:00:42. > :00:47.Welcome to Daily Politics from Northern Ireland. Commemorating the
:00:47. > :00:51.past and present, looking at the economic future, just some of the
:00:51. > :00:56.topics up for discussion today. As ever, our political Reporter
:00:56. > :01:01.Stephen Walker joins us in the studio. Looking down the question
:01:01. > :01:05.list, one thing strikes me, there are no local MPs on the list, but
:01:05. > :01:11.that will not stop them leaping in on the back with supplementary
:01:11. > :01:16.questions. Sometimes you get 14 or 15 questioned, we have got 13 down
:01:16. > :01:20.to be discussed. Not one local MP on that list but that doesn't stop
:01:20. > :01:25.our MPs from getting in. As you would expect, a whole range of
:01:25. > :01:28.issues, the question about the Bill of Rights, economy, security
:01:28. > :01:34.situation and an interesting question about the contribution
:01:34. > :01:40.local people make to the armed forces. You feel the Pat Finucane
:01:40. > :01:45.case might come up. It is listed, and it is a subject that comes up
:01:45. > :01:50.in Parliament quite regularly. It comes as this legal review into the
:01:50. > :01:53.murder of Pat Finucane, and Valerie Vaz, a Labour MP, she wants to know
:01:53. > :01:59.what representations the Secretary of State has received from the
:01:59. > :02:05.Finucane family. They still want a full public inquiry. I would expect
:02:05. > :02:11.the SDLP to rise there, possibly the fallen be trying to get a
:02:11. > :02:14.mention. The economy. Just to make it clear to viewers there are
:02:14. > :02:18.various areas of government that are not default and hence decisions
:02:18. > :02:28.are still made at Westminster on our behalf. The economy and tax at
:02:28. > :02:28.
:02:28. > :02:38.all up being one of them. We have been having this ongoing debate. I
:02:38. > :02:47.
:02:47. > :02:51.expect corporation tax will be mentioned. Basically to find out
:02:51. > :02:56.how much it would cost if those tax powers were devolved to Northern
:02:56. > :03:06.Ireland, what that would mean. Critics are saying they are blowing
:03:06. > :03:18.
:03:18. > :03:22.Once this research has been done and the paperwork is put in front
:03:22. > :03:26.of people like the First Minister and then an economic decision will
:03:26. > :03:30.have to be taken and a political decision. The question will be is
:03:30. > :03:36.it worth reducing corporation tax and how much is that going to
:03:36. > :03:46.affect the bloc grant? As I mentioned, commemorating the past
:03:46. > :04:02.
:04:02. > :04:12.is always an agonising problem. have the anniversary of the sinking
:04:12. > :04:14.
:04:14. > :04:19.of the Titanic. We have got the have got the Easter rising, the
:04:19. > :04:25.battle of the Somme. All kinds of anniversaries are upon us. We can't
:04:25. > :04:30.look at these in a piece meal way there must be some joined up
:04:30. > :04:34.thinking involving Belfast and London. Dublin too? Yes, there is a
:04:34. > :04:42.high powered committee that has been set up from the Dail involving
:04:42. > :04:46.one of our local historians, so the Irish Government are getting
:04:46. > :04:52.historians involved. Maybe that is something Stormont and Westminster
:04:52. > :05:00.may want to think about. I expect them to hone in on this subject.
:05:00. > :05:06.Thank you. Now let's cross to the house where I think Owen Paterson
:05:06. > :05:15.is on his feet, the secondary of state. We will work with our
:05:15. > :05:19.partners in the SS -- PSNI and the Irish Government to counter this
:05:19. > :05:22.threat. Thank you for that answer. I welcome the steps that have been
:05:22. > :05:27.take on the reduce the number of terrorist attacks in Northern
:05:27. > :05:30.Ireland. But as my honourable friend said, in his recent
:05:31. > :05:40.ministerial statement, violent activity is still being undertaken
:05:41. > :05:45.
