:00:10. > :00:14.Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage on the
:00:15. > :00:17.House of Commons. In one hour Theresa May will Leader of the
:00:18. > :00:21.Opposition Jeremy Corbyn for the first Prime Minister's Questions of
:00:22. > :00:23.the new session of Parliament following the general election. The
:00:24. > :00:29.main business in the Chamber will be the third day of debate on the
:00:30. > :00:32.Queen's Speech, focusing on health, social care and security. Labour has
:00:33. > :00:37.tabled an amendment calling for an to the public sector pay cap and for
:00:38. > :00:43.pay rises for emergency and public sector staff, that vote is expected
:00:44. > :00:48.at around 7pm. Do join me for a round-up at 11 o'clock tonight from
:00:49. > :00:51.both Houses of Parliament but first we have questions to the Secretary
:00:52. > :00:59.of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire. Order! I remember -- I
:01:00. > :01:03.remained members that the Private Members' Bill ballet boot is open
:01:04. > :01:12.and Eno division lobby today until the rise of the House when the
:01:13. > :01:18.ballet for the 2017 and 2019 will close. The ballot draw will be held
:01:19. > :01:24.at 9am tomorrow in committee room ten. I also remind members that the
:01:25. > :01:30.ballet for the election get the speakers is taking place until
:01:31. > :01:35.1:30pm today in committee room number eight. The result will be
:01:36. > :01:41.announced as soon as the count is complete. Order, questions to the
:01:42. > :01:47.Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Kate Hollern. Number one,
:01:48. > :01:53.Mr Speaker. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire.
:01:54. > :01:57.With permission, I will answer questions one and five together. The
:01:58. > :02:00.government remained steadfast in our commitment to the Belfast Agreement
:02:01. > :02:05.and its successors. We will continue to govern in the interests of all
:02:06. > :02:09.parts of the community and work in partnership with the Irish
:02:10. > :02:12.government in accordance with the well-established free standard
:02:13. > :02:20.approach as we have done for the past seven years. Thank you, Mr
:02:21. > :02:29.Speaker, in the last few days, the deal with the DUP has been described
:02:30. > :02:33.as grubby, dangerous and desperate. The current situation in Northern
:02:34. > :02:38.Ireland is at a sensitive point, can the Secretary of State outline in a
:02:39. > :02:44.clear and cohesive manner the steps that his government is taking to
:02:45. > :02:47.ensure impartiality? I said at the outset that I do not recognise the
:02:48. > :02:52.characterisation that the honourable lady has given which is about
:02:53. > :02:57.providing stability here for the UK Government. And actually governing
:02:58. > :03:02.and the best interest of all parts of the UK. But I would say to heart
:03:03. > :03:05.in response to her important question over the Belfast Agreement
:03:06. > :03:08.and its successors that this government does remain steadfast to
:03:09. > :03:13.its commitment to those agreements that we continue to work with all
:03:14. > :03:17.parties, as I have done over recent days and will continue to do, such
:03:18. > :03:21.that this government does and in the best interest of all parts of
:03:22. > :03:26.Northern Ireland and continues to listen to the concerns of all parts
:03:27. > :03:30.of the community. There has been a lot made about the extra money for
:03:31. > :03:34.infrastructure spending. What assurances can the Secretary of
:03:35. > :03:38.State give that that extra funding will reach all communities in
:03:39. > :03:41.Northern Ireland, especially the rural communities in the west of the
:03:42. > :03:49.country, and what can he do to help ensure that happens? The additional
:03:50. > :03:52.funding outlined as for an executive, and inclusive executive
:03:53. > :03:56.to be able to utilise those funds in the best interest of Northern
:03:57. > :04:00.Ireland, that is the most were full and effective way to deliver on that
:04:01. > :04:04.and that is why I have been using all of my time, energy and effort to
:04:05. > :04:08.see that that executive is restored and that is the best we 2CE the
:04:09. > :04:17.point that the honourable gentleman rightly makes Arsene. Thank you, is
