:00:08. > :00:12.Hello, good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from
:00:13. > :00:15.the House of Commons. In half an hour Theresa May faces the Labour
:00:16. > :00:19.leader Jeremy Corbyn and backbenchers at the dispatch box for
:00:20. > :00:23.Prime Minister's Questions. At around 12:50pm MPs will return for
:00:24. > :00:25.the second day of debate on the Government's Bill to give the Prime
:00:26. > :00:29.Minister the power to start the process for leaving the European
:00:30. > :00:33.Union. The SNP amendment rejected the Bill at second reading has been
:00:34. > :00:38.selected and will be voted on before the main vote on the Bill at this
:00:39. > :00:43.stage. The voting is expected to start at around 7pm this evening.
:00:44. > :00:48.Join me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm
:00:49. > :00:50.tonight. In a moment we will have questions to the Secretary of State
:00:51. > :00:53.for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire. Before that there is
:00:54. > :01:03.some private business dealing with waterways in the Fens. SPEAKER: The
:01:04. > :01:12.clerk will read out the Bill for consideration today. The honourable
:01:13. > :01:16.gentleman is ahead of himself but he can always have another go. The
:01:17. > :01:22.questioners will now be read a second time. Objection taken. Second
:01:23. > :01:29.reading, what day? Wednesday 8th of February. Wednesday the 8th of
:01:30. > :01:31.February. Questions for the Secretary of State for Northern
:01:32. > :01:43.Ireland, Mr Ian Blackford. Order time, question number one. Good
:01:44. > :01:47.morning. Thank you very much indeed, all comments gratefully accepted.
:01:48. > :01:50.The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Mr Speaker, before I answer
:01:51. > :01:54.this question, I would remind the House this is the final Northern
:01:55. > :01:57.Ireland questions before the assembly election in March, critical
:01:58. > :02:00.elections for the future of Northern Ireland and I would urge the parties
:02:01. > :02:04.to conduct the campaign in a manner which allows for the speediest
:02:05. > :02:06.return to partnership government. Only power-sharing government will
:02:07. > :02:10.deliver the political stability which the vast majority of people in
:02:11. > :02:15.Northern Ireland want to see and which remains the priority for this
:02:16. > :02:18.government to secure. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will
:02:19. > :02:21.answer questions one and three together. As my Right Honourable
:02:22. > :02:25.friend the Prime Minister made clear, maintaining the Common Travel
:02:26. > :02:29.Area is one of the Government's 12 priorities in negotiating exit from
:02:30. > :02:32.the EU and it is the Government's intention to deliver a practical
:02:33. > :02:36.solution and on the maintenance of the Common Travel Area while
:02:37. > :02:40.protecting the integrity of the UK's immigration system. SPEAKER: Ian
:02:41. > :02:49.Blackford. Thank you, Mr is bigger. A high border would be a disaster
:02:50. > :02:51.for communities along the border, especially in economic terms. What
:02:52. > :02:54.assurances can be offered that the Common Travel Area will be top of
:02:55. > :02:56.the agenda in Brexit negotiations? Will it be more important than
:02:57. > :03:00.restricting the freedom of movement in the rest of the UK? Will be part
:03:01. > :03:04.of any trade deal done with the European Union? I have already
:03:05. > :03:08.indicated the priority that is given to securing the Common Travel Area.
:03:09. > :03:12.This is a very strong commitment that this government has given and
:03:13. > :03:16.the point I have underlined on many occasions before. It is always a
:03:17. > :03:21.shared intent both with ourselves, the Irish government and the
:03:22. > :03:25.Northern Ireland Executive. Therefore it is with that approach,
:03:26. > :03:29.and I think the shared will, that we look to the negotiations ahead and
:03:30. > :03:32.getting the Common Travel Area secured and also seeing that
:03:33. > :03:37.frictionless border that is equally so important to be politics and life
:03:38. > :03:41.there. Mr Speaker, will the Common Travel Area be the UK's only area of
:03:42. > :03:48.free travel with the EU? Or will it be free trade and free travel?
:03:49. > :03:53.Welcome as I have said, the priority as set out in the 12 points that the
:03:54. > :03:57.Prime Minister made in her speech was securing the Common Travel Area.
