07/03/2012 Northern Ireland Question Time


07/03/2012

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Welcome to Daily Politics from Northern Ireland. Commemorating the

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past and present, looking at the economic future, just some of the

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topics up for discussion today. As ever, our political Reporter

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Stephen Walker joins us in the studio. Looking down the question

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list, one thing strikes me, there are no local MPs on the list, but

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that will not stop them leaping in on the back with supplementary

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questions. Sometimes you get 14 or 15 questioned, we have got 13 down

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to be discussed. Not one local MP on that list but that doesn't stop

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our MPs from getting in. As you would expect, a whole range of

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issues, the question about the Bill of Rights, economy, security

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situation and an interesting question about the contribution

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local people make to the armed forces. You feel the Pat Finucane

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case might come up. It is listed, and it is a subject that comes up

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in Parliament quite regularly. It comes as this legal review into the

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murder of Pat Finucane, and Valerie Vaz, a Labour MP, she wants to know

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what representations the Secretary of State has received from the

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Finucane family. They still want a full public inquiry. I would expect

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the SDLP to rise there, possibly the fallen be trying to get a

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mention. The economy. Just to make it clear to viewers there are

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various areas of government that are not default and hence decisions

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are still made at Westminster on our behalf. The economy and tax at

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all up being one of them. We have been having this ongoing debate. I

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expect corporation tax will be mentioned. Basically to find out

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how much it would cost if those tax powers were devolved to Northern

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Ireland, what that would mean. Critics are saying they are blowing

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Once this research has been done and the paperwork is put in front

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of people like the First Minister and then an economic decision will

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have to be taken and a political decision. The question will be is

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it worth reducing corporation tax and how much is that going to

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affect the bloc grant? As I mentioned, commemorating the past

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is always an agonising problem. have the anniversary of the sinking

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of the Titanic. We have got the have got the Easter rising, the

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battle of the Somme. All kinds of anniversaries are upon us. We can't

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look at these in a piece meal way there must be some joined up

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thinking involving Belfast and London. Dublin too? Yes, there is a

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high powered committee that has been set up from the Dail involving

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one of our local historians, so the Irish Government are getting

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historians involved. Maybe that is something Stormont and Westminster

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may want to think about. I expect them to hone in on this subject.

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Thank you. Now let's cross to the house where I think Owen Paterson

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is on his feet, the secondary of state. We will work with our

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partners in the SS -- PSNI and the Irish Government to counter this

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threat. Thank you for that answer. I welcome the steps that have been

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take on the reduce the number of terrorist attacks in Northern

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Ireland. But as my honourable friend said, in his recent

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ministerial statement, violent activity is still being undertaken

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by loyalist organisation. What I like to pay tribute to my right

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Honourable friend who has done a huge amount of work talking to a

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number of loyalist groups. There is absolutely no place for organised

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crime or violence in Northern Ireland. I would appeal for

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everybody to work closely with the PSNI and pursue whatever political

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gains they have by peaceful democratic means. Does my

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Honourable Friend share my concerns what would be a high profile year

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for the United Kingdom and for hollow given the number of Olympic

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events happening in and around my constituency the thick -- the

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security threat to Northern Ireland remains severe? He is quite right

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to draw attention to the Olympics, which presenters with a wonderful

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opportunity to sell this country. Northern Ireland related terrorism

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in Great Britain is graded substantial, and I work closely

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with my Right Honourable Friend the Home Secretary, as will the justice

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minister on Monday, and we are determined to ensure that they

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should be no threat to a peaceful and successful Olympics.

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Secretary of State will be aware of a murder in Londonderry in recent

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weeks and also the continuing targeting by dissident republicans

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of a number of people, not just in the border area that across

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Northern Ireland. Deceit condemn in discussions he has had the

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necessary resources to deal with this escalating problem are in

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place? -- does he confirmed. I am grateful for that question.

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Mentioning this disgusting and deplorable murder I spoke to the

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Chief Constable this morning, and I would remind the Honourable Member

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we did agree a special package of �200 million at the request of the

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chief constable, and he did say in April last year we have the

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resources, resilience, and we have the commitment. When he recently

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acquitted those charged with the murder of Tom English Mr Justice

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Gillen reminded us the use of accomplice evidence is long

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established and in the words of his Dutchman's, a price worth paying in

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the interests of protecting the public from major criminality. Will

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the Secretary of State confirm the relevant provisions of the 2005

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serious organised crime Police Act remain available to the PSNI?

