:00:00. > :00:12.questions to the Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers, and her
:00:13. > :00:14.ministerial team. THE SPEAKER: Questions to be Secretary of State
:00:15. > :00:20.for Northern Ireland. Maria Caulfield. Number one, Mr Speaker.
:00:21. > :00:25.Before I answer, I would like to convey my condolences to the family
:00:26. > :00:28.of Adrian Ismay, the prison officer, who sadly died as a result of a
:00:29. > :00:31.terrorist attack, in the period since our last Northern Ireland
:00:32. > :00:34.questions. I would like to extend the same condolences to the family
:00:35. > :00:39.of Michael McGibbon, brutally murdered in north Belfast, in an
:00:40. > :00:42.attack which bears all the hallmarks of a paramilitary assault. Mr
:00:43. > :00:45.Speaker, to encourage inward investment in Northern Ireland, the
:00:46. > :00:49.Government has reduced UK corporation tax to be jointly
:00:50. > :00:53.between the G20. We have legislated to enable the devolution of great
:00:54. > :00:55.setting powers to Northern Ireland. We're making progress on the
:00:56. > :01:04.establishment of a new enterprise zone. Thank you. I would like to
:01:05. > :01:10.echo the sentiments and condolences expressed. I thank her for her
:01:11. > :01:13.reply. What benefits does the Secretary of State think this inward
:01:14. > :01:17.investment will bring to the local economy of Northern Ireland, and in
:01:18. > :01:23.particular, what steps are being taken to ensure all communities will
:01:24. > :01:27.benefit? There has been significant investment in Northern Ireland in
:01:28. > :01:34.recent years. It continues to perform beyond many parts of the UK.
:01:35. > :01:40.Recent good news was 110 new jobs or Cookstown, from CDE, 74 new jobs in
:01:41. > :01:49.Belfast and around 70 new jobs in Fermanagh and Omar. We have promoted
:01:50. > :01:52.further new job since 2011 and delivered billions of pounds worth
:01:53. > :01:57.of investment in local economy. This will benefit all parts of Northern
:01:58. > :02:07.Ireland. Alistair MacDonald. Thank you. With the Secretary of State,
:02:08. > :02:14.she is aware that key companies have had to move outside Northern Ireland
:02:15. > :02:17.to recruit suitably skilled staff. Does she have any suggestions as to
:02:18. > :02:22.how we might ensure a suitable supply of potential staff, skilled
:02:23. > :02:28.and offered the advantages of inward investment? I agree that a skilled
:02:29. > :02:32.workforce is crucial to attract inward investment. Northern Ireland
:02:33. > :02:37.has an excellent workforce. With many highly skilled individuals. The
:02:38. > :02:41.result was more that could be done. The UK Government has invested
:02:42. > :02:44.significantly in apprenticeships. That is reflected in the Barnett
:02:45. > :02:48.consequentials to the block grant. I know apprenticeships is something
:02:49. > :02:55.the Northern Ireland Executive takes seriously. Does the Secretary of
:02:56. > :03:00.State agree that airport collectivity is a vital tool in
:03:01. > :03:05.attracting inward investment? Given that Dublin has announced it
:03:06. > :03:09.increasing capacity by 2020, is it not time Her Majesty is Government
:03:10. > :03:14.took a decision on airport capacity in the south-east of England? Yes,
:03:15. > :03:18.the Government will make a decision on expansion of airport capacity in
:03:19. > :03:21.the south-east in due course. The Government is clear that new
:03:22. > :03:30.capacity is needed and that a decision will be made shortly. Ian
:03:31. > :03:33.Paisley. Can I personally thank the Secretary of State for the effort
:03:34. > :03:37.she made in securing 60 70 impound contract for the right group in
:03:38. > :03:41.Ballymena, which has been well received their? For the work she did
:03:42. > :03:45.behind the scenes in securing this contract. If she appalled, however,
:03:46. > :03:51.by the scare stories and scare tactics being deployed by the Remain
:03:52. > :03:56.campaign, that are turning people away from investment because they
:03:57. > :04:00.are scared of the consequences and all this hate activity that is going
:04:01. > :04:03.on? Will she ensure that every effort will be made, irrespective of
:04:04. > :04:10.the outcome of the 23rd of June, that money is released to the UK and
:04:11. > :04:13.it will be used to encouraging word investment in Northern Ireland?
