Contributions
764 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic ServicesWe have set a budget for Northern Ireland and we have issued guidance to permanent secretaries to cover the governance gap. We are looking for the Northern Ireland Executive to…08 Feb 2023HANSARDNHS Waiting TimesThe situation is very serious in the NHS in Northern Ireland. Having a fully functioning devolved Government is the right way to deliver the necessary reforms to transform…08 Feb 2023HANSARDNHS Waiting TimesOf course we share their concerns, but the reality is that health is devolved in Northern Ireland, as I am sure the hon. Lady knows. It is also the reality that health in Northern…08 Feb 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillAs the hon. Member well knows and does not like, we were forced under law to bring forward abortion services because this House legislated. She may recall that I was in the Lobby…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThe Secretary of State is reflecting on that very thing right now. I believe he is meeting the parents, although I cannot confirm when. The point is well made. The Secretary of…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I begin by asking the leave of the House to take all stages of the Bill. The Secretary of State sends his apologies; I am…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThank you. It has been a busy day and I am grateful that there is some levity, but I would like to finish by saying that we did not want to have to pass this Bill; it is not a…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I am grateful to all Members for supporting the expedited passage of this legislation, and I am very grateful for the…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI am extremely grateful to the right hon. Member for clarifying that point. I will write to him on that. The PSNI is close to my heart, and I am extremely grateful to all the…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillWith the leave of the House, I am glad to respond to the debate. First and foremost, I join other hon. Members in offering condolences to Alex Easton, whose parents Alec and Ann…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI am grateful that the hon. Lady finished with an encouragement to resolve the issues in the protocol. I have to tell her that I think the sense among all parties at the…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that point, but I hope he will not mind my saying that today’s Bill is a technical Bill to put on a legal basis the written ministerial…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThe right hon. Gentleman has mentioned this a couple of times and I mean to come to it as I close the debate. We have to insist that it is Ministers who decide, and officials who…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI expect the hon. Gentleman knows that clauses 8 and 9 put in place a vote on account for next year. I will come to that as it is in my notes; if memory serves it covers 65% of…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThe hon. Member makes his point with great force on behalf of his many constituents. Since last week, when we met and discussed the subject and I wrote to him, my officials have…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI will, but I will then be determined to make progress.23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThe Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022, which we put through, gives civil servants the clarity they need to make certain decisions. We have put those officials in…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillMy hon. Friend is spot on in what he says. If the situation in Northern Ireland presented itself in Wycombe or anywhere else in Great Britain, there would be outrage. There is 21%…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillThe right hon. Gentleman makes some legitimate points. The particular point about mandatory coalition is of course an important part of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement strand 1,…23 Jan 2023HANSARDNorthern Ireland Budget BillI will give to the right hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) and then to my hon. Friend the Member for North Dorset (Simon Hoare), but then I will try to make a bit of…23 Jan 2023