Live Northern Ireland Questions House of Commons


Live Northern Ireland Questions

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Hello, good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage from

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the House of Commons. In half an hour Theresa May faces the Labour

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leader Jeremy Corbyn and backbenchers at the dispatch box for

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Prime Minister's Questions. At around 12:50pm MPs will return for

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the second day of debate on the Government's Bill to give the Prime

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Minister the power to start the process for leaving the European

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Union. The SNP amendment rejected the Bill at second reading has been

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selected and will be voted on before the main vote on the Bill at this

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stage. The voting is expected to start at around 7pm this evening.

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Join me for a round-up of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11pm

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tonight. In a moment we will have questions to the Secretary of State

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for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire. Before that there is

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some private business dealing with waterways in the Fens. SPEAKER: The

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clerk will read out the Bill for consideration today. The honourable

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gentleman is ahead of himself but he can always have another go. The

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questioners will now be read a second time. Objection taken. Second

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reading, what day? Wednesday 8th of February. Wednesday the 8th of

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February. Questions for the Secretary of State for Northern

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Ireland, Mr Ian Blackford. Order time, question number one. Good

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morning. Thank you very much indeed, all comments gratefully accepted.

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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Mr Speaker, before I answer

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this question, I would remind the House this is the final Northern

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Ireland questions before the assembly election in March, critical

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elections for the future of Northern Ireland and I would urge the parties

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to conduct the campaign in a manner which allows for the speediest

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return to partnership government. Only power-sharing government will

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deliver the political stability which the vast majority of people in

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Northern Ireland want to see and which remains the priority for this

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government to secure. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will

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answer questions one and three together. As my Right Honourable

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friend the Prime Minister made clear, maintaining the Common Travel

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Area is one of the Government's 12 priorities in negotiating exit from

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the EU and it is the Government's intention to deliver a practical

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solution and on the maintenance of the Common Travel Area while

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protecting the integrity of the UK's immigration system. SPEAKER: Ian

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Blackford. Thank you, Mr is bigger. A high border would be a disaster

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for communities along the border, especially in economic terms. What

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assurances can be offered that the Common Travel Area will be top of

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the agenda in Brexit negotiations? Will it be more important than

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restricting the freedom of movement in the rest of the UK? Will be part

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of any trade deal done with the European Union? I have already

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indicated the priority that is given to securing the Common Travel Area.

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This is a very strong commitment that this government has given and

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the point I have underlined on many occasions before. It is always a

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shared intent both with ourselves, the Irish government and the

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Northern Ireland Executive. Therefore it is with that approach,

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and I think the shared will, that we look to the negotiations ahead and

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getting the Common Travel Area secured and also seeing that

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frictionless border that is equally so important to be politics and life

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there. Mr Speaker, will the Common Travel Area be the UK's only area of

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free travel with the EU? Or will it be free trade and free travel?

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Welcome as I have said, the priority as set out in the 12 points that the

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Prime Minister made in her speech was securing the Common Travel Area.

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That has served us over so many years dating back to the 1920s. We

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believe that it is really important that we seek to attain that. As well

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as also getting that frictionless trade in goods as well, which is

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also a key priority in addition. Mr Kevins Basta. I welcome maintaining

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free travel across our islands. Joining the Commonwealth as an

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associate member as suggested by the Senator during his visit to this

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House yesterday. Obviously that is a matter for the Irish government. The

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point he makes about strong friendly relationships between ourselves and

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Irish government is well made. It was with that intent, with that

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theme, that the Prime Minister met the Taoiseach earlier this week and

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underlined the importance of continuing to work together to get

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the best outcome for Northern Ireland and for the island of

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Ireland. Would my Right Honourable friend agree that while this

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government is committed to free movement of people and goods across

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the whole of Ireland, it is also important that the European Union

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should do its bit to see this as well? I think the European Union and

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member states do recognise the significance of Northern Ireland,

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recognise the significance of the politics on the island of Ireland,

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the way in which we have seen investment, we have seen political

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engagement from within the European Union, how we will continue to