:04:14. > :04:19.Thank you for that question and comments. I did press hard on TfL to
:04:20. > :04:28.go through with that contract. I think it is important for job
:04:29. > :04:30.opportunities in Northern Ireland. Regarding the referendum, it is
:04:31. > :04:35.important for all sides to address the facts of this debate in a
:04:36. > :04:38.measured way, so that on the 23rd of June, the people of this country can
:04:39. > :04:49.make a judgment based on the objective facts of the situation.
:04:50. > :04:51.Number two. The threat level from terrorism in Northern Ireland
:04:52. > :04:58.continues to be severe, while many attacks have disrupted and
:04:59. > :05:01.prevented, the callous murder of Adrian Ismay highlights the
:05:02. > :05:06.continued threat. The UK Government remains vigilant on combating
:05:07. > :05:11.terrorism, giving full support to PSNI and MI5 in crucial work keeping
:05:12. > :05:15.people safe in Northern Ireland. Thank you for so I join in the
:05:16. > :05:20.condolences to Adrian Ismay's family. In addition to domestic
:05:21. > :05:23.terror threats in Northern Ireland, what assessment has she made of
:05:24. > :05:30.international terror threat to the province? He will appreciate this is
:05:31. > :05:34.a Home Office lead but it is something I discussed regularly with
:05:35. > :05:38.the Home Secretary, P PSNI, the Ireland Justice Minister and other
:05:39. > :05:41.relevant people. The Government takes this seriously. The threat
:05:42. > :05:43.from international terrorism is severe. That is one of the reasons
:05:44. > :05:47.why the strategic defence and Security review made such a strong
:05:48. > :05:52.commitment to investing in our intelligence services and on
:05:53. > :05:56.counterterrorism spending, including a 30% real terms increase over the
:05:57. > :06:02.course of this Parliament, for spending on counter-terrorism. I
:06:03. > :06:06.join in the words about the killing of Adrian Ismay. And also in
:06:07. > :06:11.relation to the brutal slaying of Michael McGibbon, a father of four,
:06:12. > :06:15.shot on Friday in my constituency. Clearly, that was an atrocious
:06:16. > :06:21.event. Will she join with me and commend the words of Mr McGibbon's
:06:22. > :06:27.widow, who has called for people to stand together against these
:06:28. > :06:31.paramilitary terrorists, who carried out this atrocious attack? Will she
:06:32. > :06:35.agree that it is vital that we unite against terrorists on all sides and
:06:36. > :06:44.get on with implementing provisions to tackle this? I wholeheartedly
:06:45. > :06:48.agree with his statement. I believe that Mr McGibbon's widow is an
:06:49. > :06:55.incredibly brave woman, the circumstances of Mr McGibbon's death
:06:56. > :06:59.are deeply tragic, heartbreaking, and I know the whole House will feel
:07:00. > :07:03.for his whole family at this time. It is utterly acceptable that in
:07:04. > :07:06.mortar Northern Ireland, there are still people who believe they can
:07:07. > :07:11.take the law into their own hands and administer violent and brutal
:07:12. > :07:17.treatment of individuals. It is utterly unacceptable. I agree with
:07:18. > :07:19.the right honourable member that everyone in Northern Ireland should
:07:20. > :07:26.join the widow in this case and condemn this horrific and brutal
:07:27. > :07:30.murder. I'm grateful to the Secretary of State. Would she also
:07:31. > :07:35.take on board the fact that a number of prominent Republicans have been
:07:36. > :07:38.arrested in north Belfast recently? Including some on licence. It is
:07:39. > :07:43.important she reassures the community that she is keeping under
:07:44. > :07:48.review the terms in which people are out on the streets, who are under
:07:49. > :07:56.license. Particularly Shaun Kelly, the Shankill bomber. Also, the
:07:57. > :08:02.Attorney General's decision to order a review into the RUC, to stop
:08:03. > :08:09.terrorists carrying out attacks, would she looked carefully at that
:08:10. > :08:14.and speak to colleagues about this? I agree that it is important to take
:08:15. > :08:19.seriously revocation of licences. There is a framework for doing that.