:04:18. > :04:20.not the case that in September 2015 there was a crisis in the
:04:21. > :04:24.institutions in Northern Ireland long before any deal between the
:04:25. > :04:27.Conservative Party and the DUP was struck? Is it not to give that this
:04:28. > :04:32.particular crisis started long before any deal between the
:04:33. > :04:37.Conservative Party and the was struck? Well, my honourable friend
:04:38. > :04:44.has highlighted the challenges that we do have in seeing the executive
:04:45. > :04:49.restored and the challenges that have emerged over the course of this
:04:50. > :04:53.year. And he is correct, it is important that we focus upon that
:04:54. > :04:57.task at hand, see the time that is available as a used such that we
:04:58. > :05:02.have an executive restored and so that it is performing in the best
:05:03. > :05:05.interests of Northern Ireland and all committees across Northern
:05:06. > :05:09.Ireland. Mr Speaker, surely the point is with this additional
:05:10. > :05:14.funding for Northern Ireland, the imperative will be on the executive
:05:15. > :05:16.to deliver for all the people in Northern Ireland and the kick-start
:05:17. > :05:20.more private industry in Northern Ireland to make the people there are
:05:21. > :05:25.less dependent on the state and get better receipts back to the UK
:05:26. > :05:27.Treasury. I agree with my honourable friend, he makes an important point
:05:28. > :05:32.about the real opportunity that there is for Northern Ireland. How
:05:33. > :05:36.we want to see jobs, growth, prosperity, saying that investment
:05:37. > :05:41.in infrastructure and that enterprise driven economy. The rest
:05:42. > :05:44.that opportunity here and we, as the government, wants to c2c in Northern
:05:45. > :05:50.Ireland and that the country will continue to move forward. Can I wish
:05:51. > :05:54.the Secretary of State well in his efforts over the coming days in
:05:55. > :05:57.terms of restoring the executive to Northern Ireland. For our part, we
:05:58. > :06:01.are absolutely committed to getting the executive up and running again.
:06:02. > :06:06.We did not cause its collapse and we are not getting any red lines or
:06:07. > :06:12.preconditions for its Wii formation. Can the Secretary of State to be
:06:13. > :06:15.assured that our focus is on ensuring that money for
:06:16. > :06:18.infrastructure, health, education and the rest of it is spent a and
:06:19. > :06:22.fairly across Northern Ireland, and has been our record in office over
:06:23. > :06:27.the last ten years in the Nothern Ireland Executive? Well, I very much
:06:28. > :06:31.welcome the statement that the right honourable gentleman has made of his
:06:32. > :06:35.party's determination to see that the executive is restored and
:06:36. > :06:39.equally, that funds made available are shared across the whole
:06:40. > :06:42.community and it is about the infrastructure and things like
:06:43. > :06:46.investment in the digital infrastructure as well, that
:06:47. > :06:49.provides that mechanism to see the prosperity continuing to grow in
:06:50. > :06:53.Northern Ireland. And on the issue of rigorous impartiality, of course,
:06:54. > :06:55.we are committed to the agreements we are entered into, as our Her
:06:56. > :06:59.Majesty s Government, but can I Majesty s Government, but can I
:07:00. > :07:06.welcome what was stated any policy agreement that the Conservative
:07:07. > :07:08.Party will never be neutral and expressing its support for the union
:07:09. > :07:10.and they will never countenance any constitutional arrangements that are
:07:11. > :07:14.incompatible with the consent principle. We are united on the
:07:15. > :07:20.great principle that we want to strengthen the United Kingdom, and
:07:21. > :07:24.he will have our full support in efforts to achieve that. Well, the
:07:25. > :07:28.right honourable gentleman is correct that we will never be
:07:29. > :07:31.neutral on our support for the union and as a government we are proud in
:07:32. > :07:37.taking that approach, but equally, we uphold the principles of those
:07:38. > :07:40.agreements and in particular, the principle of consent, which has
:07:41. > :07:43.underlined and underpinned the activities of government is over so