:05:45. > :05:48.by loyalist organisation. What I like to pay tribute to my right
:05:48. > :05:52.Honourable friend who has done a huge amount of work talking to a
:05:52. > :05:57.number of loyalist groups. There is absolutely no place for organised
:05:57. > :06:01.crime or violence in Northern Ireland. I would appeal for
:06:01. > :06:08.everybody to work closely with the PSNI and pursue whatever political
:06:08. > :06:12.gains they have by peaceful democratic means. Does my
:06:12. > :06:15.Honourable Friend share my concerns what would be a high profile year
:06:15. > :06:18.for the United Kingdom and for hollow given the number of Olympic
:06:18. > :06:24.events happening in and around my constituency the thick -- the
:06:24. > :06:30.security threat to Northern Ireland remains severe? He is quite right
:06:30. > :06:36.to draw attention to the Olympics, which presenters with a wonderful
:06:36. > :06:42.opportunity to sell this country. Northern Ireland related terrorism
:06:42. > :06:46.in Great Britain is graded substantial, and I work closely
:06:46. > :06:50.with my Right Honourable Friend the Home Secretary, as will the justice
:06:50. > :06:56.minister on Monday, and we are determined to ensure that they
:06:56. > :07:01.should be no threat to a peaceful and successful Olympics.
:07:01. > :07:04.Secretary of State will be aware of a murder in Londonderry in recent
:07:04. > :07:08.weeks and also the continuing targeting by dissident republicans
:07:08. > :07:14.of a number of people, not just in the border area that across
:07:14. > :07:18.Northern Ireland. Deceit condemn in discussions he has had the
:07:18. > :07:26.necessary resources to deal with this escalating problem are in
:07:26. > :07:30.place? -- does he confirmed. I am grateful for that question.
:07:30. > :07:34.Mentioning this disgusting and deplorable murder I spoke to the
:07:34. > :07:39.Chief Constable this morning, and I would remind the Honourable Member
:07:39. > :07:42.we did agree a special package of �200 million at the request of the
:07:42. > :07:50.chief constable, and he did say in April last year we have the
:07:50. > :07:55.resources, resilience, and we have the commitment. When he recently
:07:55. > :07:58.acquitted those charged with the murder of Tom English Mr Justice
:07:58. > :08:02.Gillen reminded us the use of accomplice evidence is long
:08:02. > :08:07.established and in the words of his Dutchman's, a price worth paying in
:08:07. > :08:11.the interests of protecting the public from major criminality. Will
:08:12. > :08:18.the Secretary of State confirm the relevant provisions of the 2005
:08:18. > :08:22.serious organised crime Police Act remain available to the PSNI?
:08:22. > :08:29.grateful for that question. I would check the exact details of those
:08:29. > :08:35.provisions and get back to him. Does my Honourable Friend agree it
:08:35. > :08:42.is impossible to engage in dialogue with dissident organisations who
:08:42. > :08:46.showed no signs of announcing their criminal or violent acts? There is
:08:46. > :08:49.absolutely no excuse to pursue political aims by anything other
:08:49. > :08:53.than peaceful democratic means through the Assembly and
:08:53. > :08:57.representation in this Parliament. There are small numbers of groups
:08:57. > :09:02.who do not accept the current settlement and we are determined to
:09:02. > :09:08.bed down on a. Can I say to the Secretary of State we will stand
:09:08. > :09:11.with him in tackling any threat to security in Northern Ireland. In
:09:11. > :09:17.tackling terrorism resources for the police and security services
:09:17. > :09:20.are paramount. Would he agreed that many community and voluntary
:09:20. > :09:26.organisations in Northern Ireland contribute hugely to a peaceful and
:09:26. > :09:30.stable society and can he therefore update the house on progress the
:09:30. > :09:35.funding bids to the European Union so helpful to maintaining that
:09:35. > :09:43.security? I am grateful for his continuous support on these
:09:43. > :09:49.security issues which must remain a bilateral issue. On the community
:09:49. > :09:51.funds and project, I entirely agree with him. What we are putting on
:09:51. > :09:56.security can only contain the problem. The long-term solution is
:09:56. > :10:02.to get deeper into these communities and they did have a
:10:03. > :10:08.meeting with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to look at
:10:08. > :10:12.potential funds which would look -- come from our existing budgets.