:08:20. > :08:23.Where there is evidence that a licence should be revoked, this is
:08:24. > :08:26.considered with greatest seriousness. I also agree it is
:08:27. > :08:32.vital to press ahead with full implementation of the fresh start
:08:33. > :08:35.programme, to eliminate the lingering influence of paramilitary
:08:36. > :08:39.groups in Northern Ireland. Their time has passed. They were never
:08:40. > :08:42.justified under any circumstances. And any tolerance of them in
:08:43. > :08:49.Northern Ireland today is to be condemned. In relation to the last
:08:50. > :08:56.point about public prosecutor's direction, that is a matter for the
:08:57. > :08:59.independent prosecutors. What is her assessment of the terrorist threat
:09:00. > :09:07.from dissident republican groups to mainland Great Britain? Well, the
:09:08. > :09:12.threat level is not as severe as it is in relation to Northern Ireland.
:09:13. > :09:16.It continues to be the case that dissident and republican groups have
:09:17. > :09:21.aspirations to mount attacks in Great Britain but their main focus
:09:22. > :09:25.continues to be Northern Ireland and the Government will remain vigilant
:09:26. > :09:31.to protect people in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the UK.
:09:32. > :09:37.Thank you. I am deeply sorry that Adrian Ismay became the 31st prison
:09:38. > :09:40.officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland. I hope the memorial garden
:09:41. > :09:45.for prison officers will soon be completed. I want to ask the
:09:46. > :09:50.Secretary of State a question which follows on from the second question.
:09:51. > :09:57.The Secretary of State will know that I have written to her,
:09:58. > :10:02.requesting a meeting, to discuss why Shaun Kelly's licence has not been
:10:03. > :10:07.revoked. Gina Murray, a very dignified lady, her only daughter
:10:08. > :10:10.was murdered in the Shankill Road bombing and she wishes to have a
:10:11. > :10:15.meeting with the signature state to discuss the reasons why his licence
:10:16. > :10:19.has not been revoked. Will the Secretary of State consent to that
:10:20. > :10:23.meeting? I am certainly happy to have that meeting. In terms of
:10:24. > :10:27.timing, we may have to be careful, in terms of the interaction of the
:10:28. > :10:30.decision I may need to make on those matters over the coming weeks. I am
:10:31. > :10:37.sure we can have a meeting at some stage on this matter. Despite much
:10:38. > :10:40.progress in Northern Ireland, there remains a terrorist threat, as we
:10:41. > :10:44.saw with the shocking murder of prison officer Adrian Ismay, his
:10:45. > :10:54.funeral, the Secretary of State and I attended. We send sincere
:10:55. > :10:58.condolences to his family and colleagues. Explosives and
:10:59. > :11:03.bomb-making equipment was found and there has been murders north and
:11:04. > :11:08.south of the border. In her opinion, are individuals acting alone or are
:11:09. > :11:13.they part of a more organised and coordinated Tera Group?