:03:58. > :04:03.That has served us over so many years dating back to the 1920s. We
:04:04. > :04:07.believe that it is really important that we seek to attain that. As well
:04:08. > :04:11.as also getting that frictionless trade in goods as well, which is
:04:12. > :04:24.also a key priority in addition. Mr Kevins Basta. I welcome maintaining
:04:25. > :04:27.free travel across our islands. Joining the Commonwealth as an
:04:28. > :04:34.associate member as suggested by the Senator during his visit to this
:04:35. > :04:39.House yesterday. Obviously that is a matter for the Irish government. The
:04:40. > :04:43.point he makes about strong friendly relationships between ourselves and
:04:44. > :04:46.Irish government is well made. It was with that intent, with that
:04:47. > :04:50.theme, that the Prime Minister met the Taoiseach earlier this week and
:04:51. > :04:54.underlined the importance of continuing to work together to get
:04:55. > :04:59.the best outcome for Northern Ireland and for the island of
:05:00. > :05:02.Ireland. Would my Right Honourable friend agree that while this
:05:03. > :05:06.government is committed to free movement of people and goods across
:05:07. > :05:10.the whole of Ireland, it is also important that the European Union
:05:11. > :05:16.should do its bit to see this as well? I think the European Union and
:05:17. > :05:20.member states do recognise the significance of Northern Ireland,
:05:21. > :05:23.recognise the significance of the politics on the island of Ireland,
:05:24. > :05:26.the way in which we have seen investment, we have seen political
:05:27. > :05:29.engagement from within the European Union, how we will continue to
:05:30. > :05:33.underline that in the negotiations ahead and why I remain positive that
:05:34. > :05:40.we can secure a good deal for Northern Ireland within the UK but
:05:41. > :05:42.outside of the EU. Mr Speaker, given Ireland's immigration criteria and
:05:43. > :05:46.how different they are to the UK's I don't quite understand how you are
:05:47. > :05:51.going to stop European Union citizens travelling through Ireland
:05:52. > :05:56.and on to the UK, could you spell it out for us? I would say to the
:05:57. > :06:00.honourable gentleman, that actually there is broad alignment of policy
:06:01. > :06:03.in relation to the Republic of Ireland and the UK. That has been
:06:04. > :06:08.part of the bedrocks of the Common Travel Area and how that has existed
:06:09. > :06:13.over many years. Indeed, how we have sought to create new visa issues in
:06:14. > :06:16.relation to China that have allowed travel to Ireland and also to the
:06:17. > :06:19.United Kingdom, and how cooperation between ourselves and the Irish
:06:20. > :06:26.government is very good. Alan Browne. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
:06:27. > :06:29.Following on from that, post-Brexit, Common Travel Area, no hard border.
:06:30. > :06:33.A Polish family moves to Ireland, will they have free movement into
:06:34. > :06:37.Northern Ireland, and if not how does that square with Ireland being
:06:38. > :06:41.a member of the European Union? As I have indicated to the House
:06:42. > :06:45.this morning we are committed to securing the Common Travel Area.
:06:46. > :06:48.And, yes, we are also committed to dealing with issues of immigration,
:06:49. > :06:54.which I think were very much at the forefront of the campaign. We will
:06:55. > :06:58.be coming forward as the Home Office is working in relation to detail of
:06:59. > :07:02.a new immigration policy, and I am sure will be a matter of debate in
:07:03. > :07:09.this House in the future. Sammy Wilson. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
:07:10. > :07:12.Government has rightly sought to identify the issues that affect
:07:13. > :07:16.different regions and sectors of the economy and the Bill goes into the
:07:17. > :07:19.negotiating position. Regardless of the issue, however, the Common
:07:20. > :07:23.Travel Area, can the Secretary of State give us an assurance that all
:07:24. > :07:29.parts of the United Kingdom will leave the EU on an equal basis and
:07:30. > :07:33.that no special arrangements, or different conditions, or special
:07:34. > :07:36.circumstances will be afforded to Northern Ireland that would weaken
:07:37. > :07:40.our position within the United Kingdom and treat us differently in
:07:41. > :07:44.other parts of the United Kingdom? We are very clear as a government of
:07:45. > :07:49.the strength of the union. How that matters to all of us. And,
:07:50. > :07:54.therefore, the approach that we take is based on getting the best
:07:55. > :07:57.possible deal for all parts of the United Kingdom. Yes, there will be
:07:58. > :08:00.some specific factors in Northern Ireland that the honourable
:08:01. > :08:03.gentleman is well aware of. We have talked about the border and there
:08:04. > :08:08.are other issues as well. It is with that intent and with that focus,
:08:09. > :08:11.therefore special status is the wrong approach, it is looking at
:08:12. > :08:16.special factors and special circumstances and dealing with them
:08:17. > :08:20.effectively. Alasdair McDonnell. Could I agree with the Secretary of
:08:21. > :08:23.State that we are very impressed with the strength of the union too,
:08:24. > :08:29.that's the European Union. LAUGHTER
:08:30. > :08:32.Mr Speaker, there appears to be a very significant gap beyond the
:08:33. > :08:36.Common Travel Area. There seems to be a gap between the wishful
:08:37. > :08:39.thinking and reality of movement and goods. Could the Secretary of State
:08:40. > :08:42.is what assessment he has made of the effect of an exit from the
:08:43. > :08:47.customs union would have on the movement of goods and services
:08:48. > :08:48.between the North of Ireland and the republic.
