Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Wednesday 24 July 2024 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister met with First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland twice to discuss the legacy Act repeal and replacement.
  • Minister committed to consulting all parties in Northern Ireland on the repeal and replacement of the legacy Act.
  • Minister reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the United Kingdom and its Union.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Northern Ireland
Context

The MP is inquiring about the recent meetings regarding the legacy Act's repeal and replacement.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. I met them twice to discuss issues including the Government's commitment to repeal and replace the legacy Act, which has almost no support in Northern Ireland among political parties and victims' families.

Answer from Hilary Benn

I can indeed give my hon. Friend that assurance. The problem with the legacy Act is that it has almost no support in Northern Ireland among political parties and victims' families. We have given a very clear commitment to consult on how the repeal and replacement will work: in the end, we hope to get a large measure of support for a new approach.

Answered
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Q2 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

The MP is seeking assurance that the Secretary of State will consult widely and transparently with all parties.

Question

Will he give an assurance that he will deal openly and transparently with all those parties? He has met with all the party leaders, and I have given a commitment to consult on how the repeal and replacement will work: in the end, we hope to get a large measure of support for a new approach.

Answer from Hilary Benn

I will readily give the hon. Member that assurance. I have met with all the party leaders, and the commitment to consultation that I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) will extend to all the parties in Northern Ireland.

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Q3 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party South Antrim
Northern Ireland Parliamentary Procedure Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP is seeking assurance that the Secretary of State will deal openly and transparently with all parties.

Question

Will he give an assurance that he will deal openly and transparently with all those parties? The commitment to consultation that I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) will extend to all the parties in Northern Ireland.

Answer from Hilary Benn

I will readily give the hon. Member that assurance. I have met with all the party leaders, and the commitment to consultation that I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) will extend to all the parties in Northern Ireland.

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Q4 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP is asking for an assurance that the Secretary of State will be an active supporter and advocate for the Union.

Question

Will he reassure the House that on his watch, he will be an active supporter of the Union and an advocate for it? The Government are strongly committed to our United Kingdom, as was clearly set out in our manifesto. I hope the hon. Gentleman will see that reflected in our work as we take it forward.

Answer from Hilary Benn

I join the hon. Gentleman in expressing the House's collective thanks to my predecessor, and congratulate him and his hon. Friend the Member for Hamble Valley (Paul Holmes) on their appointments. I look forward to working with both of them. The Government are strongly committed to our United Kingdom, as was clearly set out in our manifesto.

Partly answered

How: We Are Committed To

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Q5 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Northern Ireland Brexit
Context

The MP is asking whether the Government will faithfully implement all commitments in the Command Paper designed to strengthen the Union.

Question

Will the Government faithfully implement all those commitments in the Command Paper, which are designed to strengthen the Union? As the hon. Gentleman knows, when we were in opposition, we supported the two statutory instruments and the Humble Address. We will set up the independent monitoring panel, and we have recently had a success in developing our relationship with the European Union over dental amalgam: the new Government have secured a 10-year derogation, which has been widely welcomed by the parties in Northern Ireland.

Answer from Hilary Benn

As the hon. Gentleman knows, when we were in opposition, we supported the two statutory instruments and the Humble Address. We will set up the independent monitoring panel, and we have recently had a success in developing our relationship with the European Union over dental amalgam: the new Government have secured a 10-year derogation, which has been widely welcomed by the parties in Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

How: We Are Committed To

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