:11:14. > :11:19.Well, there are a number of groupings active regarding the
:11:20. > :11:27.terrorist threat in Northern Ireland. The tend not to be terribly
:11:28. > :11:33.cohesive. They have connections north and south of the border. Were
:11:34. > :11:39.it not for the dedication and effectiveness of the PSNI and
:11:40. > :11:41.partners and MI5, we would see these individuals mounting attacks
:11:42. > :11:48.resulting in tragedies such as the one that has the family of Adrian
:11:49. > :11:55.Ismay in such despicable circumstances. In recent days in
:11:56. > :12:05.Northern Ireland, there have been two terrible shootings. Can I
:12:06. > :12:11.associate myself with the remarks we heard earlier. Our hearts go out to
:12:12. > :12:17.all the families and those affected. The PSNI say they have all the
:12:18. > :12:21.hallmarks of paramilitary assaults. On the streets of this United
:12:22. > :12:26.Kingdom, we have shootings and murders linked to paramilitary
:12:27. > :12:30.activity. It is both sickening and totally unacceptable. Can the
:12:31. > :12:35.Secretary of State tell us more about what happened on what actions
:12:36. > :12:39.she, the PSNI and others are going to take against those who have no
:12:40. > :12:45.respect for human life or the rule of law? I think he chooses his words
:12:46. > :12:51.correctly. This is absolutely sickening. I think this case could
:12:52. > :12:59.be like a number we have seen over the last decade in Northern Ireland.
:13:00. > :13:02.The people say this is completely and utterly unacceptable. The police
:13:03. > :13:09.investigation is progressing with the charge of an individual with
:13:10. > :13:16.murder, but it is also imperative that we implement the fresh start
:13:17. > :13:22.agreement, proposals including progress on the strategy for
:13:23. > :13:28.improvement. We need people to come forward with evidence against these
:13:29. > :13:32.individuals. That has been a consistent problem. People are
:13:33. > :13:37.afraid to give evidence. We need to support and encourage people, to
:13:38. > :13:55.make sure they are able to come forward to give evidence. Too often
:13:56. > :14:03.the barriers are health regimes. DEFRA has worked closely with
:14:04. > :14:12.overseas officials and industry to collate concerns. Could I thank the
:14:13. > :14:20.Minister for his answer? Would he agree with me that by getting an
:14:21. > :14:24.export licence and approvals for Northern Ireland food produce
:14:25. > :14:30.already takes too long, the wait for Northern Ireland farmers would
:14:31. > :14:35.become even longer if we were to leave the European Union and
:14:36. > :14:39.renegotiate our trade relationships with some of our nearest neighbours
:14:40. > :14:45.within the European Common market is? It is certainly the case it is
:14:46. > :14:48.in the interest of farmers across the European Union they have access
:14:49. > :14:53.to new markets across the rest of the world. That is one of the
:14:54. > :15:02.reasons that DEFRA is in Washington lobbying hard. We should recognise
:15:03. > :15:07.the United Kingdom can do it, but if we do it alongside the EU, we will
:15:08. > :15:15.gain more markets for our farmers and they will go from strength to
:15:16. > :15:23.strength. The Minister will know that one of the obstacles to the
:15:24. > :15:26.food sector is BSE and swine flu certificates. Will he ensure that
:15:27. > :15:33.his department will work hard but the veterinary division to achieve
:15:34. > :15:36.this? Sometimes we put all our eggs in one basket regarding China. There
:15:37. > :15:42.are many other countries out there that we could do business with. The
:15:43. > :15:47.Secretary of State for DEFRA is an American trying to get these BSE
:15:48. > :15:53.legacy issues removed so we can access American markets to sell our
:15:54. > :15:57.beef. May need to learn from the Republic of Ireland have managed to
:15:58. > :16:03.forge ahead with milk export markets further round-the-world trip. That
:16:04. > :16:08.is why they have a better milk price for farmers than we do for dairy.
:16:09. > :16:14.Ministers have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland parties on
:16:15. > :16:20.a range of issues. UK Government will be stronger, safer and better
:16:21. > :16:25.off remaining in a reformed European Union. Many of us were interested to
:16:26. > :16:33.see a survey by highly reputable Northern Ireland is business
:16:34. > :16:48.organisation which suggests that 81% of businesses support EU membership.