:08:49. > :08:55.As the honourable gentleman will have seen in the Prime Minister's
:08:56. > :08:59.speech we have a clear line in the negotiations to get the best
:09:00. > :09:03.possible trading arrangements with the European Union and therefore we
:09:04. > :09:07.are reflective as to how we do that, whether that is some form of
:09:08. > :09:09.membership of a customs union or a bespoke customs agreement but the
:09:10. > :09:12.honourable gentleman should be very intent on our desire to get that
:09:13. > :09:17.deal and also to see if frictionless border between Northern Ireland and
:09:18. > :09:21.the Republic of Ireland. May I welcome the Secretary of State's
:09:22. > :09:26.comments about having an election that produces parties that want to
:09:27. > :09:30.work together because that is exactly what will want to see. When
:09:31. > :09:32.it comes to the Common Travel Area have we looked at the legal
:09:33. > :09:36.implications, not just within the other departments, but how it is
:09:37. > :09:42.respected by Europe itself? Does it really exist there and do they see
:09:43. > :09:45.it as a law that stands in place? The honourable gentleman may be
:09:46. > :09:48.interested to see that the ability for the Republic of Ireland and the
:09:49. > :09:52.United Kingdom to make arrangements in relation to the Common Travel
:09:53. > :09:57.Area is something that has been recognised in previous EU
:09:58. > :10:01.agreements. And, therefore, I think it is with that approach that we
:10:02. > :10:05.take to this in securing the Common Travel Area and underlining the
:10:06. > :10:08.importance of it to our European partners and securing its future,
:10:09. > :10:17.which I am positive we can do. Geoff Smyth. Number two, Mr Speaker. The
:10:18. > :10:22.economy in Northern Ireland continues to grow, since 2010. There
:10:23. > :10:25.are 54,000 more people in work and over the year the employment rate
:10:26. > :10:31.has increased and the claimant count is now falling for the ninth
:10:32. > :10:34.consecutive month. This party is committed to working with Northern
:10:35. > :10:36.Ireland parties for political stability and key to bringing
:10:37. > :10:43.further growth and investment in Northern Ireland. Geoff Smyth. 33.4%
:10:44. > :10:48.of all exports from Northern Ireland go south across the border, 54.7% go
:10:49. > :10:51.to the EU, meaning the EU will affect Northern Ireland more than
:10:52. > :10:55.any other region in the UK. The previous answer was pretty vague,
:10:56. > :10:58.somewhat specific steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure
:10:59. > :11:05.those exports are protected in order to protect inward investment?