:07:44. > :07:50.many years and therefore, it is that right balance of saying that support
:07:51. > :07:55.for beginning, but equally upholding our principle of consent. Having
:07:56. > :08:00.seen the troubles at first hand, I know the peace process has been
:08:01. > :08:04.integral to the process since then, whilst welcoming the agreement with
:08:05. > :08:09.our friends with the DUP, what more can the government do to ensure that
:08:10. > :08:11.all the people of Northern Ireland, that the agreement will not
:08:12. > :08:16.jeopardise this process because that is the chief concern that the
:08:17. > :08:22.minute? My honourable friend makes a very powerful and important point
:08:23. > :08:26.and why the agreement underlines our steadfast commitment to the Belfast
:08:27. > :08:30.Agreement and its successors. Indeed, the work that I have been
:08:31. > :08:34.doing over recent days of working with all parties, all of the major
:08:35. > :08:38.parties within the executive, to see the restoration of that executive,
:08:39. > :08:42.one of the key bodies under the Good Friday Agreement and why that remain
:08:43. > :08:49.such an important outcome to be achieved. It is clear other parties
:08:50. > :08:51.in Northern Ireland have serious concerns about the Good Friday
:08:52. > :08:56.Agreement about this recent governments deal with the DUP. What
:08:57. > :08:59.guarantees can he offer that the confidence and supply agreement does
:09:00. > :09:03.not threaten the impartiality of the UK Government, what assurances can
:09:04. > :09:07.he give us that the Prime Minister's reliance on DUP votes to remain in
:09:08. > :09:11.power does not compromise his position and finally, given the
:09:12. > :09:15.sword of Damocles clause offering support on a case-by-case basis, how
:09:16. > :09:22.can any of us be sure that the UK Government will not be compromised
:09:23. > :09:24.when it suits the DUP? I would underline to the honourable lady
:09:25. > :09:29.that it is an agreement that relates to what happens here in Westminster
:09:30. > :09:33.and that I am not part of those discussions and the committee
:09:34. > :09:36.involved in that, for those important reasons, because of the
:09:37. > :09:41.war that I played in Northern Ireland. It is not underlined to you
:09:42. > :09:44.that you have made various assertions and characterisations and
:09:45. > :09:48.I have worked closely with the Irish government over recent days as part
:09:49. > :09:51.of the restoration of the executive and a noted in the response welcome
:09:52. > :09:54.they give to the British government to govern in the interests of all
:09:55. > :09:59.part of the community in Northern Ireland, it is that principle that
:10:00. > :10:02.will guide our actions. Notwithstanding the commitment of
:10:03. > :10:05.parity contained within the Good Friday Agreement, would my right
:10:06. > :10:11.honourable friend agree with me that the military covenant needs to be
:10:12. > :10:17.applied throughout this country, regardless of where service men and
:10:18. > :10:22.servers lives? I do uphold the military covenant, it is something
:10:23. > :10:25.that as a party we have made great strides in saying that that is
:10:26. > :10:28.rolled out across the UK. It is something that as a government we
:10:29. > :10:32.remain committed to and we will work with the executive, we will work
:10:33. > :10:37.with all parties to see that the benefits of that military covenant
:10:38. > :10:43.is felt in all parts of the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rene Howe
:10:44. > :10:47.begin by paying tribute to all of those Northern Ireland members who
:10:48. > :10:53.lost their seats at the last election, and in particular to Mark
:10:54. > :10:55.Durkan who serve this Parliament and northern Ireland politics with such
:10:56. > :10:59.distinction and I would also like to welcome all new members to this
:11:00. > :11:02.House. I do not start for one minute the good faith of the Secretary of
:11:03. > :11:07.State and I wish him well in trying to bring about the power-sharing
:11:08. > :11:10.executive, but he must acknowledge that has desire to look impartial
:11:11. > :11:15.has been compromised by the arrangements with the DUP and I
:11:16. > :11:20.would just like to know, what did he advised the Prime Minister about it?