:10:12. > :10:17.I thank the Secretary of State for his response. The financial support
:10:17. > :10:22.for communities currently almost �300 million is crucial to
:10:22. > :10:29.combating paramedic treat activity, maintaining she Curitiba and
:10:29. > :10:37.ensuring we continued to build on piece for the future and can he
:10:37. > :10:41.give it to the aged matter it deserves? -- urgent matter. We talk
:10:41. > :10:45.about this frequently, not just with us best minister but also the
:10:45. > :10:52.justice minister -- with the First Minister. A lot of these projects
:10:52. > :11:02.are in default towns. -- a devolved hands. These projects need to carry
:11:02. > :11:07.
:11:07. > :11:11.on. This government firmly believes in the United Kingdom and that what
:11:11. > :11:16.we can achieve together will also be much more than we can ever do a
:11:16. > :11:20.park. As my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister has made clear,
:11:20. > :11:26.we will always back the democratic wishes of the people of Northern
:11:26. > :11:31.Ireland. I am extremely grateful, does my right honourable friend
:11:31. > :11:38.agree the union ensures all partners of the UK can be part of a
:11:38. > :11:44.larger and stronger economy? Honourable Friend is absolutely
:11:44. > :11:49.right. With 2.8% off the UK population Northern Ireland benefit
:11:49. > :11:53.enormously from being part of the United Kingdom. Yesterday we saw a
:11:53. > :12:00.poll conducted by Queen's University showing 82.6% wanted to
:12:00. > :12:05.remain in the UK, and only 17.4% wanted a united Ireland. Does the
:12:05. > :12:09.Secretary of State except there are enormous advantages and benefits
:12:09. > :12:12.for Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom, but it is also
:12:12. > :12:14.the case United Kingdom is strengthened and has been
:12:14. > :12:17.strengthened and enriched by the contribution of the people of
:12:17. > :12:21.Northern Ireland and other constituent nations of the United
:12:21. > :12:27.Kingdom as well, not just in the willing and voluntary service of so
:12:27. > :12:33.many generations of Ulster men and women in her Majesty's forces?
:12:34. > :12:38.would entirely endorse his comments. Right across every sphere of
:12:38. > :12:44.national life there are glorious examples, spectacularly in golf
:12:44. > :12:48.this week, where individuals from Northern Ireland had shone. I am
:12:48. > :12:51.very grateful to the Secretary of State's endorsement of the Union
:12:51. > :12:57.with Northern Ireland and he rightly refers to the great
:12:57. > :13:04.sporting success of our golfers and indeed a snigger plays. He referred
:13:04. > :13:08.to the referendum, the opinion poll done by Queen's University, we
:13:08. > :13:13.should over 80% of people wanting to stay within the United Kingdom,
:13:13. > :13:17.so will he confirm out to the House that he has no intention whatsoever
:13:17. > :13:21.of organising any kind of poll in Northern Ireland given the settled
:13:21. > :13:26.position of the people there and the levels of satisfaction with the
:13:26. > :13:32.current constitutional settlement? I think I can reassure the Right
:13:32. > :13:36.Honourable Gentleman. I have the right to call a poll when I feel
:13:37. > :13:40.like it, an obligation to call a poll when there is a clear
:13:40. > :13:43.indication there would be a vote for the united Ireland. As 17.4%
:13:43. > :13:48.and the fact I have hardly had a single phone call, e-mail, letter
:13:48. > :13:51.on this issue, I have no intention of calling a poll at the moment and
:13:51. > :13:57.we should concentrate on the economy and building a shared
:13:57. > :14:00.future, that is the real priority for the people of Northern Ireland.
:14:00. > :14:05.Can my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State in addition to
:14:05. > :14:12.what he said about the economy can firm as well as the very many great
:14:12. > :14:17.advantages There are to all parts of the United Kingdom being in the
:14:17. > :14:23.union, he could not be sustained with any different constitutional
:14:23. > :14:26.arrangement regardless of this destination of those problems?
:14:26. > :14:31.chairman of the select committee made a telling point. Public
:14:31. > :14:37.spending per head is currently �10,706 per head, 25% higher than
:14:37. > :14:41.in England. That is the huge advantage of Northern Ireland, it
:14:41. > :14:44.gives us time to rebalance the economy and shows is the absolute
:14:44. > :14:51.key role of the membership the UK place for people in Northern
:14:51. > :14:56.Ireland. For over to the words of the Right Honourable Gentleman from
:14:56. > :14:59.Belfast North, one of the benefits of the United Kingdom as a common
:14:59. > :15:03.defence policy to which men and women in Northern Ireland have
:15:03. > :15:08.contributed greatly, how does the Secretary of State feel on today of
:15:08. > :15:18.all days, about men and women in military personnel being made
:15:18. > :15:20.