:11:06. > :11:09.The specifics about the mechanism are for the negotiation. What we
:11:10. > :11:14.should understand is that Northern Ireland produce high-quality goods,
:11:15. > :11:20.have a high skilled employment base and it will be successful and we
:11:21. > :11:25.will facilitate that. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the
:11:26. > :11:29.Minister agree with me that the news from Northern Ireland is seen and
:11:30. > :11:33.read and heard across the world, and isn't it important, therefore, that
:11:34. > :11:36.the institutions do get up and running again straight after the
:11:37. > :11:40.forthcoming elections to give confidence to potential investors
:11:41. > :11:47.right across the world that Northern Ireland is indeed a great place to
:11:48. > :11:52.invest? Thank you. Can I thank you for the question. I know my Right
:11:53. > :11:54.Honourable friend is a very wise gentleman on issues of Northern
:11:55. > :11:59.Ireland and makes a massive contribution. He is right to say we
:12:00. > :12:01.can do much from Westminster, but it will be the parties in Northern
:12:02. > :12:04.Ireland that need to take responsibility and need to come
:12:05. > :12:06.together and guide the economic growth that is so needed in Northern
:12:07. > :12:14.Ireland. As the Secretary of State noted,
:12:15. > :12:19.there is an assembly election now to be followed by negotiations on Mr --
:12:20. > :12:23.ministerial responsibilities that uncertain times, can the Minister
:12:24. > :12:31.for assurances that austerity will not be the rock on which peace
:12:32. > :12:38.founders, will funding for other policy imperative Spieth? Will he
:12:39. > :12:42.ensure that they can function properly on financial terms? This is
:12:43. > :12:48.absolutely committed to developing an economy that works for everybody
:12:49. > :12:54.everybody in the United Kingdom. We have implemented, or implementing,
:12:55. > :12:59.and industrial strategy which is a massive part of Northern Ireland and
:13:00. > :13:02.I welcome the consultation launched in Northern Ireland as well. The
:13:03. > :13:06.economy in Northern Ireland is strong. There's a desire between the
:13:07. > :13:10.UK Government and Republic of Ireland to make sure that we have a
:13:11. > :13:16.constructive and positive relationship in future. My right
:13:17. > :13:19.honourable friend would be aware that the main parties in Northern
:13:20. > :13:23.Ireland have endorsed the devolution of corporation tax powers to the
:13:24. > :13:26.assembly, which would have a transformative effect on the economy
:13:27. > :13:31.of Northern Ireland. Does he agree that it would be a tragedy if the
:13:32. > :13:37.chance to do so were lost due to the lack of a functioning executive and
:13:38. > :13:42.assembly? The government believes that a reduced rate of corporation
:13:43. > :13:46.tax to 12.5% in Northern Ireland could have a significant benefit for
:13:47. > :13:50.jobs, investment and growth. I hope that we can return to the wider
:13:51. > :13:53.progress that we want to make on this issue following the assembly
:13:54. > :14:00.election and formation of a new executive. Does the Minister accept
:14:01. > :14:05.that with unemployment in Northern Ireland at its lowest level since
:14:06. > :14:09.2008, Northern Ireland has posted the highest increase of exports in
:14:10. > :14:15.any region of the United Kingdom last year. But the executive was
:14:16. > :14:21.making real, substantial progress in improving the economy of Northern
:14:22. > :14:26.Ireland in the previous two years? I recognise all of those statistics,
:14:27. > :14:29.and I think that it is important that we constantly reiterate the
:14:30. > :14:35.positive position Northern Ireland is in. I want to see members of this
:14:36. > :14:38.house, and the people of Northern Ireland want to see, the assembly
:14:39. > :14:45.come back together and guidance and leadership to grow the economy.
:14:46. > :14:49.Nigel Dodds? We share that aspiration, we want to see
:14:50. > :14:53.devolution up and running and jobs and investment, he would understand
:14:54. > :14:56.our frustration and the people of Northern Ireland's frustration and
:14:57. > :15:01.anger that the good progress we were making has been put in peril, jobs
:15:02. > :15:08.and investment, as a result of Sinn Fein's decision to cause an
:15:09. > :15:11.unnecessarily election. Will he work with us to make sure that people's
:15:12. > :15:17.jobs, investment in Northern Ireland, is improved? Mr Speaker,
:15:18. > :15:20.I'm not going to get involved in the politics of Northern Ireland about
:15:21. > :15:24.why it fell down but what is important is the people of Northern
:15:25. > :15:27.Ireland want leadership from their politicians in Northern Ireland. I
:15:28. > :15:31.can promise the honourable gentleman, the right honourable
:15:32. > :15:34.gentleman, the Secretary of State and myself will do everything we can
:15:35. > :15:44.to ensure a strong assembly offering leadership in Northern Ireland. Mr
:15:45. > :15:47.Speaker, I start by asking for heartfelt apologies for a mistaken
:15:48. > :15:50.statement last week when he said a member of the PS and I had been
:15:51. > :15:57.killed. I'm sure that the host would agree that we want to see good
:15:58. > :16:02.progress and wish him and his family well -- PSNI. A much bigger
:16:03. > :16:06.day-to-day threat is the burden placed on businesses by the crushing
:16:07. > :16:10.cost of energy in Northern Ireland. Electricity