:11:21. > :11:24.Did he tell her that she was making his life that much harder? Can I
:11:25. > :11:27.welcome the right honourable gentleman to his place and I know
:11:28. > :11:30.the role that he has played previously in Northern Ireland and I
:11:31. > :11:34.welcome his experience onto the Labour front bench and also join him
:11:35. > :11:39.in his comments on recognising those who have served previously in this
:11:40. > :11:42.House. I would pay tribute to his predecessor Dave Anderson for the
:11:43. > :11:48.constructive approach that he took and I would also like to recognise
:11:49. > :11:53.my colleague Chris Hopkins as my minister, who did an extraordinary
:11:54. > :11:57.role they are and also recognise my colleague Lord Dunlop. He makes the
:11:58. > :12:01.point about Mark Dunlop -- Mark Durkan, another colleague in this
:12:02. > :12:05.House. He is reported as having said there is nothing in the Good Friday
:12:06. > :12:08.Agreement that prevents agreement between parties in Northern Ireland
:12:09. > :12:12.and the governments of the Republic of Ireland or the UK Government as
:12:13. > :12:16.well, and it is that principle of those agreements that we continue to
:12:17. > :12:19.uphold any actions that we take and how we see nothing inconsistent but
:12:20. > :12:26.the agreement that was reached this week in terms of our actions and
:12:27. > :12:30.arose that we in Northern Ireland. Mr Speaker, while I understand the
:12:31. > :12:33.point he has made, he knows from his experience and mind that trust is
:12:34. > :12:37.vital in Northern Ireland and there is a danger that that cost between
:12:38. > :12:41.parties in government will be eroded over time if one party is seen as
:12:42. > :12:45.having the ear of the government. Transparency is the key to avoiding
:12:46. > :12:49.that, so can he commit that in addition to being transparent in the
:12:50. > :12:53.initial agreement, but also -- subsequent agreements and all
:12:54. > :12:55.minutes of the DUP and Tory coordination committee will be
:12:56. > :13:00.published so that we know what is going on?
:13:01. > :13:08.This issue of impartiality and the principle of working across all
:13:09. > :13:12.communities in fairness to all communities is one that we
:13:13. > :13:17.steadfastly uphold. I will continue to work with and engage with all
:13:18. > :13:21.parties, community groups and sectors across Northern Ireland and
:13:22. > :13:25.the role that I uphold, and I think that he has seen from the actions
:13:26. > :13:28.that we have taken in publishing the confidence and supply agreement and
:13:29. > :13:36.the financial statement that sits alongside that that that
:13:37. > :13:42.transparency has been provided. Number two. With permission, I will
:13:43. > :13:50.answer questions two and ten together. The overriding priority
:13:51. > :13:53.for the UK Government in Northern Ireland remains the restoration of
:13:54. > :13:56.power-sharing in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the
:13:57. > :14:00.well-established three stranded approach, the Irish government and
:14:01. > :14:06.the UK Government will work to restore a fully functioning
:14:07. > :14:10.executive and assembly. I urge all parties to look beyond their
:14:11. > :14:16.differences and to see that an executive is formed. Like many of
:14:17. > :14:19.us, I have been assisting constituents who are former members
:14:20. > :14:25.of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and served during the troubles. Can my
:14:26. > :14:31.right honourable friend tell the House the extent to which the
:14:32. > :14:37.agreement over the legacy processes are sticking point to restoring
:14:38. > :14:41.power-sharing? There is a growing consensus that the next stage needs
:14:42. > :14:45.to be the publication of a consultation around the Stormont
:14:46. > :14:49.House agreement bodies which are bounded on the principle of
:14:50. > :14:55.fairness, proportionality, and it is that that has come through from the
:14:56. > :14:58.discussions that we have had. Does my right honourable friend agree
:14:59. > :15:01.that any return to direct rule in Northern Ireland would be a huge
:15:02. > :15:07.backward step, and that devolution is really the only good way forward?