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underline that in the negotiations ahead and why I remain positive that

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we can secure a good deal for Northern Ireland within the UK but

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outside of the EU. Mr Speaker, given Ireland's immigration criteria and

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how different they are to the UK's I don't quite understand how you are

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going to stop European Union citizens travelling through Ireland

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and on to the UK, could you spell it out for us? I would say to the

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honourable gentleman, that actually there is broad alignment of policy

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in relation to the Republic of Ireland and the UK. That has been

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part of the bedrocks of the Common Travel Area and how that has existed

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over many years. Indeed, how we have sought to create new visa issues in

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relation to China that have allowed travel to Ireland and also to the

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United Kingdom, and how cooperation between ourselves and the Irish

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government is very good. Alan Browne. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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Following on from that, post-Brexit, Common Travel Area, no hard border.

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A Polish family moves to Ireland, will they have free movement into

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Northern Ireland, and if not how does that square with Ireland being

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a member of the European Union? As I have indicated to the House

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this morning we are committed to securing the Common Travel Area.

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And, yes, we are also committed to dealing with issues of immigration,

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which I think were very much at the forefront of the campaign. We will

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be coming forward as the Home Office is working in relation to detail of

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a new immigration policy, and I am sure will be a matter of debate in

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this House in the future. Sammy Wilson. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

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Government has rightly sought to identify the issues that affect

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different regions and sectors of the economy and the Bill goes into the

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negotiating position. Regardless of the issue, however, the Common

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Travel Area, can the Secretary of State give us an assurance that all

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parts of the United Kingdom will leave the EU on an equal basis and

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that no special arrangements, or different conditions, or special

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circumstances will be afforded to Northern Ireland that would weaken

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our position within the United Kingdom and treat us differently in

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other parts of the United Kingdom? We are very clear as a government of

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the strength of the union. How that matters to all of us. And,

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therefore, the approach that we take is based on getting the best

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possible deal for all parts of the United Kingdom. Yes, there will be

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some specific factors in Northern Ireland that the honourable

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gentleman is well aware of. We have talked about the border and there

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are other issues as well. It is with that intent and with that focus,

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therefore special status is the wrong approach, it is looking at

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special factors and special circumstances and dealing with them

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effectively. Alasdair McDonnell. Could I agree with the Secretary of

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State that we are very impressed with the strength of the union too,

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that's the European Union. LAUGHTER

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Mr Speaker, there appears to be a very significant gap beyond the

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Common Travel Area. There seems to be a gap between the wishful

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thinking and reality of movement and goods. Could the Secretary of State

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is what assessment he has made of the effect of an exit from the

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customs union would have on the movement of goods and services

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between the North of Ireland and the republic.

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As the honourable gentleman will have seen in the Prime Minister's

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speech we have a clear line in the negotiations to get the best

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possible trading arrangements with the European Union and therefore we

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are reflective as to how we do that, whether that is some form of

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membership of a customs union or a bespoke customs agreement but the

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honourable gentleman should be very intent on our desire to get that

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deal and also to see if frictionless border between Northern Ireland and

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the Republic of Ireland. May I welcome the Secretary of State's

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comments about having an election that produces parties that want to

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work together because that is exactly what will want to see. When

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it comes to the Common Travel Area have we looked at the legal

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implications, not just within the other departments, but how it is

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respected by Europe itself? Does it really exist there and do they see

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it as a law that stands in place? The honourable gentleman may be

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interested to see that the ability for the Republic of Ireland and the

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United Kingdom to make arrangements in relation to the Common Travel

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Area is something that has been recognised in previous EU

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agreements. And, therefore, I think it is with that approach that we

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take to this in securing the Common Travel Area and underlining the

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importance of it to our European partners and securing its future,

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which I am positive we can do. Geoff Smyth. Number two, Mr Speaker. The

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economy in Northern Ireland continues to grow, since 2010. There

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are 54,000 more people in work and over the year the employment rate

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has increased and the claimant count is now falling for the ninth

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consecutive month. This party is committed to working with Northern

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Ireland parties for political stability and key to bringing

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further growth and investment in Northern Ireland. Geoff Smyth. 33.4%

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of all exports from Northern Ireland go south across the border, 54.7% go

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to the EU, meaning the EU will affect Northern Ireland more than

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any other region in the UK. The previous answer was pretty vague,

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somewhat specific steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure

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those exports are protected in order to protect inward investment?