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grateful for that question. I would check the exact details of those

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provisions and get back to him. Does my Honourable Friend agree it

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is impossible to engage in dialogue with dissident organisations who

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showed no signs of announcing their criminal or violent acts? There is

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absolutely no excuse to pursue political aims by anything other

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than peaceful democratic means through the Assembly and

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representation in this Parliament. There are small numbers of groups

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who do not accept the current settlement and we are determined to

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bed down on a. Can I say to the Secretary of State we will stand

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with him in tackling any threat to security in Northern Ireland. In

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tackling terrorism resources for the police and security services

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are paramount. Would he agreed that many community and voluntary

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organisations in Northern Ireland contribute hugely to a peaceful and

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stable society and can he therefore update the house on progress the

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funding bids to the European Union so helpful to maintaining that

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security? I am grateful for his continuous support on these

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security issues which must remain a bilateral issue. On the community

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funds and project, I entirely agree with him. What we are putting on

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security can only contain the problem. The long-term solution is

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to get deeper into these communities and they did have a

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meeting with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to look at

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potential funds which would look -- come from our existing budgets.

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I thank the Secretary of State for his response. The financial support

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for communities currently almost �300 million is crucial to

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combating paramedic treat activity, maintaining she Curitiba and

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ensuring we continued to build on piece for the future and can he

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give it to the aged matter it deserves? -- urgent matter. We talk

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about this frequently, not just with us best minister but also the

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justice minister -- with the First Minister. A lot of these projects

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are in default towns. -- a devolved hands. These projects need to carry

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on. This government firmly believes in the United Kingdom and that what

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we can achieve together will also be much more than we can ever do a

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park. As my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister has made clear,

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we will always back the democratic wishes of the people of Northern

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Ireland. I am extremely grateful, does my right honourable friend

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agree the union ensures all partners of the UK can be part of a

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larger and stronger economy? Honourable Friend is absolutely

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right. With 2.8% off the UK population Northern Ireland benefit

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enormously from being part of the United Kingdom. Yesterday we saw a

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poll conducted by Queen's University showing 82.6% wanted to

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remain in the UK, and only 17.4% wanted a united Ireland. Does the

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Secretary of State except there are enormous advantages and benefits

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for Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom, but it is also

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the case United Kingdom is strengthened and has been

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strengthened and enriched by the contribution of the people of

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Northern Ireland and other constituent nations of the United

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Kingdom as well, not just in the willing and voluntary service of so

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many generations of Ulster men and women in her Majesty's forces?

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would entirely endorse his comments. Right across every sphere of

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national life there are glorious examples, spectacularly in golf

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this week, where individuals from Northern Ireland had shone. I am

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very grateful to the Secretary of State's endorsement of the Union

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with Northern Ireland and he rightly refers to the great

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sporting success of our golfers and indeed a snigger plays. He referred

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to the referendum, the opinion poll done by Queen's University, we

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should over 80% of people wanting to stay within the United Kingdom,

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so will he confirm out to the House that he has no intention whatsoever

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of organising any kind of poll in Northern Ireland given the settled

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position of the people there and the levels of satisfaction with the

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current constitutional settlement? I think I can reassure the Right

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Honourable Gentleman. I have the right to call a poll when I feel

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like it, an obligation to call a poll when there is a clear

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indication there would be a vote for the united Ireland. As 17.4%

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and the fact I have hardly had a single phone call, e-mail, letter

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on this issue, I have no intention of calling a poll at the moment and

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we should concentrate on the economy and building a shared

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future, that is the real priority for the people of Northern Ireland.

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Can my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State in addition to

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what he said about the economy can firm as well as the very many great

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advantages There are to all parts of the United Kingdom being in the

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union, he could not be sustained with any different constitutional

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arrangement regardless of this destination of those problems?

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chairman of the select committee made a telling point. Public

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spending per head is currently �10,706 per head, 25% higher than

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in England. That is the huge advantage of Northern Ireland, it

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gives us time to rebalance the economy and shows is the absolute

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key role of the membership the UK place for people in Northern

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Ireland. For over to the words of the Right Honourable Gentleman from

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Belfast North, one of the benefits of the United Kingdom as a common

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defence policy to which men and women in Northern Ireland have

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contributed greatly, how does the Secretary of State feel on today of

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all days, about men and women in military personnel being made

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compulsorily the Dalton -- I'm a supporter of military in

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Northern Ireland. What I feel is we inherited a complete mess from the

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Government opposite. We're borrowing �232,000 a minute and

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sadly difficult decisions have had to be made on this side of the

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House. No 3. In September my honourable friend the Secretary of

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State wrote to party leaders suggesting the Assembly taking

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forward work in this area. We have yet to receive a response.

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Ministers have continued to discuss with high man rights organisations

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since then. -- human. The minister will know the establishment of a

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bill of rights for Northern Ireland is part of the Good Friday

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agreement and it is a matter for all people. Will he accept he and

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the Secretary of State have a duty to bring about consensus, rather

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than simply listen the what people are saying and not do what it is

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right and prop tore do to get a consensus in Northern Ireland.