:15:08. > :15:12.I do agree with the comments of my honourable friend. An inclusive
:15:13. > :15:15.executive acting in the best interests of Northern Ireland is
:15:16. > :15:18.profoundly what Northern Ireland needs, what the people voted for,
:15:19. > :15:26.and that is where our focus must live. Secretary of State, you will
:15:27. > :15:29.be aware that the Armed Forces covenant has been subject to talks
:15:30. > :15:32.and discussions in Northern Ireland because of the lack of full
:15:33. > :15:37.invitation. You agree with me that the party blocking that talk a lot
:15:38. > :15:41.about rights and respect, and they need to do the right thing and stop
:15:42. > :15:47.being a barrier to the support that the veterans in Northern Ireland
:15:48. > :15:52.need? Can I welcome the honourable lady to her position, and I know the
:15:53. > :15:55.experience that she has over legacy and so many parts of Northern
:15:56. > :16:03.Ireland will certainly enrich the debate in this House. We obviously
:16:04. > :16:08.stand by Malcolm Edmonds in relation to the military covenant, we want to
:16:09. > :16:12.see that in all parts of the UK and we want to work with all parties
:16:13. > :16:20.across Northern Ireland and the UK to see that that happens. Will the
:16:21. > :16:23.Secretary of State confirm that the vast majority of the public in
:16:24. > :16:30.Northern Ireland are very interested to see that he finds the political
:16:31. > :16:38.parties in Northern Ireland, so as part of the ongoing and discussions,
:16:39. > :16:43.will there be an end to the anonymity of political donations? I
:16:44. > :16:46.am grateful to the honourable lady from making that point, and I know
:16:47. > :16:51.it is one she has made a number of occasions in this House. She will
:16:52. > :16:54.have seen the commitment in my party's manifesto over the
:16:55. > :17:02.transparency of political donations, and I look forward to moving ahead
:17:03. > :17:06.and seeing that that is implemented. Will my honourable friend ensure
:17:07. > :17:09.that the diggers race for treatment of Major Dennis Hopkins and other
:17:10. > :17:15.ex-service personnel will continue to be an important element of these
:17:16. > :17:18.discussions? I recognise the way in which my honourable friend has
:17:19. > :17:21.championed the cause of her constituent. I know she will
:17:22. > :17:25.appreciate that there are legal proceedings that are outstanding
:17:26. > :17:27.that mean I cannot comment in detail, but what I hope she
:17:28. > :17:31.appreciates is that this Government was my desire to set fair, balanced
:17:32. > :17:37.and proportionate mechanisms put in place to deal with the issues of the
:17:38. > :17:42.past. Could I with permission associate myself with the generous
:17:43. > :17:46.comments Secretary of State made about Chris Hopkins, who is a good
:17:47. > :17:50.and decent man, and may I welcome the honourable lady, my seventh
:17:51. > :17:56.opponent to the other side of the despatch box, and said that unlike
:17:57. > :17:59.all her predecessors, she lacks little close combat experience,
:18:00. > :18:04.except for her time in the whips office. That may I ask the Minister
:18:05. > :18:09.if as we all hope that there is a really establishment of the
:18:10. > :18:16.Executive tomorrow, you must be undertaking some contingency
:18:17. > :18:20.planning. What structures are you putting in place to ensure that
:18:21. > :18:22.there is impartiality in the disbursement of additional money? I
:18:23. > :18:26.thank the honourable gentleman for his kind comments on race into Chris
:18:27. > :18:29.Hopkins who served in this House with the stink shouldn't and the
:18:30. > :18:39.role that he played in the Northern Ireland Office, too. -- who served
:18:40. > :18:44.in this House with distinction. I do not want to pre-empt what may happen
:18:45. > :18:48.should the power-sharing not resume. What I can assure him is that we
:18:49. > :18:52.will work with all parties and have discussions with his party and
:18:53. > :19:03.others across the House to see that these issues are considered very
:19:04. > :19:07.carefully clay. Number three. The terrorist threat level in Northern
:19:08. > :19:10.Ireland remains unchanged at Sevilla, namely that an attack is
:19:11. > :19:14.highly likely. The need for vigilance remains, and I pay tribute
:19:15. > :19:17.to the brave men and women who work to keep communities safe. They will
:19:18. > :19:24.always have this Government was Mike Phillips response.
:19:25. > :19:31.The Secretary of State assured me that he would be unswerving and
:19:32. > :19:35.unstinting in promotion of our Armed Forces, so will the bodies envisaged
:19:36. > :19:42.in the Stormont House agreement be fair, Barnes and proportionate to
:19:43. > :19:46.former soldiers? I do reiterate that commitment in our manifesto. We
:19:47. > :19:50.continue to focus on implementing the Stormont House agreement and
:19:51. > :19:55.creating new bodies that will be fair, balanced and proportionate.
:19:56. > :20:03.The next phase is to consult publicly on the detail of those
:20:04. > :20:08.bodies workings. As the member of Parliament who takes his seat from
:20:09. > :20:12.the west of the province on this occasion, could I ask the Minister,
:20:13. > :20:17.is she aware of the fact that security has been getting worse in
:20:18. > :20:20.the west of Northern Ireland, particularly the north-west, and
:20:21. > :20:24.Wilshere review the problems associated with bomb disposable in
:20:25. > :20:32.terms of getting them to the places where problems have occurred? I
:20:33. > :20:38.welcome the honourable gentleman's experience, and would be delighted
:20:39. > :20:42.to hear more about his specific concerns. I have endeavoured to be
:20:43. > :20:51.in touch straightaway with all of the Northern Ireland MPs. We must be
:20:52. > :20:55.vigilant, as I said I will forward to further detail from him. When the
:20:56. > :20:59.Minister in that she and the Secretary of State will have a full
:21:00. > :21:03.part in the former an upcoming review of the counterterrorism
:21:04. > :21:06.strategy to reflect the lethal nature of terrorism threat in
:21:07. > :21:11.Northern Ireland. The Speaker: There has been
:21:12. > :21:15.extensive interest in all parts of the House in Northern Ireland in
:21:16. > :21:19.recent weeks. That ought to be interested in these matters being
:21:20. > :21:25.spoken of in the chamber today. The Minister. The short answer is yes,
:21:26. > :21:27.and my right honourable friend will endeavour to ensure that security is
:21:28. > :21:31.at the forefront of all we do. The Minister will know that terrorists
:21:32. > :21:36.have been brought back to Northern Ireland to face justice because of
:21:37. > :21:39.the European Arrest Warrant. Will she commit today that this
:21:40. > :21:50.Government will keep that arrest warrant post Brexit? The honourable
:21:51. > :21:53.gentleman will no that these matters are all in negotiation in the hands
:21:54. > :21:58.of my right honourable friend the Brexit secretary. He will also know
:21:59. > :22:01.that we enjoy strong working relationships with our counterparts
:22:02. > :22:04.in the Irish Government and we intend to continue that in the
:22:05. > :22:12.service of all the communities of Northern Ireland. Number four. The
:22:13. > :22:18.Government wants to protect the ability to move between the UK and
:22:19. > :22:21.Ireland freely. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister
:22:22. > :22:23.confirmed in this House last November, there will be no change,
:22:24. > :22:30.alteration or impediment to movement within the UK. The simplest way to
:22:31. > :22:32.ensure free movement continues unimpeded is to accept that there
:22:33. > :22:42.will in reality been increased border checks on EU Nationals. Can
:22:43. > :22:46.the Secretary of State confirm that that remains the Government's
:22:47. > :22:50.thinking? The point that we want to see is the maintenance of the Common
:22:51. > :22:54.travel area, which has served us so well over many decades. Equally
:22:55. > :22:57.working with the Irish Government to see that that external border is
:22:58. > :23:08.upheld and strengthened, and that does remain our focus. Might write
:23:09. > :23:15.on a war friend made clear in her letter to Donald Tusk that we want
:23:16. > :23:19.to avoid a return to the hard border .- my right honourable friend made
:23:20. > :23:22.clear. This is a shared desire with the Republic of Ireland and with the
:23:23. > :23:29.European Union, and we shall be working tirelessly to achieve it.
:23:30. > :23:36.Northern Ireland is as much part of the United Kingdom as Hartford is.