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The specifics about the mechanism are for the negotiation. What we

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should understand is that Northern Ireland produce high-quality goods,

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have a high skilled employment base and it will be successful and we

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will facilitate that. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the

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Minister agree with me that the news from Northern Ireland is seen and

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read and heard across the world, and isn't it important, therefore, that

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the institutions do get up and running again straight after the

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forthcoming elections to give confidence to potential investors

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right across the world that Northern Ireland is indeed a great place to

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invest? Thank you. Can I thank you for the question. I know my Right

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Honourable friend is a very wise gentleman on issues of Northern

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Ireland and makes a massive contribution. He is right to say we

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can do much from Westminster, but it will be the parties in Northern

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Ireland that need to take responsibility and need to come

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together and guide the economic growth that is so needed in Northern

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Ireland. As the Secretary of State noted,

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there is an assembly election now to be followed by negotiations on Mr --

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ministerial responsibilities that uncertain times, can the Minister

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for assurances that austerity will not be the rock on which peace

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founders, will funding for other policy imperative Spieth? Will he

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ensure that they can function properly on financial terms? This is

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absolutely committed to developing an economy that works for everybody

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everybody in the United Kingdom. We have implemented, or implementing,

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and industrial strategy which is a massive part of Northern Ireland and

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I welcome the consultation launched in Northern Ireland as well. The

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economy in Northern Ireland is strong. There's a desire between the

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UK Government and Republic of Ireland to make sure that we have a

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constructive and positive relationship in future. My right

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honourable friend would be aware that the main parties in Northern

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Ireland have endorsed the devolution of corporation tax powers to the

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assembly, which would have a transformative effect on the economy

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of Northern Ireland. Does he agree that it would be a tragedy if the

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chance to do so were lost due to the lack of a functioning executive and

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assembly? The government believes that a reduced rate of corporation

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tax to 12.5% in Northern Ireland could have a significant benefit for

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jobs, investment and growth. I hope that we can return to the wider

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progress that we want to make on this issue following the assembly

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election and formation of a new executive. Does the Minister accept

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that with unemployment in Northern Ireland at its lowest level since

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2008, Northern Ireland has posted the highest increase of exports in

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any region of the United Kingdom last year. But the executive was

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making real, substantial progress in improving the economy of Northern

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Ireland in the previous two years? I recognise all of those statistics,

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and I think that it is important that we constantly reiterate the

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positive position Northern Ireland is in. I want to see members of this

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house, and the people of Northern Ireland want to see, the assembly

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come back together and guidance and leadership to grow the economy.

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Nigel Dodds? We share that aspiration, we want to see

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devolution up and running and jobs and investment, he would understand

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our frustration and the people of Northern Ireland's frustration and

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anger that the good progress we were making has been put in peril, jobs

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and investment, as a result of Sinn Fein's decision to cause an

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unnecessarily election. Will he work with us to make sure that people's

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jobs, investment in Northern Ireland, is improved? Mr Speaker,

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I'm not going to get involved in the politics of Northern Ireland about

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why it fell down but what is important is the people of Northern

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Ireland want leadership from their politicians in Northern Ireland. I

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can promise the honourable gentleman, the right honourable

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gentleman, the Secretary of State and myself will do everything we can

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to ensure a strong assembly offering leadership in Northern Ireland. Mr

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Speaker, I start by asking for heartfelt apologies for a mistaken

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statement last week when he said a member of the PS and I had been

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killed. I'm sure that the host would agree that we want to see good

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progress and wish him and his family well -- PSNI. A much bigger

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day-to-day threat is the burden placed on businesses by the crushing

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cost of energy in Northern Ireland. Electricity

