree with that in principle, and the veterans we speak to do not want…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEducationI was with the Minister for Education recently but this topic did not come up. Obviously, these matters are devolved and are for the Northern Ireland Executive, but I would be…11 Feb 2026HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy 2025This Government are supporting businesses in Northern Ireland. The work that I am doing with them on the defence growth deal is designed specifically to ensure that this will…11 Feb 2026HANSARDDefence Industrial Strategy 2025My hon. Friend is right. The strategy is not just about the defence of the realm; there are economic opportunities that come with it. The defence growth deal on which we are…11 Feb 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformThe hon. and learned Gentleman raises a point about cross-community consent in the Windsor framework. The democratic consent vote is premised on cross-community support, and if…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformI will briefly come to the hon. Member’s point in a moment, but I wanted to touch on some of the improvements that we are seeing. I pay tribute to the Health Minister, Mike…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformIt is an honour to serve under your chairship, Ms Vaz. I congratulate the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood) on securing the debate. She referred to the fact that she…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformI agree that those parties did not come with a consensus already, and about the importance of their working together and finding consensus between them. In the vein of what I have…13 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Political Institutions: ReformThe work of the Committee could be quite important. It could provide an opportunity for agreement on these important issues in the future, and I welcome its work. I have met the…13 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland ExecutiveWe have put a record settlement of £19.3 billion into Northern Ireland. Obviously, that money can be used to support people. The local growth fund has been built for a year; it…07 Jan 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesI am pleased that, as part of that consultation, there is a record settlement of £19.3 billion to fund those services. The negotiations that the right hon. Gentleman mentions are…07 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland ExecutiveSince becoming a Minister in the Northern Ireland Office, I have met Executive Ministers, building on the extensive engagement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Our…07 Jan 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesA number of the cases are actually being taken away from the police service if the families refer those cases to the commission. As I mentioned in a previous answer, with a record…07 Jan 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I am very happy to ensure that that features in our conversations with Executive Ministers. Northern Ireland is leading the way…07 Jan 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesMy hon. Friend is right to mention that record settlement, but it is not just a question of cutting a cheque and walking away; it is also about working and sharing best practice,…07 Jan 2026HANSARDPublic ServicesMay I associate myself with your tribute to Karen, Mr Speaker? I also wish you, your team and the whole House a happy new year. The Secretary of State and I regularly meet…07 Jan 2026