Again, I pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman for all his work to ensure that the devolved institutions—the Executive and Stormont—can come back together. He has achieved an amazingly good, historic piece of work. It is good to see the Executive back up and running, making choices and opening negotiations with the unions to get the public sector in Northern Ireland back on track, on pay and work. I believe that there is a meeting today between the Finance Minister and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I will always happily work with the right hon. Gentleman on all those agendas.

I am happy to join the right hon. Gentleman in welcoming the new East-West Council and its situation, and I also look forward to seeing the North South Ministerial Council functioning. The UK East-West Council will bring together a wealth of experience and knowledge from representatives of the United Kingdom Government, the devolved Administrations, business and the culture sector, and educational leaders. We are committed to getting it working in March and doing good things.

I would like to thank the local councils and the Northern Ireland civil service for the work they have done on this so far. The flooding, which I know we will talk about a bit later, was extraordinary and so many people were affected who did not expect to be. Some £15 million has been assigned for that at this point in time, but the right hon. Gentleman is quite right to say that the consequences of the floods will have ramifications for months and years to come.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question, and I very much enjoy working with him on a regular basis to try to achieve the aims he has set out. We have so far gone a long way in this space with the Windsor framework, but I look forward to continued engagement with him in the next few days, because we do need to find a resolution to these issues that also means we can re-form Stormont and deal with the other domestic issues in Northern Ireland.

I will continue to work closely with the senior leadership team to ensure that officers receive full Government support in responding to the data breach. The focus remains on providing specialist support from across government.

The senior management team is strong and effective. The Policing Board has launched a review into its operations, and questions are being asked about potential actions.

In the Command Paper on the Windsor framework, we detailed the British Government's view of how we could bring in unfettered NI to GB trade as we move forward. We need to put more flesh on that bone.

I can give that assurance from this Dispatch Box, but I know from our engagement that he would like to see it in other terms as well. That is why I look forward to our continuing conversations so we can work out exactly what the ask is and try to deliver on that.

We are aware of these issues, and there are things that can be done as a Government to solve them. I look forward to further engagement on these matters.

On the proposal for dual regulation, that was not what constituent businesses in Northern Ireland wanted. At some point, even unrelenting figures such as myself do need to compromise and give the voters what they want. I recognise that compromise is extremely difficult. We are in a position where we have an opportunity to move forward together.

I understand the force and passion with which the right hon. Gentleman makes this point, but he knows that what we have done is reduce the extent of EU law in Northern Ireland to the absolute minimum consistent with keeping open an infrastructure-free border with the Republic of Ireland.

Our immediate priority is preserving political stability in Northern Ireland by restoring the Belfast/Good Friday institutions. The protocol has caused real problems including trade disruption, costs and bureaucracy for traders, and limitations on goods access for people in Northern Ireland. We are aware that things need to change.

I understand the point and agree that we need to get to a position where there are no barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland through negotiation or potentially the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill if negotiations fail.

The Secretary of State and I agree that that is what we are trying to negotiate. If we are not able to negotiate it, it will be what we seek to deliver through our Bill, which continues to be before Parliament.

We continue to make that clear to our partners. We continue talks with the European Union, and I very much hope that we will reach a solution that is acceptable to us and to him, and will remove the burdens on his constituents and on businesses, individuals and families across Northern Ireland.

We certainly will continue those efforts together. I am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman meeting the Business Secretary. If a functioning Executive were in place, matters would be somewhat easier.

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for the opportunity to commit that, yes, the Government are determined to restore the constitutional position of Northern Ireland fully within the United Kingdom. That is our intention.

The Government are clear that cross-community consensus is essential and the protocol undermines this. We aim to resolve these issues through proposed legislation despite unsuccessful EU negotiations, prioritizing protection of the UK internal market, people, businesses in Northern Ireland, and all elements of the Good Friday Agreement.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about issues affecting Northern Ireland more widely, including the Northern Ireland protocol.

The EU's implementation of the protocol is creating significant challenges for businesses and communities in Northern Ireland, putting the Good Friday agreement at risk. We are clear that we need to resolve this issue by agreement with the EU or take necessary actions if resolution cannot be reached.

The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point about the protocol's vision of respecting the UK internal market and the Good Friday agreement. The Government will keep all options on the table, aiming for a resolution that respects these agreements. If no agreement can be reached, action will be taken to ensure peace and prosperity.

In February we provided £250 million more to the Executive for flexibility. The right hon. Gentleman's example shows how the protocol disrupts everyday life, and it must stop.