:15:20. > :15:29.compulsorily the Dalton -- I'm a supporter of military in
:15:29. > :15:34.Northern Ireland. What I feel is we inherited a complete mess from the
:15:34. > :15:39.Government opposite. We're borrowing �232,000 a minute and
:15:39. > :15:47.sadly difficult decisions have had to be made on this side of the
:15:47. > :15:51.House. No 3. In September my honourable friend the Secretary of
:15:51. > :15:55.State wrote to party leaders suggesting the Assembly taking
:15:55. > :16:00.forward work in this area. We have yet to receive a response.
:16:00. > :16:05.Ministers have continued to discuss with high man rights organisations
:16:05. > :16:08.since then. -- human. The minister will know the establishment of a
:16:08. > :16:13.bill of rights for Northern Ireland is part of the Good Friday
:16:13. > :16:18.agreement and it is a matter for all people. Will he accept he and
:16:18. > :16:23.the Secretary of State have a duty to bring about consensus, rather
:16:23. > :16:29.than simply listen the what people are saying and not do what it is
:16:29. > :16:33.right and prop tore do to get a consensus in Northern Ireland.
:16:33. > :16:37.the House will want to acknowledge the part the honourable gentleman
:16:37. > :16:40.played during the Good Friday agreement. But that was the time he
:16:40. > :16:45.should have pursued it and not squandered the good will he
:16:45. > :16:50.generated at that time. Let me give him three examples of problem.
:16:50. > :16:59.First, we wrote to the first and deputy First Minister, the
:16:59. > :17:02.Secretary of State in September. He has had no reply. Secondly, the
:17:02. > :17:05.minister, the Secretary of State for justice, has writ on the the
:17:05. > :17:10.office of First Minister asking to nominate someone to the commission
:17:10. > :17:17.in March. They have had no reply either. So we do face a problem.
:17:17. > :17:21.There is no lack of consensus and we see no way forward without that.
:17:21. > :17:25.This work moving towards a bill of rights in Northern Ireland may have
:17:25. > :17:30.a useful role to play in the Government's determination to do
:17:30. > :17:34.something about a significant reform of the European court of
:17:34. > :17:37.human rights? Well there is as my honourable friend knows a UK
:17:37. > :17:43.commission being set up to look into this. We want Northern Ireland
:17:43. > :17:46.to be represented on that commission. And equally we believe
:17:46. > :17:53.that commission could provide the necessary vehicle for rights
:17:53. > :17:58.particular to Northern Ireland to be included in. Has the Secretary
:17:58. > :18:05.of State had any meetings or correspondence with other groups
:18:05. > :18:11.who are concerned in a bill of rates, such as churches, advice
:18:11. > :18:16.bureaus or Women's Aid? We meet the church leaders frequently. The
:18:16. > :18:21.Secretary of State and I met with the UN deputy high commissioner for
:18:21. > :18:30.human right and discussed this with her. You can't go much higher than
:18:30. > :18:37.that. As well as corresponding with leaders of political party in naird,
:18:37. > :18:44.I wonder if the minister would say whether the Attorney General
:18:44. > :18:47.believes that Northern Ireland needs a separate bill of rights?
:18:47. > :18:50.Well, he came to Northern Ireland several times in opposition and he
:18:50. > :18:54.always was of the belief, as we are, that any rights particular to
:18:54. > :18:59.Northern Ireland should be tagged on to any UK bill of rights. I
:18:59. > :19:06.should say the honourable lady will be aware this lack of consensus I
:19:06. > :19:11.was alluding to, in a debate in the Assembly last year, member voted by
:19:11. > :19:15.46 to 42 against a motion for a bill of rights. The answer to the
:19:15. > :19:19.question earlier, that is an example of the problem we face. We
:19:19. > :19:27.cannot impose. It has to come from within Northern Ireland and when it
:19:27. > :19:34.does we will respond. No 4. I have not received any representations
:19:34. > :19:44.from the family since the establishment of Pat fin knew can
:19:44. > :19:45.