:16:11. > :16:22.generators are costing 50% more than the EU average with... Will you
:16:23. > :16:30.urgently impress the need to rename these fat cat properties? Mr
:16:31. > :16:33.Speaker, we will do everything we can to make sure that there is a
:16:34. > :16:39.good economic link between the Republic of Ireland and Northern
:16:40. > :16:41.Ireland address will stop the common economic connector is an important
:16:42. > :16:52.part of that and we will work together to resolve the issue. Mr
:16:53. > :16:55.Speaker, we are determined Northern Ireland's voice will be heard. All
:16:56. > :17:00.of the devolved administrations will be fully engaged in the process of
:17:01. > :17:04.preparing to leave the EU. We will continue to consult the devolved
:17:05. > :17:09.administrations, including through the joint ministerial committee on
:17:10. > :17:12.EU negotiations. Steven Gethin. Membership of the single market is
:17:13. > :17:17.obviously critical in accordance with Northern Ireland. Given the
:17:18. > :17:22.commitment to the Common travel area, will be Minister tell us what
:17:23. > :17:25.blockages remain aside from political blockages to Scotland and
:17:26. > :17:32.Northern Ireland remaining part of the single market? Mr Speaker, the
:17:33. > :17:36.Prime Minister was, I think, very robust in the stance that she took
:17:37. > :17:43.on wanting to see the freest and best possible trading arrangements
:17:44. > :17:47.in the EU, to allow companies to trade within the EU. And I hope that
:17:48. > :17:50.is something that the honourable gentleman would support. If the
:17:51. > :17:56.honourable lady Faubert wrist and Edmonds will stand, I will call her,
:17:57. > :18:02.otherwise I will not -- honourable lady for Bury St Edmunds. Does he
:18:03. > :18:05.agree that Northern Ireland remains a great place to do business and we
:18:06. > :18:11.should do all we can to ensure this continues after we leave the EU? I
:18:12. > :18:16.do absolutely agree, Northern Ireland is a great place to do
:18:17. > :18:18.business and there are some amazing companies, entrepreneurs,
:18:19. > :18:22.businesses. That is why we want to see Northern Ireland continue to
:18:23. > :18:28.grow and flourish and have an executive in place at the earliest
:18:29. > :18:32.opportunity to achieve that. In a statement on January the 17th this
:18:33. > :18:36.year, the secretary of state said that he would, and I quote, continue
:18:37. > :18:41.to have engagements across the community with business, voluntary
:18:42. > :18:44.and community sectors and, more broadly, to continue to listen to
:18:45. > :18:50.and reflect upon the views of people in Northern Ireland. Can he tell us
:18:51. > :18:52.what meetings he had with communities in Northern Ireland
:18:53. > :18:57.since then and what meetings he plans between now and the assembly
:18:58. > :19:01.election? We continue to have meetings with our community Round
:19:02. > :19:04.Table, community sector Round Table, and only last week I met
:19:05. > :19:08.representatives of the business community through my business
:19:09. > :19:13.advisory group. I am clear on continuing to listen intently to
:19:14. > :19:17.views across Northern Ireland and help inform our approach as we look
:19:18. > :19:22.at negotiations with the EU ahead. Sinn Fein's decision to unilaterally
:19:23. > :19:30.collapse the Northern Ireland Executive means they have excluded
:19:31. > :19:34.themselves with any discussions on Article 50. Can the Secretary of
:19:35. > :19:38.State continue to work closely with Northern Ireland parties, along with
:19:39. > :19:44.the Brexit secretary, to ensure our voices heard steeply and fully on
:19:45. > :19:47.that important matter? The joint ministerial committee met earlier
:19:48. > :19:53.this week in a plenary session and I was pleased to see representation on
:19:54. > :19:59.the behalf of Northern Ireland. We want that to continue. And for this
:20:00. > :20:01.house we will continue to listen to views of honourable and right
:20:02. > :20:08.honourable member is to ensure that we carefully reflect on Northern
:20:09. > :20:15.Ireland's voice ahead. Although the fog of Brexit has cast the land into
:20:16. > :20:18.shadow, life must go one. Further to the secretary of state's comments,
:20:19. > :20:22.he will accept the JNC is currently the main body of consultation in
:20:23. > :20:30.devolved institutions but this body has no authority. No orders. No
:20:31. > :20:35.fixed rules. Will the secretary of state committed to formalising the
:20:36. > :20:42.role of the JNC, the crucial body during the current negotiations in
:20:43. > :20:45.these dark days? I say to the honourable gentleman that the joint
:20:46. > :20:49.ministerial committee operates between each of the different
:20:50. > :20:52.nations of the UK, and how it regulates those relations and how we
:20:53. > :20:56.do see it as playing an important role, not just now but in future as
:20:57. > :21:02.well, with European negotiations part of that seeking to ensure that
:21:03. > :21:05.the voice is heard loud and clear. Of devolved administrations to get
:21:06. > :21:13.the best arrangements for all areas of the UK. Question five, Mr
:21:14. > :21:17.Speaker? Mr Speaker, I know the whole house will join me in
:21:18. > :21:23.condemning the despicable shooting of a police officer in north Belfast
:21:24. > :21:26.on Sunday the 22nd of January. Our thoughts are with the injured
:21:27. > :21:32.officer who remains in hospital, and also with his family and colleagues.