We need to be clear with the EU that its lack of flexibility risks the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. The right hon. Gentleman's case highlights how the protocol disrupts everyday life, and we must keep pressure on the EU for pragmatic solutions.

We have engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders, including victims groups. In the last week, I have met with these very groups to understand their needs. We aim to deliver a process that helps people get to the truth while being realistic about what is achievable under current legal constraints.

We are absolutely clear that we will never accept any moral equivalence between those who upheld law and order, protecting lives each day in Northern Ireland, and those engaging in acts of terrorism to destroy life. There must be a distinction.

In July, I appointed an advisory committee to provide advice on appropriate delivery partners to establish the Castlereagh Foundation, the legal form it should take, the role of the foundation and the cost to establish it. I thank the committee for its work; it is putting forward a proposal that I expect to have on my desk to look at and consider, to be able to make some decisions on the appropriate next steps, in the imminent future.

The right hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I want to be clear: the Northern Ireland protocol is not working for the people of Northern Ireland. Societal and economic difficulties have been faced across both unionist and nationalist communities and by the business community, who are very clear about that. There is also a sense that identity is being eroded and east-west links weakened. That is compounded by the very real issue of trade diversion, which has already been mentioned this morning. The European Union and the Irish Government need to recognise that the lack of movement on the Northern Ireland protocol is leading to a loss of confidence in the institutions established under the Belfast/Good Friday agreement. Restoring the balance between east-west and north-south is vital. That is why we continue to press through negotiations for a new balance to the protocol, but we are clear that all options remain on the table. We will do what we need to do to correct the situation for the UK internal market and Northern Ireland's place within it. This Government will not allow the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, of which we are co-guarantors, to be put at risk.

We reiterate our commitment in the Command Paper that we need to remove burden on trade and goods with the UK, ensuring businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland can continue to have full access to goods from the rest of the UK. Article 6 ensures a full internal market and respects the principle of consent.

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman; he is absolutely right that we need consistency for free movement of goods from Great Britain across to Northern Ireland, recognising our responsibility about goods moving into the EU.

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. The principle of consent is central to the Belfast agreement. We are working hard in good faith to find solutions and set out further detail on our approach later today.

Goods within the UK internal market should not face unnecessary EU-imposed checks. We want to engage in good faith to find solutions, ensuring that goods not at risk of entering the EU are not subjected to additional disruption.

I absolutely agree. Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom and its consumers should be able to enjoy the products that they have bought from Great Britain for years. Any ban on chilled meats would, in fact, be contrary to the aims of the protocol itself and would be against the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. An urgent solution must be found so that Northern Ireland's consumers can continue to enjoy chilled meat products bought from Great Britain.

In reflecting on the excellence of delivery that Arlene Foster had, I am going to learn a lesson that I am sure all Members here will be pleased about: I am going to avoid singing at any point this afternoon as I simply cannot live up to the talent that she showed on Friday. Pet travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is one of the critical issues that we have been discussing with the EU. We see no reason why part 1 listing could not be granted by the EU, and indeed it should be. We meet all the requirements for it, as the right hon. Gentleman has rightly outlined, and we have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity, so we will continue to push for a solution with the EU.

We are taking this forward and working with social media companies, as outlined last week. We highlight the risks of social media and encourage awareness among users.

We continue to work intensively with EU partners and are committed to ensuring Northern Ireland's access to market. We will take necessary actions, as outlined in the protocol recitals.

I know that the right hon. Gentleman, along with the First Minister and other party colleagues, have been strong in their determination to highlight this and other issues associated with the protocol—I absolutely recognise that. I can confirm today that it is our intention that no charging regime is required for agrifoods, and I will be outlining that in the written ministerial statement later today.

The right hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. As has been the case since January, our focus will remain on supporting the effective flow of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, avoiding any unacceptable disruption to the critical flow of goods on which lives and livelihoods rely. I absolutely agree that it is important that businesses and citizens across Northern Ireland do not see their lives or their livelihoods unacceptably disrupted as they adapt to new requirements. I can advise him that further guidance will be provided later this week on parcel movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Yes. Further strengthening of the armed forces covenant in law is a commitment, and we are determined to deliver it by ensuring no former member of UK armed forces is disadvantaged as a result of their service, with full implementation across the UK.

We will continue to work closely with him and his colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure smooth trade flow. The grace periods are working well, goods are moving, and we are taking a pragmatic approach in maintaining Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market.

We are working with the EU and both sides have committed to resolving all issues, including securing flexibilities needed. The discussions continue closely around practical implications and operational delivery; I encourage businesses to sign up free with Trader Support Service.