:19:45. > :19:49.review. The Secretary of state will know the family's solicitors, the
:19:49. > :19:57.Irish Government and the western agreement have called for a public
:19:57. > :20:02.inquiry. Could I urge the Secretary of State to meet with the Finucane
:20:02. > :20:06.familiar Suloy the truth and reconciliation of this murder can
:20:06. > :20:13.be completed? I'm grateful for that question. We have gone over this in
:20:13. > :20:22.some detail. In written statements and in an oral statement a couple
:20:22. > :20:27.of months ago. I wrote to Mrs Finucane and met her in November
:20:27. > :20:32.2010. I established with her that we wanted to get to the truth. And
:20:32. > :20:36.I think the method that we have chosen, a review of the huge
:20:37. > :20:40.archive, that is more extensive than that available to Saville is a
:20:40. > :20:47.quicker way of getting to the truth and will deliver satisfyion to the
:20:47. > :20:52.family. I'm more than happy to meet the family and hope the family will
:20:52. > :20:58.work the review. We need to speed up the exchanges. When does my
:20:58. > :21:08.honourable friend expect to receive sir Des month Da vil is a's final
:21:08. > :21:11.report? Sir Des month Da Silva was asked to report by December this
:21:11. > :21:17.year. When was the Secretary of State made aware that the legal
:21:17. > :21:23.representatives of the Finucane family were indicating they would
:21:23. > :21:27.accept a public inquiry under the 2005 act? Did he inform the Prime
:21:27. > :21:33.Minister of this and who decided to head off that credible option at
:21:33. > :21:39.the pass at the Downing Street meeting? Well we discussed all
:21:39. > :21:42.sorts of options as to how we would arrive at the truth in the fastest
:21:42. > :21:47.possible manner. My public statements are on the record. There
:21:47. > :21:54.is a judicial review process going on. I think the full details will
:21:54. > :21:59.be revealed in that. In dealing with victims' issues such as the
:21:59. > :22:05.Finucane murder is he alarmed in other cases, such as the murder of
:22:05. > :22:11.Tommy English, the police appointed an independent oversight team for
:22:11. > :22:16.the first time ever into a British case of police investigation?
:22:16. > :22:20.Comprising of a political apointee and an English barrister. Does he a
:22:20. > :22:27.I degree that was a reckless act and must never happen again in an
:22:27. > :22:31.independent police investigation? In all these areas we have to be
:22:31. > :22:35.careful to respect the independence in operational matters of the
:22:35. > :22:39.police, the independence of the prosecuting authorities and the
:22:39. > :22:45.independence of the Jew -- judiciary. I would apply those
:22:45. > :22:49.principle to his comments. The case of Pat Finucane is up with of many
:22:49. > :22:54.cases that reflect the legacy of our past. We believe that a
:22:54. > :22:59.comprehensive process is needed to address this. Can the Secretary of
:22:59. > :23:04.State update us as to his diswugs with local party about how to take
:23:04. > :23:09.that forward? I'm grateful for that question. As she knows in our
:23:09. > :23:12.meeting on Monday with her party, I established there is no consensus
:23:12. > :23:18.on this. There are some parties who would like to draw a line in the
:23:18. > :23:21.sand and cease all activity. And there are others that would like an
:23:21. > :23:25.extensive international Legacy Commission. We will continue to
:23:25. > :23:32.work and talk to individuals and to local parties, but at the moment I
:23:32. > :23:37.see no consensus. Question No 5. honourable friend the Secretary of
:23:37. > :23:42.State and I regularly pleat the first t and deputy First Ministers
:23:42. > :23:45.-- meet the first and Depp si First Ministers and I have returned from
:23:45. > :23:50.accompanying the enterprise minister on a trade mission to the
:23:50. > :23:54.gulf states in support of two Northern Ireland businesses. On the
:23:54. > :23:58.eve of the budget wa the need to improve our economy and the
:23:58. > :24:05.opportunity from inward investment, what assessment has my honourable
:24:05. > :24:13.friend made of the co-operation between Invest NI and U KTI? I have
:24:14. > :24:19.made a good one and I sit on the economic committee and UK TI and
:24:19. > :24:25.the devolved administrations, there will p discussion and we have a
:24:25. > :24:27.meeting later on in the year. Despite the best efforts of
:24:27. > :24:32.Northern Ireland Executive, rates of business formation in Northern
:24:32. > :24:36.Ireland are lower than the rest of the U kfpt. What plans does the
:24:36. > :24:42.Government have to make good the gap identified by the Business
:24:42. > :24:45.Secretary that the Government lacks a compelling vision on the economy?
