Contributions
418 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]The hon. Lady is right on that. I hope that if we can get this through this afternoon, we will be able to toast success for not only the Bill and the victims, but Northern Ireland…05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind remarks. He was at his most tenacious over the weekend in trying to make this happen. There are many more people to thank. Unfortunately,…05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]I could not agree more. I thank my colleague Lord Duncan of Springbank, Lord Hain and other noble lords and baronesses for their work in the other place last week. Many Members in…05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]The hon. Lady makes a very positive and sensible suggestion, and I am happy to do that. We spoke to Lady Hart last night, and Sir Anthony was, I think, perplexed by the slowness…05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]I thank the right hon. Gentleman for all that he and his party have done to help to deliver this Bill.05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. It has been seven years since the Northern Ireland Executive established an independent inquiry into historical…05 Nov 2019HANSARD Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I will return to some of those examples, but the fact that so many survivors and victims have died is one of the tragedies of this period.05 Nov 2019HANSARDIndependent Reporting Commission: Second Substantive ReportI have received the second substantive report from the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC). The IRC emanated from the Fresh Start agreement of November 2015. The agreement set…04 Nov 2019HANSARDNorthern IrelandI beg to move, That the Northern Ireland (Extension of Period for Executive Formation) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I., 2019, No. 1364), which were laid before this House on 21…31 Oct 2019HANSARDMLAs’ SalariesIt is deeply frustrating that there has been no functioning Assembly for so long. MLAs’ pay is deeply controversial, but they are doing important constituency work. I have said…30 Oct 2019HANSARDArmed Forces VeteransI thank the right hon. Lady for her question and pay tribute to her for the work she did in that role. I am aware that there is more to do, which is why we have been consulting on…30 Oct 2019HANSARDArmed Forces VeteransI will be joining Remembrance Day in Enniskillen in a week or so, and I will be thinking of all the people who have contributed in the way that my hon. Friend refers to.30 Oct 2019HANSARDArmed Forces VeteransThe Government are committed to the armed forces covenant. As I said, we are engaging with the consultation that has occurred. We are clear on our responsibilities; the covenant…30 Oct 2019HANSARDArmed Forces VeteransMy hon. Friend will be aware that there is a consultation going on, as he has referred to. The Northern Ireland Office is looking at the Northern Ireland challenges on legacy.…30 Oct 2019HANSARDMLAs’ SalariesThe hon. Lady is being tough on me. At the Select Committee the other day I committed to doing a review as a result of her question, and I am doing that review.30 Oct 2019HANSARDMLAs’ SalariesMy hon. Friend is right that this is a challenge. It is a controversial amount of money, but in my view we have to do everything we can to encourage the political parties in…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Northern Ireland Budget BillIt is indeed. There is so much more that they could do if they were in the Assembly, and we need to hang on to that over the coming weeks. If Royal Assent is not granted by the…30 Oct 2019HANSARDCustoms RegulationsThrough this agreement, the United Kingdom maintains total control of how that is applied. As my hon. Friend knows, we are working day in, day out to ensure that Northern Irish…30 Oct 2019HANSARDCustoms RegulationsAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, the key priority was to maintain no hard border on the island of Ireland—the thing that has ensured peace there for the last few decades. As I…30 Oct 2019HANSARDCustoms RegulationsI am having proactive discussions with the Treasury, and I agree that we need to have no costs and no barriers for Northern Ireland business.30 Oct 2019