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generators are costing 50% more than the EU average with... Will you

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urgently impress the need to rename these fat cat properties? Mr

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Speaker, we will do everything we can to make sure that there is a

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good economic link between the Republic of Ireland and Northern

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Ireland address will stop the common economic connector is an important

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part of that and we will work together to resolve the issue. Mr

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Speaker, we are determined Northern Ireland's voice will be heard. All

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of the devolved administrations will be fully engaged in the process of

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preparing to leave the EU. We will continue to consult the devolved

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administrations, including through the joint ministerial committee on

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EU negotiations. Steven Gethin. Membership of the single market is

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obviously critical in accordance with Northern Ireland. Given the

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commitment to the Common travel area, will be Minister tell us what

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blockages remain aside from political blockages to Scotland and

:17:23.:17:25.

Northern Ireland remaining part of the single market? Mr Speaker, the

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Prime Minister was, I think, very robust in the stance that she took

:17:33.:17:36.

on wanting to see the freest and best possible trading arrangements

:17:37.:17:43.

in the EU, to allow companies to trade within the EU. And I hope that

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is something that the honourable gentleman would support. If the

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honourable lady Faubert wrist and Edmonds will stand, I will call her,

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otherwise I will not -- honourable lady for Bury St Edmunds. Does he

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agree that Northern Ireland remains a great place to do business and we

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should do all we can to ensure this continues after we leave the EU? I

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do absolutely agree, Northern Ireland is a great place to do

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business and there are some amazing companies, entrepreneurs,

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businesses. That is why we want to see Northern Ireland continue to

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grow and flourish and have an executive in place at the earliest

:18:23.:18:28.

opportunity to achieve that. In a statement on January the 17th this

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year, the secretary of state said that he would, and I quote, continue

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to have engagements across the community with business, voluntary

:18:37.:18:41.

and community sectors and, more broadly, to continue to listen to

:18:42.:18:44.

and reflect upon the views of people in Northern Ireland. Can he tell us

:18:45.:18:50.

what meetings he had with communities in Northern Ireland

:18:51.:18:52.

since then and what meetings he plans between now and the assembly

:18:53.:18:57.

election? We continue to have meetings with our community Round

:18:58.:19:01.

Table, community sector Round Table, and only last week I met

:19:02.:19:04.

representatives of the business community through my business

:19:05.:19:08.

advisory group. I am clear on continuing to listen intently to

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views across Northern Ireland and help inform our approach as we look

:19:14.:19:17.

at negotiations with the EU ahead. Sinn Fein's decision to unilaterally

:19:18.:19:22.

collapse the Northern Ireland Executive means they have excluded

:19:23.:19:30.

themselves with any discussions on Article 50. Can the Secretary of

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State continue to work closely with Northern Ireland parties, along with

:19:35.:19:38.

the Brexit secretary, to ensure our voices heard steeply and fully on

:19:39.:19:44.

that important matter? The joint ministerial committee met earlier

:19:45.:19:47.

this week in a plenary session and I was pleased to see representation on

:19:48.:19:53.

the behalf of Northern Ireland. We want that to continue. And for this

:19:54.:19:59.

house we will continue to listen to views of honourable and right

:20:00.:20:01.

honourable member is to ensure that we carefully reflect on Northern

:20:02.:20:08.

Ireland's voice ahead. Although the fog of Brexit has cast the land into

:20:09.:20:15.

shadow, life must go one. Further to the secretary of state's comments,

:20:16.:20:18.

he will accept the JNC is currently the main body of consultation in

:20:19.:20:22.

devolved institutions but this body has no authority. No orders. No

:20:23.:20:30.

fixed rules. Will the secretary of state committed to formalising the

:20:31.:20:35.

role of the JNC, the crucial body during the current negotiations in

:20:36.:20:42.

these dark days? I say to the honourable gentleman that the joint

:20:43.:20:45.

ministerial committee operates between each of the different

:20:46.:20:49.

nations of the UK, and how it regulates those relations and how we

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do see it as playing an important role, not just now but in future as

:20:53.:20:56.

well, with European negotiations part of that seeking to ensure that

:20:57.:21:02.

the voice is heard loud and clear. Of devolved administrations to get

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the best arrangements for all areas of the UK. Question five, Mr

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Speaker? Mr Speaker, I know the whole house will join me in

:21:14.:21:17.

condemning the despicable shooting of a police officer in north Belfast

:21:18.:21:23.

on Sunday the 22nd of January. Our thoughts are with the injured

:21:24.:21:26.

officer who remains in hospital, and also with his family and colleagues.