:24:45. > :24:48.Well it is either Northern Ireland questions and I should limit myself
:24:48. > :24:51.to Northern Ireland. We have a clear idea of the economy in
:24:51. > :25:00.Northern Ireland. We believe it needs to be rebalanced there is a
:25:00. > :25:04.meeting today of joint working group to examine the possible
:25:04. > :25:07.devolvement of corporation tax to Northern Ireland. There are too
:25:07. > :25:11.many noisy private conversation taking place. As a matter of
:25:11. > :25:17.courtesy to the people of Northern Ireland it would be good to have
:25:17. > :25:22.some hush. I'm sure the minister will agree that it is always good
:25:22. > :25:26.to welcome inward investment into Northern Ireland. But we must not
:25:26. > :25:31.foreget get the indigenous businesses that have been there for
:25:31. > :25:37.many years, would he welcome a total of �30 million investment in
:25:37. > :25:43.my constituency on one site by the ASDA group in an area that has not
:25:43. > :25:48.saw investment for 35 years. would be good if we could hear the
:25:48. > :25:53.reply. Could the House come to Orde sner Of course I welcome that
:25:53. > :25:58.invest. The member is a champion of business in his constituency and I
:25:58. > :26:04.look forward to send e spending a day with him there. He will be
:26:04. > :26:14.aware of growth fund that will help SMEs with strong potential for
:26:14. > :26:14.
:26:14. > :26:19.growth. We believe these are the right moves. Can the Secretary of
:26:19. > :26:25.State... Report any progress on the devolution of corporation tax
:26:25. > :26:30.responsibility and when can we expect something to happen on that
:26:30. > :26:34.front? As I said, following the address to her Majesty there is a
:26:34. > :26:44.meeting of joint ministerial working group on corporation tax
:26:44. > :26:47.
:26:47. > :26:54.that will be meeting this afternoon. Question 6. With permission, I will
:26:54. > :26:58.answer question 6 and 7 together the Secretary and state of o' - and
:26:58. > :27:01.I meet colleagues in support of Executive's efforts to develop the
:27:01. > :27:07.economy and work on the join ministerial working group on
:27:07. > :27:12.rebalancing the economy, which I will now save say for third time
:27:12. > :27:17.meets today. In the last quarter, manufacturing exports have Northern
:27:17. > :27:23.Ireland have risen. Which is great news for rebalancing the economy.
:27:23. > :27:30.What further steps is the minister taking to ensure that exports
:27:30. > :27:37.increase? Well the point I would like to make is that Northern
:27:37. > :27:41.Ireland sells �12.4 million of manufacturing good abroad and
:27:41. > :27:50.almost recovered to pre-recession level. Those are positive figures
:27:50. > :27:54.on which we seek to build. Investment in R & D is critical to
:27:54. > :28:00.Northern Ireland, just as in Macclesfieldlet will my honourable
:28:00. > :28:06.friend join me in welcoming the Executive's 6% increase in R & D in
:28:06. > :28:13.the last year? Yes I do. R & D is crucial to the development of
:28:13. > :28:21.economy and it increased by of% in Northern Ireland last year to �3 34
:28:21. > :28:27.million. The minister for xer surprise is keen to -- enterprise
:28:27. > :28:30.is keen to develop this. Given the need to help the economy in
:28:31. > :28:36.Northern Ireland and that the finance ministers met on Monday,
:28:36. > :28:39.can you indicate if the dispute around the 18 billion allocation to
:28:39. > :28:44.Northern Ireland is part of devolution dividend is near
:28:44. > :28:52.resolution and if not wha, are the areas 06 disagreement? Well this
:28:52. > :28:57.was not raised officially at the meeting, although I had my own by
:28:57. > :29:03.bilateral with the finance minister and discussed progress on it. He
:29:04. > :29:10.informed me that progress continues. The Chancellor is in his place and
:29:10. > :29:14.may want to hear what you have said. It is still being discussed.