:21:33. > :21:33.I and my officials have regular discussions with the Justice
:21:34. > :21:42.minister, the constable, and others as we work to
:21:43. > :21:45.keep Northern Ireland safe and secure. My right honourable friend
:21:46. > :21:48.will have the support of the whole house, I know, when he speaks so
:21:49. > :21:54.warmly of the police officer who was brutally attacked recently. I know
:21:55. > :21:58.he is working closely with intelligence services, military and
:21:59. > :21:59.police to ensure security in the region.
:22:00. > :22:05.Could he tell me more about what he is doing to take the security of an
:22:06. > :22:08.important part of the UK? I commend the work of the police service in
:22:09. > :22:13.Northern Ireland and security services and other agencies to keep
:22:14. > :22:17.Northern Ireland safe. There is a severe level of terror threat in
:22:18. > :22:23.Northern Ireland as this appalling incident underlines. I will continue
:22:24. > :22:27.to work with all partners to secure that safe and secure Northern
:22:28. > :22:32.Ireland we want to see, and spoke to the Chief Constable on this issue
:22:33. > :22:35.only this morning. May I gently remind the house... Order! We are
:22:36. > :22:41.discussing the security situation in Northern Ireland, a matter of
:22:42. > :22:48.enormous importance and gravity. Perhaps we can respond accordingly?
:22:49. > :22:52.Mr Vernon Coaker. May I join with the secretary of state in utterly
:22:53. > :22:57.condemning the disgraceful, what was a terrorist attack, on a police
:22:58. > :23:02.officer in Northern Ireland. In that light, can the secretary of state
:23:03. > :23:07.tell me, and tell the house, what response he will make to the Chief
:23:08. > :23:11.Constable's comments in the Belfast Telegraph this morning, where he
:23:12. > :23:15.talked about the need to ensure that more people from the community have
:23:16. > :23:19.the confidence to come forward and speak to police and security
:23:20. > :23:23.services about these matters? I agree entirely with a number of
:23:24. > :23:27.points that the right honourable gentleman has made. This was an
:23:28. > :23:32.utterly despicable act, and an attack on the whole community. It
:23:33. > :23:35.should be seen as such. The Chief Constable has made those points
:23:36. > :23:39.about people feeling comfortable in coming forward and there is an
:23:40. > :23:44.ongoing investigation which is very life. We are looking at confronting
:23:45. > :23:52.paramilitaries. To see that people have the comfort to come forward
:23:53. > :23:56.which needs to continue. What assessment has my honourable friend
:23:57. > :23:59.made of the current security situation in Northern Ireland? My
:24:00. > :24:03.honourable friend will wish to know that we have a severe level of
:24:04. > :24:07.threat in Northern Ireland from terror. The appalling attack that we
:24:08. > :24:12.saw on a young and brave police officer only in the last fortnight,
:24:13. > :24:18.I think, underlines the nature of the attack and how they arrive those
:24:19. > :24:22.who are there who would commit acts of violence against police, members
:24:23. > :24:25.of the Armed Forces, and also prison officers and how we need to be
:24:26. > :24:31.vigilant against the threat. Does the member for South down wish to
:24:32. > :24:37.contribute on the next question? We may not get there, we will see! Mark
:24:38. > :24:43.Durkan? May I join the condemnation on that deplorable attack on the
:24:44. > :24:49.police officer. Let me pay quick tribute to my constituent opponent
:24:50. > :24:52.and now former fellow Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for the
:24:53. > :24:57.calibre and tenure of his service and wish him well in his personal
:24:58. > :25:00.battle. In terms of the question about meeting executive ministers,
:25:01. > :25:03.does the secretary of state recognise that he will be meeting
:25:04. > :25:09.ministers who have taken a pledge to uphold the rule of law, based on how
:25:10. > :25:18.it is on impartiality and democratic ability, and will he meet the same
:25:19. > :25:23.benchmark and remove commentary? I am clear on upholding the rule of
:25:24. > :25:25.law, seeing that we support our agencies which have that
:25:26. > :25:30.independence to be able to pursue evidence where they see it. Indeed,
:25:31. > :25:33.the very life investigation which is ongoing to get to the bottom and
:25:34. > :25:39.hold bows to account for this appalling act against this brave
:25:40. > :25:44.PSNI officer doing his duty, upholding the law in the community.