:16:49. > :16:56.The CBI of Northern Ireland, the Chamber of Commerce and the trade
:16:57. > :16:59.association believes that remaining in the European Union is good for
:17:00. > :17:03.Northern Irish business and good for the economy. That is why the
:17:04. > :17:14.government believes we are better off in. Can I join in the
:17:15. > :17:23.condolences that have already been expressed and can I add condolences
:17:24. > :17:28.to the family of sister Claire Tulisa Crockett, the none from Derry
:17:29. > :17:43.who was tragically killed in the earthquake in Ecuador. Many of us
:17:44. > :17:52.are appreciative of the benefit of the EU at the border. Money would be
:17:53. > :18:04.redirected to Northern Ireland instead of Brussels. Does he believe
:18:05. > :18:09.there is a pot of gold at the end of the Brexit rainbow? There is no pot
:18:10. > :18:17.of gold at the end of the Brexit rainbow. I suggest we get on and
:18:18. > :18:21.focus about doing what is right for Northern Ireland and that is
:18:22. > :18:27.remaining in the European Union. If the UK does decide to leave the EU.
:18:28. > :18:32.There will be an annual ?9 billion hole in the EU finances. As other
:18:33. > :18:34.eastern Bloc nations look to join to get more slices of reducing
:18:35. > :18:39.financial cake come on what opportunities does the Minister
:18:40. > :18:45.believe Northern Ireland companies would have in that context to import
:18:46. > :18:48.into Europe and beyond? We should recognise that Northern Ireland
:18:49. > :18:56.business doesn't agree with the honourable member. I suggest that if
:18:57. > :19:01.on 24 students people voted to leave the European Union, Northern Irish
:19:02. > :19:04.businesses would unfortunately have to deal with the instability for the
:19:05. > :19:12.next two years which would suffer and damage their market. It will not
:19:13. > :19:18.have escaped your gaze that we are united on this side of the dispatch
:19:19. > :19:21.box. But for months we have had a uncertainty about what will happen
:19:22. > :19:32.to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the
:19:33. > :19:38.tragic event of Brexit. Two Sundays ago, we heard that there would be a
:19:39. > :19:42.border. Can we have some clarity on what will happen to the border? Are
:19:43. > :19:52.there any revelations the Minister would like to share with us? The
:19:53. > :19:56.border will still exist. If the UK chose to leave the EU, they would
:19:57. > :20:00.step outside the customs union which would inevitably affect trade across
:20:01. > :20:10.the border which Northern Ireland Assembly thick and on. There would
:20:11. > :20:14.be a slow down of trade. I appreciate that the sceptre of state
:20:15. > :20:25.must feel quite lonely in Belfast these days, given that her views are
:20:26. > :20:28.not shared by the overwhelming majority of people in Northern
:20:29. > :20:41.Ireland. Her colleague said leaving the EU would mean rebuilding the
:20:42. > :20:45.border. They cannot both be true. Myself a milder Bob Friend are
:20:46. > :20:50.united that there will be no return to barbed wire and watch towers
:20:51. > :20:54.should believe remain in the youth. There will be a Northern Ireland
:20:55. > :20:56.that steps outside of the customs union and that would inevitably
:20:57. > :21:11.affect the free flow of trade between the two borders. Delivering
:21:12. > :21:22.economic stability is the government's aim to promote exports.
:21:23. > :21:38.UK TIA economist intelligence unit has shown that young people want to
:21:39. > :21:43.run their own businesses. To do that, we are delivering economic
:21:44. > :21:47.stability. We are cutting national insurance contributions for 3.4
:21:48. > :21:52.million self-employed people. We are working with the Northern Ireland
:21:53. > :21:57.Executive to deliver our start up loans programme for young
:21:58. > :22:03.entrepreneurs and the task force for banking has delivered 60 million
:22:04. > :22:15.finance. At a meeting of the oil and gas
:22:16. > :22:36.group,... The government is doing all it can to ensure the UK is doing
:22:37. > :22:49.all it can. I will look into the matter is he raises.