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the House will want to acknowledge the part the honourable gentleman

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played during the Good Friday agreement. But that was the time he

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should have pursued it and not squandered the good will he

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generated at that time. Let me give him three examples of problem.

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First, we wrote to the first and deputy First Minister, the

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Secretary of State in September. He has had no reply. Secondly, the

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minister, the Secretary of State for justice, has writ on the the

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office of First Minister asking to nominate someone to the commission

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in March. They have had no reply either. So we do face a problem.

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There is no lack of consensus and we see no way forward without that.

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This work moving towards a bill of rights in Northern Ireland may have

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a useful role to play in the Government's determination to do

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something about a significant reform of the European court of

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human rights? Well there is as my honourable friend knows a UK

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commission being set up to look into this. We want Northern Ireland

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to be represented on that commission. And equally we believe

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that commission could provide the necessary vehicle for rights

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particular to Northern Ireland to be included in. Has the Secretary

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of State had any meetings or correspondence with other groups

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who are concerned in a bill of rates, such as churches, advice

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bureaus or Women's Aid? We meet the church leaders frequently. The

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Secretary of State and I met with the UN deputy high commissioner for

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human right and discussed this with her. You can't go much higher than

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that. As well as corresponding with leaders of political party in naird,

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I wonder if the minister would say whether the Attorney General

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believes that Northern Ireland needs a separate bill of rights?

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Well, he came to Northern Ireland several times in opposition and he

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always was of the belief, as we are, that any rights particular to

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Northern Ireland should be tagged on to any UK bill of rights. I

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should say the honourable lady will be aware this lack of consensus I

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was alluding to, in a debate in the Assembly last year, member voted by

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46 to 42 against a motion for a bill of rights. The answer to the

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question earlier, that is an example of the problem we face. We

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cannot impose. It has to come from within Northern Ireland and when it

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does we will respond. No 4. I have not received any representations

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from the family since the establishment of Pat fin knew can

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review. The Secretary of state will know the family's solicitors, the

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Irish Government and the western agreement have called for a public

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inquiry. Could I urge the Secretary of State to meet with the Finucane

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familiar Suloy the truth and reconciliation of this murder can

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be completed? I'm grateful for that question. We have gone over this in

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some detail. In written statements and in an oral statement a couple

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of months ago. I wrote to Mrs Finucane and met her in November

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2010. I established with her that we wanted to get to the truth. And

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I think the method that we have chosen, a review of the huge

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archive, that is more extensive than that available to Saville is a

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quicker way of getting to the truth and will deliver satisfyion to the

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family. I'm more than happy to meet the family and hope the family will

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work the review. We need to speed up the exchanges. When does my

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honourable friend expect to receive sir Des month Da vil is a's final

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report? Sir Des month Da Silva was asked to report by December this

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year. When was the Secretary of State made aware that the legal

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representatives of the Finucane family were indicating they would

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accept a public inquiry under the 2005 act? Did he inform the Prime

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Minister of this and who decided to head off that credible option at

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the pass at the Downing Street meeting? Well we discussed all

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sorts of options as to how we would arrive at the truth in the fastest

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possible manner. My public statements are on the record. There

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is a judicial review process going on. I think the full details will

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be revealed in that. In dealing with victims' issues such as the

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Finucane murder is he alarmed in other cases, such as the murder of

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Tommy English, the police appointed an independent oversight team for

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the first time ever into a British case of police investigation?

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Comprising of a political apointee and an English barrister. Does he a

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I degree that was a reckless act and must never happen again in an

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independent police investigation? In all these areas we have to be

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careful to respect the independence in operational matters of the

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police, the independence of the prosecuting authorities and the

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independence of the Jew -- judiciary. I would apply those

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principle to his comments. The case of Pat Finucane is up with of many

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cases that reflect the legacy of our past. We believe that a

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comprehensive process is needed to address this. Can the Secretary of

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State update us as to his diswugs with local party about how to take

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that forward? I'm grateful for that question. As she knows in our

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meeting on Monday with her party, I established there is no consensus

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on this. There are some parties who would like to draw a line in the

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sand and cease all activity. And there are others that would like an

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extensive international Legacy Commission. We will continue to

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work and talk to individuals and to local parties, but at the moment I

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see no consensus. Question No 5. honourable friend the Secretary of

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State and I regularly pleat the first t and deputy First Ministers

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-- meet the first and Depp si First Ministers and I have returned from

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accompanying the enterprise minister on a trade mission to the

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gulf states in support of two Northern Ireland businesses. On the

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eve of the budget wa the need to improve our economy and the

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opportunity from inward investment, what assessment has my honourable

:23:58.:24:05.

friend made of the co-operation between Invest NI and U KTI? I have

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made a good one and I sit on the economic committee and UK TI and

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the devolved administrations, there will p discussion and we have a

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meeting later on in the year. Despite the best efforts of

:24:25.:24:27.

