Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Concern about Northern Ireland's position within the UK union.
What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to safeguard Northern Ireland's place in the Union. He noted that protecting Northern Ireland's constitutional status as set out in the Belfast/Good Friday agreement and ensuring unfettered access to the UK internal market are crucial for maintaining stability.
The Government reaffirmed their commitment recently in the Command Paper “Safeguarding the Union”. This includes proposals for new measures in domestic legislation to protect unfettered access to the UK internal market, and to affirm Northern Ireland's constitutional position as set out in the Belfast/Good Friday agreement.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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Concern about new regulatory borders emerging from future EU agreements affecting Northern Ireland.
What action has my right hon. Friend taken to ensure that no new regulatory borders between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can emerge from future agreements with the European Union? He mentioned the importance of clear rules for goods in Northern Ireland.
We have ended the presumption of automatic alignment by making it clear that goods rules in Northern Ireland are subject to Stormont's democratic oversight. Once a rule is triggered, UK will determine whether it should apply in NI through Joint Ministerial Committee.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Highlighting the importance of good cross-border transport links in safeguarding the Union.
Does the Secretary of State agree that good cross-border transport links are vital to safeguarding all parts of our Union? In his constituency, he mentioned specific projects like electrification of the north Wales main line and improved road links such as the Pant-Llanymynech bypass between Wales and north Shropshire.
The importance of cross-border transport was recognised. The reinvestment of money that would have been spent on HS2 into ensuring good connections across the country is noted. This includes the A75 as a vital connection between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Stressing that a prosperous Northern Ireland with stable devolved government is vital for safeguarding the Union.
The Union is strongest when people can see and feel its benefits. He agreed that a prosperous Northern Ireland, with a stable devolved Government, is the surest way to safeguard the Union's integral place in the United Kingdom. He mentioned new leadership at Stormont including Speaker Poots replacing Speaker Maskey.
My hon. Friend's sentiment is fully agreed with; it is a real pleasure to see Stormont up and running again, including new leadership like Speaker Poots and working Deputy First Minister, ensuring good solutions are made for the people of Northern Ireland.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The High Court ruling confirms that the Government's legacy legislation is not compatible with human rights, putting needs of perpetrators ahead of victims. The Secretary of State was asked when will the Government repeal this unacceptable legislation.
This morning's High Court ruling confirms the non-compatibility of the Government's legacy legislation with human rights. It puts perpetrators' needs before victims and is not supported by any party in Northern Ireland or across the island of Ireland. The Secretary of State was asked when will the Government repeal this completely unacceptable legislation?
The Court judgment was handed down only earlier; we have more than 200 pages to consider. The Government remain committed to implementing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, including delivery of the ICRIR.
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Repeal of unacceptable legislation
We Have More Than 200 Pages To Consider.
Commitment To Implementing The Act
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The Command Paper claimed to copper-fasten Northern Ireland's political and constitutional place in the Union, yet this contradicts the British-Irish agreement. The Secretary of State was asked how he squares that contradiction.
The “Safeguarding the Union” Command Paper claimed to copper-fasten Northern Ireland's political and constitutional place in the Union, but it contradicts the British-Irish agreement on self-determination for the island's people. How does the Secretary of State square this clear contradiction?
First, getting devolved institutions running is crucial; it means strand 2 and 3 can work properly. The constitutional status requires the consent of a simple majority of Northern Ireland's people, all provisions of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement still stand.
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Specific contradiction in commitments
Getting Devolved Institutions Running Is Crucial.
All Provisions Of The Agreement Still Stand.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Students in Northern Ireland face challenges accessing educational tours due to the cost of flying over, raising concerns about equal opportunities.
One thing of great importance to this place is our education system, including the trips that people make to Parliament. We want to safeguard the Union, so what steps are being taken to ensure that students in Northern Ireland have equal access to educational tours of Westminster? Bearing in mind that students in Northern Ireland should have the same access to them as those in England, but that the cost of flying over can be prohibitive, will consideration be given to additional funding to allow some sort of subsidisation?
Northern Ireland, being across the Irish sea, is in a geographic location that makes travel difficult to other areas of the United Kingdom. I understand the hon. Gentleman's keenness to help Northern Ireland students benefit from learning across the Union. We put in place a £3.3 billion financial package for the incoming Executive that helps us to achieve some of those objectives by providing support for Northern Ireland, given its unique challenges. However, if he has individual cases in mind, I would be interested to hear about them, and will consider what we might do in future.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify whether additional funding for educational tours would be provided
Mentioned Unique Challenges But Did Not Address Specific Subsidisation Request
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Q8
Direct Answer
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The new UK East-West Council aims to encourage greater educational cooperation across the United Kingdom and integrate Northern Ireland more closely into the internal market.
Further to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming the fact that the new UK East-West Council will have its first meeting next month in Belfast? One of its key objectives is to encourage greater educational co-operation across the United Kingdom, as well as binding Northern Ireland more closely into the wider economy and the UK internal market.
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.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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The Treasury's financial package supports Northern Irish public services, but there is a significant gap in the next two financial years due to public sector pay commitments.
The Secretary of State referred earlier to the financial package that the Treasury has put in place to support our public services in Northern Ireland, but our commitments on public sector pay mean that there remains a significant gap in the next two financial years. Will he work with us to seek further support from the Treasury, so that we can ensure that the Executive lives within its budget and that we can pay our public sector workers a decent wage for the vital work they do?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify whether additional support from the Treasury would be sought for public sector pay commitments
Stated Willingness To Work Together But Did Not Commit To Seeking Specific Financial Support
Response accuracy