:21:27.:21:32.

I and my officials have regular discussions with the Justice

:21:33.:21:33.

minister, the constable, and others as we work to

:21:34.:21:42.

keep Northern Ireland safe and secure. My right honourable friend

:21:43.:21:45.

will have the support of the whole house, I know, when he speaks so

:21:46.:21:48.

warmly of the police officer who was brutally attacked recently. I know

:21:49.:21:54.

he is working closely with intelligence services, military and

:21:55.:21:58.

police to ensure security in the region.

:21:59.:21:59.

Could he tell me more about what he is doing to take the security of an

:22:00.:22:05.

important part of the UK? I commend the work of the police service in

:22:06.:22:08.

Northern Ireland and security services and other agencies to keep

:22:09.:22:13.

Northern Ireland safe. There is a severe level of terror threat in

:22:14.:22:17.

Northern Ireland as this appalling incident underlines. I will continue

:22:18.:22:23.

to work with all partners to secure that safe and secure Northern

:22:24.:22:27.

Ireland we want to see, and spoke to the Chief Constable on this issue

:22:28.:22:32.

only this morning. May I gently remind the house... Order! We are

:22:33.:22:35.

discussing the security situation in Northern Ireland, a matter of

:22:36.:22:41.

enormous importance and gravity. Perhaps we can respond accordingly?

:22:42.:22:48.

Mr Vernon Coaker. May I join with the secretary of state in utterly

:22:49.:22:52.

condemning the disgraceful, what was a terrorist attack, on a police

:22:53.:22:57.

officer in Northern Ireland. In that light, can the secretary of state

:22:58.:23:02.

tell me, and tell the house, what response he will make to the Chief

:23:03.:23:07.

Constable's comments in the Belfast Telegraph this morning, where he

:23:08.:23:11.

talked about the need to ensure that more people from the community have

:23:12.:23:15.

the confidence to come forward and speak to police and security

:23:16.:23:19.

services about these matters? I agree entirely with a number of

:23:20.:23:23.

points that the right honourable gentleman has made. This was an

:23:24.:23:27.

utterly despicable act, and an attack on the whole community. It

:23:28.:23:32.

should be seen as such. The Chief Constable has made those points

:23:33.:23:35.

about people feeling comfortable in coming forward and there is an

:23:36.:23:39.

ongoing investigation which is very life. We are looking at confronting

:23:40.:23:44.

paramilitaries. To see that people have the comfort to come forward

:23:45.:23:52.

which needs to continue. What assessment has my honourable friend

:23:53.:23:56.

made of the current security situation in Northern Ireland? My

:23:57.:23:59.

honourable friend will wish to know that we have a severe level of

:24:00.:24:03.

threat in Northern Ireland from terror. The appalling attack that we

:24:04.:24:07.

saw on a young and brave police officer only in the last fortnight,

:24:08.:24:12.

I think, underlines the nature of the attack and how they arrive those

:24:13.:24:18.

who are there who would commit acts of violence against police, members

:24:19.:24:22.

of the Armed Forces, and also prison officers and how we need to be

:24:23.:24:25.

vigilant against the threat. Does the member for South down wish to

:24:26.:24:31.

contribute on the next question? We may not get there, we will see! Mark

:24:32.:24:37.