:22:50. > :22:56.I have held a number of constructive meetings with voluntary groups to
:22:57. > :23:05.support and represent victims as well as with victims themselves. She
:23:06. > :23:10.will be aware of the reconciliation work in Warrington. Support is given
:23:11. > :23:13.to those affected in both sides of the Irish Sea. The majority of
:23:14. > :23:20.funding is provided by the Irish government and not the UK one. Would
:23:21. > :23:26.she agreed to meet with my to see whether we can do more in this area?
:23:27. > :23:29.I would be happy to do that. I enjoyed my visit to the peace Centre
:23:30. > :23:34.and I have the highest regard for the work done by the Centre and its
:23:35. > :23:49.various programmes to support the victims of Northern Ireland and
:23:50. > :23:56.other victims as well. Order. We are talking about victims of terrorism.
:23:57. > :24:01.This must be treated with respect. How much recognition does the
:24:02. > :24:10.Secretary of State give to the victims groups representing innocent
:24:11. > :24:15.victims of Northern Ireland? I have met a wide range of groups
:24:16. > :24:24.representing victims in Northern Ireland. It is very important we
:24:25. > :24:35.listen to their point of view. And established the Stormont house
:24:36. > :24:39.institutions. The Secretary of State in I take every opportunity
:24:40. > :24:48.supported. The new British Irish Visa scheme in China will enable
:24:49. > :24:55.visits to both countries on a single Visa. Babbling courage tourism and
:24:56. > :25:00.business links. According to Lord Lawson, chair of the vote leave
:25:01. > :25:06.campaign, a British vote to leave the European Union would result in
:25:07. > :25:09.the return of border posts and passport controls between the
:25:10. > :25:15.Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. What modelling has a
:25:16. > :25:22.minister done on how this might affect the ?750 million tourist
:25:23. > :25:27.industry in Ulster? I don't think any to do much modelling. I should
:25:28. > :25:30.let the businesses of Northern Ireland speak for themselves. They
:25:31. > :25:38.believe it would be wrong. The free flow of tourists between Ireland and
:25:39. > :25:49.Northern Ireland is good for our economy. In Milwaukee, people work
:25:50. > :25:54.coming to Dublin and only doing their holiday in southern island.
:25:55. > :26:05.Can ask the Minister is what questions he has had with ministers
:26:06. > :26:15.in the South? The biggest challenge is advertising what it has. It has
:26:16. > :26:20.the golf open and the Balmoral show as well as a cycling event. If we
:26:21. > :26:26.tell people it is on, more people would come north from the South. I
:26:27. > :26:29.wonder if the Minister would look at joining up the Northern Ireland
:26:30. > :26:33.tourism strategy with the tourism strategy for the rest of the United
:26:34. > :26:39.Kingdom? So we can work together rather than just working with
:26:40. > :26:44.Ireland? In all tourism, the best thing is to play to our strengths. I
:26:45. > :26:49.will explore that as an option. I am keen to make sure that tourism in
:26:50. > :26:52.the Republic of Ireland of tales into Northern Ireland Assembly can
:26:53. > :26:57.encourage people into Dublin and the North of Ireland, and look forward
:26:58. > :27:03.to capitalising on the next series of Game Of Thrones. Questions to the
:27:04. > :27:20.Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, this morning, I had
:27:21. > :27:22.meetings with ministerial colleagues and in addition to my duties today,
:27:23. > :27:32.I shall have further such meetings this morning. -- today. On her 21st
:27:33. > :27:37.birthday in 1947, a young woman declared her whole life, whether
:27:38. > :27:41.long or short, would be dedicated to the service of our nation. Nobody,
:27:42. > :27:45.Mr Speaker, could possibly argue that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
:27:46. > :27:52.has done anything other than fulfil her promise to the nation with
:27:53. > :27:53.dignity and grace. People across the country will