Contributions
215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Valedictory DebateI am not able to contribute with a speech, but—with some licence from you, Madam Deputy Speaker—I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for enabling me to intervene and express…05 Nov 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Withdrawal AgreementI congratulate my hon. Friend on his creativity in introducing that point, which I am sure will have been heard by the relevant Secretary of State. He raises an important point…30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsThe mitigations in place were agreed by the previous Northern Ireland Executive and are sunsetted in March 2020. Ministers here in Westminster do not have the power to instruct…30 Oct 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Withdrawal AgreementIn my last questions, may I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his over-generous remarks and associate myself with his kind words about my north-west London neighbour, the…30 Oct 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Withdrawal AgreementI draw the hon. Lady’s attention to the impact assessment. I do not recognise her comments about competitive advantage or disadvantage. I hope that she will recognise that the…30 Oct 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Withdrawal AgreementI understand, I think, the point the hon. Gentleman makes, but I return to what I was saying. He knows that the circumstances in Northern Ireland are special in relation to our…30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsThis is an incredibly serious issue. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland benefit from these mitigations, and there is a sunset provision for the end of March 2020. The hon.…30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsI understand the right hon. Gentleman’s point, and the Prime Minister has heard it directly.30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsIt is not for me to revisit the bowels of welfare policy, but the right hon. Gentleman’s Select Committee on Work and Pensions has raised a serious point about extending the…30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsThat is an extremely important and sensitive issue. The hon. Lady will know that, in practice, there have been no prosecutions under section 5 of the 1967 Act in the past 50…30 Oct 2019HANSARDWelfare Mitigation PaymentsThe Government have published an impact assessment in relation to the proposed withdrawal agreement, and we have rehearsed the arguments about the arrangements in Northern…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillMay I start by paying tribute to the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen Pound)? I previously served for a long time with a shadow brief, and I would say the key thing is to…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI am really grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I do not want to appear churlish, but in fact I am the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, although I am sure that the current…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI will try to give the House some clarity, ideally before the end of Third Reading.30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillIn speaking to clause 1 stand part, I will also try to address very briefly the issue of housing associations, which I did not have time to do in my closing speech on Second…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. I am informed that officials have been making preparations to facilitate its introduction. I can confirm that a draft Bill…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI do not think I can give that hard guarantee to the hon. Lady. I know exactly why she is pressing me for it, and I have huge sympathy with what she is saying—and I know sympathy…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI thank the shadow Secretary of State for his question. He asked about that on Second Reading, and I apologise for not having the time to respond directly. On his broader…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillWith respect to the right hon. Gentleman, if I was not clear enough before, I am not going to get any clearer now. The language in the document in front of me tells me that this…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillI agree that it would be extremely regrettable, but if that is the situation, it is for the new Government, of whatever colour, to establish their priorities. What I can say,…30 Oct 2019