Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
N/A - General inquiry about stability measures.
What steps his Department is taking to support stability in Northern Ireland?
A stable Northern Ireland needs sustainable devolved institutions. We have progressed the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill to that end. Prosperity is another foundation stone of stability. We have been working with the Executive to deliver the city and growth deals, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Bournemouth West (Conor Burns), is taking forward, and to invest in priority areas such as skills through the new deal for Northern Ireland.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete steps or timelines beyond vague statements about bills and deals.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The document includes commitments to protect sustainability and keep Stormont running.
Will the Secretary of State confirm that the measures in New Decade, New Approach to protect sustainability and to keep Stormont running will be put on the statute book at the earliest opportunity?
Yes, absolutely. That is our focus, and we have been taking this through the House. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State said a short while ago, no doubt he will be back here talking about it soon, taking this through is important for Northern Ireland and its people, who want a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific timeline or confirm the measures would be on statute book at earliest opportunity.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) brought forward New Decade, New Approach with commitments that would guarantee and protect the stability of institutions.
What steps will he take in the very short term to sincerely protect the institutions?
On the cultural package, what we agreed to take forward is exactly what was agreed between the parties in New Decade, New Approach itself, and we will continue to look at that. It is important that we deliver on all of New Decade, New Approach. We have the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, which is doing that work and has ensured that trade between GB and NI from the NI side is working in an unfettered way.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete short-term steps to protect institutions but discussed ongoing actions on legislation.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Thuggery and criminality by self-styled paramilitaries are threatening stability.
What further steps can his Department take to disrupt their activity, particularly through unexplained wealth orders?
We have been making progress in this area. We work in partnership with and support the Northern Ireland Department of Justice in the devolved areas, as well as with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other partners, who are doing phenomenal work. We have seen real success this year, and in the crackdown over the past 12 to 18 months on criminal gangs.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete steps beyond general progress statements.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The package on identity, language, and culture is part of the agreement.
When will that package of legislation be introduced?
We are committed to bringing that forward within the mandate of the period for Stormont, as we said at the time, and that remains our commitment.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific timeline but restated previous commitments without new details.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Challenges to the effectiveness of the current Secretary of State's work on Northern Ireland.
What's the point of Brandon Lewis?
I appreciate that the hon. Gentleman has been over to Northern Ireland once and so is basing his comments on some odd conversation. I find what he just said a bit rich, bearing in mind that he is part of a Labour Front-Bench team who over the past six to nine months have called for us to bring forward dual mandates, then argued against them when we did what we said we would do.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not address the effectiveness question but attacked the opposition instead.
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Northern Ireland protocol is causing political instability.
Will the Secretary of State agree that it needs replacing, not just a few amendments?
My right hon. Friend makes an important point. The protocol is not working—that is clear. The feedback we get from businesses across Northern Ireland is that it is not sustainable in its current format. It needs to be dealt with. It needs to be fixed.
▸
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy