Live Northern Ireland Questions House of Commons

Hello and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage on the

House of Commons. In one hour Theresa May will Leader of the

Opposition Jeremy Corbyn for the first Prime Minister's Questions of

the new session of Parliament following the general election. The

main business in the Chamber will be the third day of debate on the

Queen's Speech, focusing on health, social care and security. Labour has

tabled an amendment calling for an to the public sector pay cap and for

pay rises for emergency and public sector staff, that vote is expected

at around 7pm. Do join me for a round-up at 11 o'clock tonight from

both Houses of Parliament but first we have questions to the Secretary

of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire. Order! I remember -- I

remained members that the Private Members' Bill ballet boot is open

and Eno division lobby today until the rise of the House when the

ballet for the 2017 and 2019 will close. The ballot draw will be held

at 9am tomorrow in committee room ten. I also remind members that the

ballet for the election get the speakers is taking place until

1:30pm today in committee room number eight. The result will be

announced as soon as the count is complete. Order, questions to the

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Kate Hollern. Number one,

Mr Speaker. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire.

With permission, I will answer questions one and five together. The

government remained steadfast in our commitment to the Belfast Agreement

and its successors. We will continue to govern in the interests of all

parts of the community and work in partnership with the Irish

government in accordance with the well-established free standard

approach as we have done for the past seven years. Thank you, Mr

Speaker, in the last few days, the deal with the DUP has been described

as grubby, dangerous and desperate. The current situation in Northern

Ireland is at a sensitive point, can the Secretary of State outline in a

clear and cohesive manner the steps that his government is taking to

ensure impartiality? I said at the outset that I do not recognise the

characterisation that the honourable lady has given which is about

providing stability here for the UK Government. And actually governing

and the best interest of all parts of the UK. But I would say to heart

in response to her important question over the Belfast Agreement

and its successors that this government does remain steadfast to

its commitment to those agreements that we continue to work with all

parties, as I have done over recent days and will continue to do, such

that this government does and in the best interest of all parts of

Northern Ireland and continues to listen to the concerns of all parts

of the community. There has been a lot made about the extra money for

infrastructure spending. What assurances can the Secretary of

State give that that extra funding will reach all communities in

Northern Ireland, especially the rural communities in the west of the

country, and what can he do to help ensure that happens? The additional

funding outlined as for an executive, and inclusive executive

to be able to utilise those funds in the best interest of Northern

Ireland, that is the most were full and effective way to deliver on that

and that is why I have been using all of my time, energy and effort to

see that that executive is restored and that is the best we 2CE the

point that the honourable gentleman rightly makes Arsene. Thank you, is

not the case that in September 2015 there was a crisis in the

institutions in Northern Ireland long before any deal between the

Conservative Party and the DUP was struck? Is it not to give that this

particular crisis started long before any deal between the

Conservative Party and the was struck? Well, my honourable friend

has highlighted the challenges that we do have in seeing the executive

restored and the challenges that have emerged over the course of this

year. And he is correct, it is important that we focus upon that

task at hand, see the time that is available as a used such that we

have an executive restored and so that it is performing in the best

interests of Northern Ireland and all committees across Northern

Ireland. Mr Speaker, surely the point is with this additional

funding for Northern Ireland, the imperative will be on the executive

to deliver for all the people in Northern Ireland and the kick-start

more private industry in Northern Ireland to make the people there are

less dependent on the state and get better receipts back to the UK

Treasury. I agree with my honourable friend, he makes an important point

about the real opportunity that there is for Northern Ireland. How

we want to see jobs, growth, prosperity, saying that investment

in infrastructure and that enterprise driven economy. The rest

that opportunity here and we, as the government, wants to c2c in Northern

Ireland and that the country will continue to move forward. Can I wish

the Secretary of State well in his efforts over the coming days in

terms of restoring the executive to Northern Ireland. For our part, we

are absolutely committed to getting the executive up and running again.

We did not cause its collapse and we are not getting any red lines or

preconditions for its Wii formation. Can the Secretary of State to be

assured that our focus is on ensuring that money for

infrastructure, health, education and the rest of it is spent a and

fairly across Northern Ireland, and has been our record in office over

the last ten years in the Nothern Ireland Executive? Well, I very much

welcome the statement that the right honourable gentleman has made of his

party's determination to see that the executive is restored and

equally, that funds made available are shared across the whole

community and it is about the infrastructure and things like

investment in the digital infrastructure as well, that

provides that mechanism to see the prosperity continuing to grow in

Northern Ireland. And on the issue of rigorous impartiality, of course,

we are committed to the agreements we are entered into, as our Her

Majesty s Government, but can I Majesty s Government, but can I

welcome what was stated any policy agreement that the Conservative

Party will never be neutral and expressing its support for the union

and they will never countenance any constitutional arrangements that are

incompatible with the consent principle. We are united on the

great principle that we want to strengthen the United Kingdom, and

he will have our full support in efforts to achieve that. Well, the

right honourable gentleman is correct that we will never be

neutral on our support for the union and as a government we are proud in

taking that approach, but equally, we uphold the principles of those

agreements and in particular, the principle of consent, which has

underlined and underpinned the activities of government is over so

many years and therefore, it is that right balance of saying that support

for beginning, but equally upholding our principle of consent. Having

seen the troubles at first hand, I know the peace process has been

integral to the process since then, whilst welcoming the agreement with

our friends with the DUP, what more can the government do to ensure that

all the people of Northern Ireland, that the agreement will not

jeopardise this process because that is the chief concern that the

minute? My honourable friend makes a very powerful and important point

and why the agreement underlines our steadfast commitment to the Belfast

Agreement and its successors. Indeed, the work that I have been

doing over recent days of working with all parties, all of the major

parties within the executive, to see the restoration of that executive,

one of the key bodies under the Good Friday Agreement and why that remain

such an important outcome to be achieved. It is clear other parties

in Northern Ireland have serious concerns about the Good Friday

Agreement about this recent governments deal with the DUP. What

guarantees can he offer that the confidence and supply agreement does

not threaten the impartiality of the UK Government, what assurances can

he give us that the Prime Minister's reliance on DUP votes to remain in

power does not compromise his position and finally, given the

sword of Damocles clause offering support on a case-by-case basis, how

can any of us be sure that the UK Government will not be compromised

when it suits the DUP? I would underline to the honourable lady

that it is an agreement that relates to what happens here in Westminster

and that I am not part of those discussions and the committee

involved in that, for those important reasons, because of the

war that I played in Northern Ireland. It is not underlined to you

that you have made various assertions and characterisations and

I have worked closely with the Irish government over recent days as part

of the restoration of the executive and a noted in the response welcome

they give to the British government to govern in the interests of all

part of the community in Northern Ireland, it is that principle that

will guide our actions. Notwithstanding the commitment of

parity contained within the Good Friday Agreement, would my right

honourable friend agree with me that the military covenant needs to be

applied throughout this country, regardless of where service men and

servers lives? I do uphold the military covenant, it is something

that as a party we have made great strides in saying that that is

rolled out across the UK. It is something that as a government we

remain committed to and we will work with the executive, we will work

with all parties to see that the benefits of that military covenant

is felt in all parts of the UK. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rene Howe

begin by paying tribute to all of those Northern Ireland members who

lost their seats at the last election, and in particular to Mark

Durkan who serve this Parliament and northern Ireland politics with such

distinction and I would also like to welcome all new members to this

House. I do not start for one minute the good faith of the Secretary of

State and I wish him well in trying to bring about the power-sharing

executive, but he must acknowledge that has desire to look impartial

has been compromised by the arrangements with the DUP and I

would just like to know, what did he advised the Prime Minister about it?

Did he tell her that she was making his life that much harder? Can I

welcome the right honourable gentleman to his place and I know

the role that he has played previously in Northern Ireland and I

welcome his experience onto the Labour front bench and also join him

in his comments on recognising those who have served previously in this

House. I would pay tribute to his predecessor Dave Anderson for the

constructive approach that he took and I would also like to recognise

my colleague Chris Hopkins as my minister, who did an extraordinary

role they are and also recognise my colleague Lord Dunlop. He makes the

point about Mark Dunlop -- Mark Durkan, another colleague in this

House. He is reported as having said there is nothing in the Good Friday

Agreement that prevents agreement between parties in Northern Ireland

and the governments of the Republic of Ireland or the UK Government as

well, and it is that principle of those agreements that we continue to

uphold any actions that we take and how we see nothing inconsistent but

the agreement that was reached this week in terms of our actions and

arose that we in Northern Ireland. Mr Speaker, while I understand the

point he has made, he knows from his experience and mind that trust is

vital in Northern Ireland and there is a danger that that cost between

parties in government will be eroded over time if one party is seen as

having the ear of the government. Transparency is the key to avoiding

that, so can he commit that in addition to being transparent in the

initial agreement, but also -- subsequent agreements and all

minutes of the DUP and Tory coordination committee will be

published so that we know what is going on?

This issue of impartiality and the principle of working across all

communities in fairness to all communities is one that we

steadfastly uphold. I will continue to work with and engage with all

parties, community groups and sectors across Northern Ireland and

the role that I uphold, and I think that he has seen from the actions

that we have taken in publishing the confidence and supply agreement and

the financial statement that sits alongside that that that

transparency has been provided. Number two. With permission, I will

answer questions two and ten together. The overriding priority

for the UK Government in Northern Ireland remains the restoration of

power-sharing in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the

well-established three stranded approach, the Irish government and

the UK Government will work to restore a fully functioning

executive and assembly. I urge all parties to look beyond their

differences and to see that an executive is formed. Like many of

us, I have been assisting constituents who are former members

of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and served during the troubles. Can my

right honourable friend tell the House the extent to which the

agreement over the legacy processes are sticking point to restoring

power-sharing? There is a growing consensus that the next stage needs

to be the publication of a consultation around the Stormont

House agreement bodies which are bounded on the principle of

fairness, proportionality, and it is that that has come through from the

discussions that we have had. Does my right honourable friend agree

that any return to direct rule in Northern Ireland would be a huge

backward step, and that devolution is really the only good way forward?

I do agree with the comments of my honourable friend. An inclusive

executive acting in the best interests of Northern Ireland is

profoundly what Northern Ireland needs, what the people voted for,

and that is where our focus must live. Secretary of State, you will

be aware that the Armed Forces covenant has been subject to talks

and discussions in Northern Ireland because of the lack of full

invitation. You agree with me that the party blocking that talk a lot

about rights and respect, and they need to do the right thing and stop

being a barrier to the support that the veterans in Northern Ireland

need? Can I welcome the honourable lady to her position, and I know the

experience that she has over legacy and so many parts of Northern

Ireland will certainly enrich the debate in this House. We obviously

stand by Malcolm Edmonds in relation to the military covenant, we want to

see that in all parts of the UK and we want to work with all parties

across Northern Ireland and the UK to see that that happens. Will the

Secretary of State confirm that the vast majority of the public in

Northern Ireland are very interested to see that he finds the political

parties in Northern Ireland, so as part of the ongoing and discussions,

will there be an end to the anonymity of political donations? I

am grateful to the honourable lady from making that point, and I know

it is one she has made a number of occasions in this House. She will

have seen the commitment in my party's manifesto over the

transparency of political donations, and I look forward to moving ahead

and seeing that that is implemented. Will my honourable friend ensure

that the diggers race for treatment of Major Dennis Hopkins and other

ex-service personnel will continue to be an important element of these

discussions? I recognise the way in which my honourable friend has

championed the cause of her constituent. I know she will

appreciate that there are legal proceedings that are outstanding

that mean I cannot comment in detail, but what I hope she

appreciates is that this Government was my desire to set fair, balanced

and proportionate mechanisms put in place to deal with the issues of the

past. Could I with permission associate myself with the generous

comments Secretary of State made about Chris Hopkins, who is a good

and decent man, and may I welcome the honourable lady, my seventh

opponent to the other side of the despatch box, and said that unlike

all her predecessors, she lacks little close combat experience,

except for her time in the whips office. That may I ask the Minister

if as we all hope that there is a really establishment of the

Executive tomorrow, you must be undertaking some contingency

planning. What structures are you putting in place to ensure that

there is impartiality in the disbursement of additional money? I

thank the honourable gentleman for his kind comments on race into Chris

Hopkins who served in this House with the stink shouldn't and the

role that he played in the Northern Ireland Office, too. -- who served

in this House with distinction. I do not want to pre-empt what may happen

should the power-sharing not resume. What I can assure him is that we

will work with all parties and have discussions with his party and

others across the House to see that these issues are considered very

carefully clay. Number three. The terrorist threat level in Northern

Ireland remains unchanged at Sevilla, namely that an attack is

highly likely. The need for vigilance remains, and I pay tribute

to the brave men and women who work to keep communities safe. They will

always have this Government was Mike Phillips response.

The Secretary of State assured me that he would be unswerving and

unstinting in promotion of our Armed Forces, so will the bodies envisaged

in the Stormont House agreement be fair, Barnes and proportionate to

former soldiers? I do reiterate that commitment in our manifesto. We

continue to focus on implementing the Stormont House agreement and

creating new bodies that will be fair, balanced and proportionate.

The next phase is to consult publicly on the detail of those

bodies workings. As the member of Parliament who takes his seat from

the west of the province on this occasion, could I ask the Minister,

is she aware of the fact that security has been getting worse in

the west of Northern Ireland, particularly the north-west, and

Wilshere review the problems associated with bomb disposable in

terms of getting them to the places where problems have occurred? I

welcome the honourable gentleman's experience, and would be delighted

to hear more about his specific concerns. I have endeavoured to be

in touch straightaway with all of the Northern Ireland MPs. We must be

vigilant, as I said I will forward to further detail from him. When the

Minister in that she and the Secretary of State will have a full

part in the former an upcoming review of the counterterrorism

strategy to reflect the lethal nature of terrorism threat in

Northern Ireland. The Speaker: There has been

extensive interest in all parts of the House in Northern Ireland in

recent weeks. That ought to be interested in these matters being

spoken of in the chamber today. The Minister. The short answer is yes,

and my right honourable friend will endeavour to ensure that security is

at the forefront of all we do. The Minister will know that terrorists

have been brought back to Northern Ireland to face justice because of

the European Arrest Warrant. Will she commit today that this

Government will keep that arrest warrant post Brexit? The honourable

gentleman will no that these matters are all in negotiation in the hands

of my right honourable friend the Brexit secretary. He will also know

that we enjoy strong working relationships with our counterparts

in the Irish Government and we intend to continue that in the

service of all the communities of Northern Ireland. Number four. The

Government wants to protect the ability to move between the UK and

Ireland freely. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister

confirmed in this House last November, there will be no change,

alteration or impediment to movement within the UK. The simplest way to

ensure free movement continues unimpeded is to accept that there

will in reality been increased border checks on EU Nationals. Can

the Secretary of State confirm that that remains the Government's

thinking? The point that we want to see is the maintenance of the Common

travel area, which has served us so well over many decades. Equally

working with the Irish Government to see that that external border is

upheld and strengthened, and that does remain our focus. Might write

on a war friend made clear in her letter to Donald Tusk that we want

to avoid a return to the hard border .- my right honourable friend made

clear. This is a shared desire with the Republic of Ireland and with the

European Union, and we shall be working tirelessly to achieve it.

Northern Ireland is as much part of the United Kingdom as Hartford is.

Will the Minister agree with me that given this unique situation, it is

essential that we have a frictionless border between Northern

Ireland and the Republic without ever compromising security of the

whole of the United Kingdom? Yes, I do agree with that point. We all

want to see people and goods moving as freely as possible across the

border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in the service of a strong

economy for those who need it there. Mindful of the worryingly high

levels of radicalisation of people in the Republic of Ireland, what

assurances can the Minister give members on this bench that the soft

order that is important for trade will not become an all safe border

in terms of security? I value the strong working relationship between

both this country and the Republic of Ireland that will allow us to

focus on the issue he raises. We need to be able to preserve the

Common travel area and maintain free trade with Europe.

The Speaker: The Minister has never been more popular! We are grateful

to her. Number seven. Mr Speaker, the fundamentals of the Northern

Ireland economy are strong with growth last year at 1.6%,

unemployment has fallen, employment has risen, however there is much

more we must do. I welcome the additional investment in Northern

Ireland's economy to address structural weaknesses. I also urge

the Government to reinforce efforts to secure private sector and foreign

investment. I can assure my honourable friend that we will

continue to do that using our relationships across the globe, and

despite circumstances in recent years, there are still special

circumstances in Northern Ireland, and we want to see that applied to

everything there. There are two key opportunities. Can I ask the

Minister of to facilitate discussions with us and with the

Ministry of Defence colleagues so that we can advance these golden

opportunities for our province? I would be happy to do so, Mr Speaker.

Mr Owen Paterson. Under the terms of the Azores agreement and legislation

passed through this House, only a devolved administration can use its

powers to reduce corporation tax, which would have an overwhelming

beneficial impact on every citizen in Northern Ireland. Can the

Minister guarantee that this will be raised in the talks over the next

two days? My right honourable friend will be doing everything he can to

ensure that those talks come to a successful conclusion. My right

honourable friend's point underlined the right to reach that agreement as

a matter of priority. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will

answer questions eight and nine together. The agreement provides

stability at a vital time for our country, and it in no way changes

the UK Government's commitments to the Belfast agreement and its parts.

H DUP MP is worth more than Ronaldo! Does the Secretary of State agree

that it is now impossible for the UK Government to be evenhanded in

Northern Ireland? No, I don't. Canas Secretary of State not see that the

UK Government's credibility with the other constituent parts of the

United Kingdom has been destroyed following its ?1.5 billion bribe for

Northern Ireland? Is that the price of staying in office? No, I don't.

The Speaker: If the honourable lady wants to come in on this, she can.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. With the Minister join me in welcoming the

Government's commitment to use our high commissions and embassies to

promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business, to ensure that

Northern Ireland fully includes in any UK wide initiative to boost

exports and prosperity? I strongly support the point that my honourable

friend has made. Northern Ireland is a great place to do business, and as

a Government we will continue to support but in all ways that we can,

as well as all parts of the UK, too. The Speaker: Questions to the Prime

Minister.