:23:37. > :23:39.Will the Minister agree with me that given this unique situation, it is
:23:40. > :23:43.essential that we have a frictionless border between Northern
:23:44. > :23:49.Ireland and the Republic without ever compromising security of the
:23:50. > :23:53.whole of the United Kingdom? Yes, I do agree with that point. We all
:23:54. > :23:58.want to see people and goods moving as freely as possible across the
:23:59. > :24:06.border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in the service of a strong
:24:07. > :24:11.economy for those who need it there. Mindful of the worryingly high
:24:12. > :24:16.levels of radicalisation of people in the Republic of Ireland, what
:24:17. > :24:21.assurances can the Minister give members on this bench that the soft
:24:22. > :24:33.order that is important for trade will not become an all safe border
:24:34. > :24:35.in terms of security? I value the strong working relationship between
:24:36. > :24:41.both this country and the Republic of Ireland that will allow us to
:24:42. > :24:46.focus on the issue he raises. We need to be able to preserve the
:24:47. > :24:54.Common travel area and maintain free trade with Europe.
:24:55. > :25:04.The Speaker: The Minister has never been more popular! We are grateful
:25:05. > :25:06.to her. Number seven. Mr Speaker, the fundamentals of the Northern
:25:07. > :25:10.Ireland economy are strong with growth last year at 1.6%,
:25:11. > :25:16.unemployment has fallen, employment has risen, however there is much
:25:17. > :25:19.more we must do. I welcome the additional investment in Northern
:25:20. > :25:24.Ireland's economy to address structural weaknesses. I also urge
:25:25. > :25:29.the Government to reinforce efforts to secure private sector and foreign
:25:30. > :25:35.investment. I can assure my honourable friend that we will
:25:36. > :25:41.continue to do that using our relationships across the globe, and
:25:42. > :25:43.despite circumstances in recent years, there are still special
:25:44. > :25:54.circumstances in Northern Ireland, and we want to see that applied to
:25:55. > :25:59.everything there. There are two key opportunities. Can I ask the
:26:00. > :26:03.Minister of to facilitate discussions with us and with the
:26:04. > :26:07.Ministry of Defence colleagues so that we can advance these golden
:26:08. > :26:14.opportunities for our province? I would be happy to do so, Mr Speaker.
:26:15. > :26:17.Mr Owen Paterson. Under the terms of the Azores agreement and legislation
:26:18. > :26:22.passed through this House, only a devolved administration can use its
:26:23. > :26:25.powers to reduce corporation tax, which would have an overwhelming
:26:26. > :26:28.beneficial impact on every citizen in Northern Ireland. Can the
:26:29. > :26:33.Minister guarantee that this will be raised in the talks over the next
:26:34. > :26:37.two days? My right honourable friend will be doing everything he can to
:26:38. > :26:41.ensure that those talks come to a successful conclusion. My right
:26:42. > :26:51.honourable friend's point underlined the right to reach that agreement as
:26:52. > :26:54.a matter of priority. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will
:26:55. > :26:58.answer questions eight and nine together. The agreement provides
:26:59. > :27:02.stability at a vital time for our country, and it in no way changes
:27:03. > :27:08.the UK Government's commitments to the Belfast agreement and its parts.
:27:09. > :27:25.H DUP MP is worth more than Ronaldo! Does the Secretary of State agree
:27:26. > :27:35.that it is now impossible for the UK Government to be evenhanded in
:27:36. > :27:41.Northern Ireland? No, I don't. Canas Secretary of State not see that the
:27:42. > :27:44.UK Government's credibility with the other constituent parts of the
:27:45. > :27:52.United Kingdom has been destroyed following its ?1.5 billion bribe for
:27:53. > :28:03.Northern Ireland? Is that the price of staying in office? No, I don't.
:28:04. > :28:09.The Speaker: If the honourable lady wants to come in on this, she can.
:28:10. > :28:14.Thank you, Mr Speaker. With the Minister join me in welcoming the
:28:15. > :28:16.Government's commitment to use our high commissions and embassies to
:28:17. > :28:21.promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business, to ensure that
:28:22. > :28:27.Northern Ireland fully includes in any UK wide initiative to boost
:28:28. > :28:31.exports and prosperity? I strongly support the point that my honourable
:28:32. > :28:35.friend has made. Northern Ireland is a great place to do business, and as
:28:36. > :28:39.a Government we will continue to support but in all ways that we can,
:28:40. > :28:42.as well as all parts of the UK, too. The Speaker: Questions to the Prime
:28:43. > :28:44.Minister.