:29:14. > :29:19.Economic development in Northern Ireland is being held up by the
:29:20. > :29:23.reduck lance of -- reluctance of banks to loan to businesses. Could
:29:23. > :29:26.the minister tell us what discussions has he had to see
:29:26. > :29:31.whether or not banks in Northern Ireland are meeting their Merlin
:29:31. > :29:35.target and why can the figures for Merlin targets be published for
:29:35. > :29:41.Scotland and not for Northern Ireland? The honourable gentleman
:29:41. > :29:45.makes a good point, a point he made in that finance meeting last week,
:29:46. > :29:49.it is a good point. We need to get more lending to companies in
:29:49. > :29:53.Northern Ireland and of course we're fishing in a smaller pool in
:29:53. > :30:03.Northern Ireland, we don't have so many more bank. We want to work
:30:03. > :30:06.
:30:06. > :30:10.together to see how we can get more I would like to pay tribute to do
:30:10. > :30:15.all those from Northern Ireland and all regions of the United Kingdom
:30:15. > :30:17.who served in our armed forces. I speak regularly with ministerial
:30:17. > :30:21.colleagues across Whitehall on matters relating to Northern
:30:21. > :30:26.Ireland, including my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary
:30:26. > :30:34.for Defence. Does my honourable friend agree much can be lowered
:30:34. > :30:39.from the Royal Irish Regiment which recruits from all sections? He is
:30:39. > :30:43.absolutely spot-on, I am very proud to have been stationed in my
:30:43. > :30:51.constituency. I went to the din on Monday celebrating the capture of
:30:51. > :30:56.the first French eagle. They are a glorious example of an organisation
:30:56. > :31:03.bringing people together from all parts of the community and also
:31:03. > :31:08.from south of the border. Recognising the tremendous
:31:08. > :31:12.sacrifice of our brave soldiers from Northern Ireland contributing
:31:12. > :31:15.to the defence of the United Kingdom, does the Secretary of
:31:15. > :31:19.State acknowledged there is a time bomb of mental health problems
:31:19. > :31:27.facing those returning from the field and what necessary steps will
:31:27. > :31:31.be taken to assist them? I endorse his comments and would
:31:31. > :31:35.pay tribute to the Three reigns of the Royal Irish who lost their
:31:35. > :31:40.lives in Helmand campaign last year. He is absolutely right to draw
:31:40. > :31:42.attention to the mental health problems and those discuss this
:31:42. > :31:46.with my Honourable friends in Cabinet and he should discuss it
:31:46. > :31:54.with local ministers who are responsible for delivering the
:31:54. > :31:58.services in Northern Ireland. That is it from Northern Ireland,
:31:58. > :32:02.we will be going live to the House of Lords from questions from the
:32:02. > :32:07.Prime Minister shortly but Stephen Walker is still with us in the
:32:07. > :32:12.studio. Some stirring tales of soldiers past and present, ending
:32:13. > :32:16.things off. What caught my imagination was this notion that
:32:16. > :32:21.the Secretary of State could call a border poll whenever he wanted to,
:32:21. > :32:25.that emerged in a question. Quite interesting, the question that he
:32:25. > :32:30.has this power to call a border poll. The issue of border poll is
:32:30. > :32:34.often talked about on website, political activists get interested
:32:34. > :32:37.in it, appearing in letters to newspapers and to raise this issue
:32:37. > :32:41.quoting this survey from Queen's University saying it to be said of
:32:41. > :32:46.people in Northern Ireland wanted to stay within the UK. He wanted to
:32:46. > :32:51.know if there were any plans to call aboard a poll and he said he
:32:51. > :32:55.had not received a single phone call or letter so quite clear it is
:32:55. > :32:58.not an issue for him. Interesting he has this power to call whenever
:32:58. > :33:02.he wants. It is and obviously he would want
:33:02. > :33:06.to look at the timing very carefully because as a committed
:33:06. > :33:10.Unionist he would want to Northern Ireland remain in the Union.
:33:10. > :33:14.And the Bill of Rights. This was a question the junior
:33:14. > :33:18.minister had to handle. He said there was no consensus on this
:33:18. > :33:23.issue of the Bill of Rights, a subject that routinely comes up. He