:25:45. > :25:48.It isn't the job faced by police in Northern Ireland, keeping people
:25:49. > :25:53.safe, made harder by the tenancies of Northern Ireland courts to let
:25:54. > :25:58.terrorists out on bail? Sometimes only weeks after an original arrest
:25:59. > :26:03.has taken place? I think that there are important issues which need to
:26:04. > :26:07.be examined and addressed in relation to the criminal justice
:26:08. > :26:11.system. Bail is part of that but sentencing and the time it takes for
:26:12. > :26:14.cases to proceed, which is something we will continue to work with the
:26:15. > :26:26.executive, to see that progress can be made. Thank you Mr Speaker. The
:26:27. > :26:35.honourable lady can scarcely be heard by anybody, let alone the
:26:36. > :26:38.Minister. Lady Hermon. In dealing with the security situation in
:26:39. > :26:42.Northern Ireland, the secretary of state would recognise how important
:26:43. > :26:45.it is that the Northern Ireland Office sends out it very clear
:26:46. > :26:49.message that the rule of law prevails in Northern Ireland. So,
:26:50. > :26:54.would he kindly take the opportunity to put on the record his full
:26:55. > :27:01.confidence in the independence and integrity of the Lord chief of
:27:02. > :27:05.justice and indeed the DPP? I am very happy to do so, in clear and
:27:06. > :27:09.unequivocal terms. It is essential that we uphold the rule of law
:27:10. > :27:13.without fear or favour, and I absolutely support the work of
:27:14. > :27:18.police and all of those responsible for taking it forward and seeing
:27:19. > :27:22.those who are committing those acts we discussed this morning are held
:27:23. > :27:26.to account and brought to justice. Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, on
:27:27. > :27:33.Monday I met a woman whose mother was killed 46 years ago. Does the
:27:34. > :27:38.secretary of state understand that there will be no real peace unless
:27:39. > :27:45.we deal with the past? To that end, can I ask, will he commit to the
:27:46. > :27:49.need to ensure the fullest possible public access to the papers relating
:27:50. > :27:54.to the Kingsmill murders and deliver an effective route to the families
:27:55. > :27:59.of those who lost loved ones in Bali Murphy, so that they can reach some
:28:00. > :28:03.form of closure? I thank the right honourable gentleman and the message
:28:04. > :28:08.that he gives, the raw pain and emotion which continues to be felt
:28:09. > :28:11.by so many of those affected by the troubles, that is one I equally
:28:12. > :28:15.recognise and see. It's important that we can make progress in
:28:16. > :28:18.relation to the Stormont house legacy bodies and will continue to
:28:19. > :28:21.make representations to the Irish government over a range of issues
:28:22. > :28:30.and I note that point he raced with me this morning. Questions to the
:28:31. > :28:34.Prime Minister? Mr Peter Heaton Jones. Question number one Mr
:28:35. > :28:39.Speaker... Thank you Mr Speaker. I am sure that the whole house would
:28:40. > :28:42.join me in offering our condolences to the families and friends of those
:28:43. > :28:48.who lost their lives and were injured in the gun attack in Qu bec
:28:49. > :28:51.city on Sunday. And in paying tribute to our former colleague.