Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Stability

Wednesday 26 January 2022 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department progressed the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill to support stable devolved institutions.
  • The Secretary of State confirmed measures in New Decade, New Approach will be put on the statute book at the earliest opportunity.
  • Further steps are being taken to disrupt activity through collaboration with Northern Ireland Department of Justice and Police Service.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gavin Robinson DUP Belfast East
Northern Ireland
Context

N/A - General inquiry about stability measures.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support stability in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete steps or timelines beyond vague statements about bills and deals.

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Q2 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Northern Ireland
Context

The document includes commitments to protect sustainability and keep Stormont running.

Question

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?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or confirm the measures would be on statute book at earliest opportunity.

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Q3 Gavin Robinson DUP Belfast East
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
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.

Question

What steps will he take in the very short term to sincerely protect the institutions?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete short-term steps to protect institutions but discussed ongoing actions on legislation.

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Q4 Simon Hoare Con North Dorset
Justice & Courts Northern Ireland
Context

Thuggery and criminality by self-styled paramilitaries are threatening stability.

Question

What further steps can his Department take to disrupt their activity, particularly through unexplained wealth orders?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete steps beyond general progress statements.

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Q5 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland
Context

The package on identity, language, and culture is part of the agreement.

Question

When will that package of legislation be introduced?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline but restated previous commitments without new details.

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Q6 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland
Context

Challenges to the effectiveness of the current Secretary of State's work on Northern Ireland.

Question

What's the point of Brandon Lewis?

Answer from 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.

Not addressed: Did not address the effectiveness question but attacked the opposition instead.

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Q7 Theresa Villiers Con
Northern Ireland
Context

The Northern Ireland protocol is causing political instability.

Question

Will the Secretary of State agree that it needs replacing, not just a few amendments?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

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.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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