Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeYes, the noble and right reverend Lord is right. I am in no doubt and it is clear that the hurt and the suffering caused by decades of terrible violence have had a profound and…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeI acknowledge the noble Lord’s experience in these matters. I am not in a position to give any guarantees but, again, I wish to assure all concerned that this is a matter of great…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeI certainly acknowledge the role that the noble Lord played in this process in bringing forward Section 10(2) of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act. I repeat: this…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeThat is right; my noble friend echoes what I have been saying. To clarify, the UK Government made the legislation establishing a victims payments scheme in January. They did so…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeYes, I take note of that. Part of the disappointment alluded to by the noble Lord was the fact that a department has not been designated to deliver the scheme. Of course, from…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeIndeed. My noble friend is right that the funding of the scheme is to come from the block grant, to be “Barnettised”; this is a devolved matter, and devolved matters are funded…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeYes, of course. I acknowledge the noble Baroness’s role in past matters dealing with victims. She will know that I am giving as much reassurance as I possibly can. This is being…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeThe Government take this matter most seriously and we are extremely disappointed by the current delay. The Secretary of State has written to and had meetings with the First…03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeI am totally in line with the frustrations expressed by the noble Baroness. This delay is extremely disappointing, which is why the Secretary of State, the First Minister, the…03 Jun 2020HANSARDVictims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modification) Order 2020I thank all noble Lords who have taken part in this short debate. Many questions were put and I will do my best to answer them. Many Peers, including the noble Lords, Lord Bruce…03 Jun 2020HANSARDVictims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modification) Order 2020My Lords, the draft order, which was laid before the House on 25 March 2020, is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to devolution. I start by thanking our police forces…03 Jun 2020HANSARDVictims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modification) Order 2020To move that the Virtual Proceedings do consider the draft Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modification) Order 2020.03 Jun 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Victims Payment SchemeThe noble Baroness hits directly on the frustrations that we have at the moment. As we know, there is an obligation to set up a board, which, with the individuals appointed to it,…03 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandThe noble Lord is absolutely right. Having clear co-operation on Covid-19 is incredibly important. The UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government share…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandI will take that point back, but the noble Lord will know that there are constantly meetings going on at different levels, not only between the UK Government but, much more to the…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandThe noble Baroness is right that there is this memorandum of understanding. Health officials both north and south of the border are working closely together with the sole aim of…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandI cannot give the noble Lord specific details, but I can tell him that there are extremely close and regular links between the CMOs in all four nations. I am certain that these…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandAbsolutely. My noble friend will know that Ireland has a timetable, a five-phase approach which includes the resumption of sports. Northern Ireland also has a five-point plan,…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandThe noble Lord is right in that, as I said earlier, we are developing an integrated test-and-trace programme. The details are rather sparse at the moment and conversations…20 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: IrelandYes, absolutely. I will take that back to the department. The Isle of Man is part of the common travel area, so we should bear in mind its interests in relation to Ireland and…20 May 2020