Durkan? May I join the condemnation on that deplorable attack on the

:24:38.:24:43.

police officer. Let me pay quick tribute to my constituent opponent

:24:44.:24:49.

and now former fellow Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for the

:24:50.:24:52.

calibre and tenure of his service and wish him well in his personal

:24:53.:24:57.

battle. In terms of the question about meeting executive ministers,

:24:58.:25:00.

does the secretary of state recognise that he will be meeting

:25:01.:25:03.

ministers who have taken a pledge to uphold the rule of law, based on how

:25:04.:25:09.

it is on impartiality and democratic ability, and will he meet the same

:25:10.:25:18.

benchmark and remove commentary? I am clear on upholding the rule of

:25:19.:25:23.

law, seeing that we support our agencies which have that

:25:24.:25:25.

independence to be able to pursue evidence where they see it. Indeed,

:25:26.:25:30.

the very life investigation which is ongoing to get to the bottom and

:25:31.:25:33.

hold bows to account for this appalling act against this brave

:25:34.:25:39.

PSNI officer doing his duty, upholding the law in the community.

:25:40.:25:44.

It isn't the job faced by police in Northern Ireland, keeping people

:25:45.:25:48.

safe, made harder by the tenancies of Northern Ireland courts to let

:25:49.:25:53.

terrorists out on bail? Sometimes only weeks after an original arrest

:25:54.:25:58.

has taken place? I think that there are important issues which need to

:25:59.:26:03.

be examined and addressed in relation to the criminal justice

:26:04.:26:07.

system. Bail is part of that but sentencing and the time it takes for

:26:08.:26:11.

cases to proceed, which is something we will continue to work with the

:26:12.:26:14.

executive, to see that progress can be made. Thank you Mr Speaker. The

:26:15.:26:26.

honourable lady can scarcely be heard by anybody, let alone the

:26:27.:26:35.

Minister. Lady Hermon. In dealing with the security situation in

:26:36.:26:38.

Northern Ireland, the secretary of state would recognise how important

:26:39.:26:42.

it is that the Northern Ireland Office sends out it very clear

:26:43.:26:45.

message that the rule of law prevails in Northern Ireland. So,

:26:46.:26:49.

would he kindly take the opportunity to put on the record his full

:26:50.:26:54.

confidence in the independence and integrity of the Lord chief of

:26:55.:27:01.

justice and indeed the DPP? I am very happy to do so, in clear and

:27:02.:27:05.

unequivocal terms. It is essential that we uphold the rule of law

:27:06.:27:09.

without fear or favour, and I absolutely support the work of

:27:10.:27:13.

police and all of those responsible for taking it forward and seeing

:27:14.:27:18.

those who are committing those acts we discussed this morning are held

:27:19.:27:22.

to account and brought to justice. Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, on

:27:23.:27:26.

Monday I met a woman whose mother was killed 46 years ago. Does the

:27:27.:27:33.

secretary of state understand that there will be no real peace unless

:27:34.:27:38.

we deal with the past? To that end, can I ask, will he commit to the

:27:39.:27:45.

need to ensure the fullest possible public access to the papers relating

:27:46.:27:49.

to the Kingsmill murders and deliver an effective route to the families

:27:50.:27:54.

of those who lost loved ones in Bali Murphy, so that they can reach some

:27:55.:27:59.

form of closure? I thank the right honourable gentleman and the message

:28:00.:28:03.

that he gives, the raw pain and emotion which continues to be felt

:28:04.:28:08.

by so many of those affected by the troubles, that is one I equally

:28:09.:28:11.

recognise and see. It's important that we can make progress in

:28:12.:28:15.

relation to the Stormont house legacy bodies and will continue to

:28:16.:28:18.

make representations to the Irish government over a range of issues

:28:19.:28:21.

and I note that point he raced with me this morning. Questions to the

:28:22.:28:30.

Prime Minister? Mr Peter Heaton Jones. Question number one Mr

:28:31.:28:34.

Speaker... Thank you Mr Speaker. I am sure that the whole house would

:28:35.:28:39.

join me in offering our condolences to the families and friends of those

:28:40.:28:42.

who lost their lives and were injured in the gun attack in Qu bec

:28:43.:28:48.

city on Sunday. And in paying tribute to our former colleague.

:28:49.:28:51.

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