Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Devolved Government

Wednesday 7 September 2022 · 8 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The main barrier to resuming power-sharing government in Northern Ireland is the Northern Ireland protocol.
  • The Minister intends to resolve protocol issues through negotiation or, if necessary, legislation.
  • The Minister urges Northern Ireland party leaders to form an Executive as soon as possible, regardless of protocol resolution status.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Northern Ireland
Context

There is an ongoing issue with the lack of a functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland, which affects policy implementation and service delivery.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help restore devolved government in Northern Ireland. The main barrier to resuming power-sharing government is the Northern Ireland protocol, requiring specific actions or legislation for resolution.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I intend to continue the excellent work of my two predecessors and will be speaking to each of the Northern Ireland party leaders urging them to form an Executive as soon as possible. We are committed to resolving problems with the protocol through negotiation or legislation if necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps being taken by the Department were not detailed, focusing instead on intent and commitment to resolving issues.

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Q2 Theresa Villiers Con
Northern Ireland
Context

The current lack of a functioning devolved government is attributed to unresolved issues with the Northern Ireland protocol.

Question

My right hon. Friend will know that Northern Ireland is a great place—a wonderful part of our United Kingdom. I warmly congratulate him on his new role. The main barrier to the resumption of devolved power-sharing government is, of course, the Northern Ireland protocol, so will he undertake to push that legislation through as quickly as possible and use an Act of Parliament to get it through if necessary?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

We are committed to resolving problems with the protocol—ideally through negotiation, but if not, through legislation. The Minister is willing to use an Act of Parliament to achieve this.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific legislative process and timeline were not detailed.

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Q3 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Northern Ireland
Context

The lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland is tied to unresolved protocol issues, making it difficult to establish stable governance.

Question

But there is no prospect of restoring devolved government until the protocol has been resolved. Is that not the case?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The Executive do need to reform, but fixing barriers created by the protocol through negotiation or legislation is necessary before an Executive can form as soon as possible. The Minister urges parties to work towards forming an Executive regardless of protocol resolution status.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions for resolving the protocol and timeline were not provided.

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Q4 Claire Hanna Social Democratic & Labour Party Belfast South and Mid Down
Northern Ireland
Context

There is concern about the lack of a functioning Executive, particularly given high fuel poverty rates among oil-dependent households. Stormont caretaker Ministers are seen as failing to address these issues.

Question

I welcome the Minister to his new role. We are concerned about his politics, but the SDLP will work constructively with anybody to get solutions. We ask the Minister to commit to working constructively with all parties, with all identities, to see Northern Ireland through the winter and resolve issues like fuel poverty.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I would like to think that I can work constructively with all parties and communities in Northern Ireland, as I did when I had my Foreign Office role at the beginning of this year. The Minister intends to continue working constructively moving forward.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments or actions for addressing fuel poverty were not provided.

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Q5 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland
Context

There is concern about the clarity and consistency of the Government's position on resolving protocol issues to restore a functioning Executive.

Question

Let me ask at the outset whether the Government's position on getting Stormont up and running is unchanged. To date, we have heard that 'there is no excuse for the DUP not being back in government' and also: 'Unless we get an Executive we can't help those families in Northern Ireland.' Is that still the case?

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The position is completely unchanged. We are clear that the protocol is a negotiation between the EU and the UK, but we remain committed to resolving it in order for an Executive to form as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or timeline for negotiations were not detailed.

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Q6 Peter Kyle Lab Hove and Portslade
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs
Context

There are conflicting reports about the Government's intentions regarding protocol negotiations or legislative action to resolve issues.

Question

The former Foreign Secretary stopped protocol negotiations back in February. Now that she is Prime Minister, her team has been briefing conflicting reports about her intentions. We have heard that negotiations will restart. We have heard that negotiations will not restart and that article 16 will be used instead, or that the protocol Bill will proceed with urgency, provoking EU retaliation. This issue will have been covered in the appointment conversation that the Secretary of State had with the Prime Minister. It is imperative that he now updates and informs the House which of these will become Government policy.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

We are keen to negotiate a solution with the European Union. However, we do have legislation ready and will legislate if a negotiated solution is not reached.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific intentions or policy updates were not provided in detail.

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Q7 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Northern Ireland
Context

The lack of a functioning Executive is tied to unresolved protocol issues, which Unionists view as detrimental to the Union and economy.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State to his position and look forward to working with him. I hope that he will be successful in doing what is necessary to get Stormont restored, namely removing the poison of the protocol. Does he understand why Stormont and the Executive could not operate while Unionists are required through the “Ministerial Code” and decisions of the Executive to implement the very agreement that they believe is destroying the Union and damaging the economy? I trust that, in his position, he will work vigorously to have the protocol removed and sensible government restored in Northern Ireland.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

I travelled to Northern Ireland earlier this year and heard that the protocol was not working for all communities in Northern Ireland. I will work with everybody to try to solve those problems, urging Unionist parties to go back and form an Executive.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or timeline for addressing protocol issues were not detailed.

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Q8 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Northern Ireland
Context

The economic challenges faced by Northern Ireland due to the Northern Ireland Protocol, including increased costs and reduced consumer choice.

Question

Does the Secretary of State understand that this is not just a Unionist concern? While Unionists are concerned about the constitutional impact of the protocol, the economic impact of the protocol, be it the 25% duty on steel, the 14% increase in the cost of moving goods to Northern Ireland or the reduction of choice for consumers in Northern Ireland, affects everyone in Northern Ireland, whether they are Unionist, nationalist or neither.

Answer from Chris Heaton-Harris

The right hon. Gentleman is completely correct. I saw for myself that the problems caused in the supply chain to Northern Ireland affect every single person in Northern Ireland.

Answered
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