Northern Ireland Executive, rates of business formation in Northern

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Ireland are lower than the rest of the U kfpt. What plans does the

:24:32.:24:36.

Government have to make good the gap identified by the Business

:24:36.:24:42.

Secretary that the Government lacks a compelling vision on the economy?

:24:42.:24:45.

Well it is either Northern Ireland questions and I should limit myself

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to Northern Ireland. We have a clear idea of the economy in

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Northern Ireland. We believe it needs to be rebalanced there is a

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meeting today of joint working group to examine the possible

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devolvement of corporation tax to Northern Ireland. There are too

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many noisy private conversation taking place. As a matter of

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courtesy to the people of Northern Ireland it would be good to have

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some hush. I'm sure the minister will agree that it is always good

:25:17.:25:22.

to welcome inward investment into Northern Ireland. But we must not

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foreget get the indigenous businesses that have been there for

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many years, would he welcome a total of �30 million investment in

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my constituency on one site by the ASDA group in an area that has not

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saw investment for 35 years. would be good if we could hear the

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reply. Could the House come to Orde sner Of course I welcome that

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invest. The member is a champion of business in his constituency and I

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look forward to send e spending a day with him there. He will be

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aware of growth fund that will help SMEs with strong potential for

:26:04.:26:14.
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growth. We believe these are the right moves. Can the Secretary of

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State... Report any progress on the devolution of corporation tax

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responsibility and when can we expect something to happen on that

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front? As I said, following the address to her Majesty there is a

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meeting of joint ministerial working group on corporation tax

:26:34.:26:44.
:26:44.:26:47.

that will be meeting this afternoon. Question 6. With permission, I will

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answer question 6 and 7 together the Secretary and state of o' - and

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I meet colleagues in support of Executive's efforts to develop the

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economy and work on the join ministerial working group on

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rebalancing the economy, which I will now save say for third time

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meets today. In the last quarter, manufacturing exports have Northern

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Ireland have risen. Which is great news for rebalancing the economy.

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What further steps is the minister taking to ensure that exports

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increase? Well the point I would like to make is that Northern

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Ireland sells �12.4 million of manufacturing good abroad and

:27:37.:27:41.

almost recovered to pre-recession level. Those are positive figures

:27:41.:27:50.

on which we seek to build. Investment in R & D is critical to

:27:50.:27:54.

Northern Ireland, just as in Macclesfieldlet will my honourable

:27:54.:28:00.

friend join me in welcoming the Executive's 6% increase in R & D in

:28:00.:28:06.

the last year? Yes I do. R & D is crucial to the development of

:28:06.:28:13.

economy and it increased by of% in Northern Ireland last year to �3 34

:28:13.:28:21.

million. The minister for xer surprise is keen to -- enterprise

:28:21.:28:27.

is keen to develop this. Given the need to help the economy in

:28:27.:28:30.

Northern Ireland and that the finance ministers met on Monday,

:28:31.:28:36.

can you indicate if the dispute around the 18 billion allocation to

:28:36.:28:39.

Northern Ireland is part of devolution dividend is near

:28:39.:28:44.

resolution and if not wha, are the areas 06 disagreement? Well this

:28:44.:28:52.

was not raised officially at the meeting, although I had my own by

:28:52.:28:57.

bilateral with the finance minister and discussed progress on it. He

:28:57.:29:03.

informed me that progress continues. The Chancellor is in his place and

:29:04.:29:10.

may want to hear what you have said. It is still being discussed.

:29:10.:29:14.

Economic development in Northern Ireland is being held up by the

:29:14.:29:19.

reduck lance of -- reluctance of banks to loan to businesses. Could

:29:20.:29:23.

the minister tell us what discussions has he had to see

:29:23.:29:26.

whether or not banks in Northern Ireland are meeting their Merlin

:29:26.:29:31.

target and why can the figures for Merlin targets be published for

:29:31.:29:35.

Scotland and not for Northern Ireland? The honourable gentleman

:29:35.:29:41.

makes a good point, a point he made in that finance meeting last week,

:29:41.:29:45.

it is a good point. We need to get more lending to companies in

:29:46.:29:49.

Northern Ireland and of course we're fishing in a smaller pool in

:29:49.:29:53.

Northern Ireland, we don't have so many more bank. We want to work

:29:53.:30:03.
:30:03.:30:06.

together to see how we can get more I would like to pay tribute to do

:30:06.:30:10.

all those from Northern Ireland and all regions of the United Kingdom

:30:10.:30:15.

who served in our armed forces. I speak regularly with ministerial

:30:15.:30:17.

colleagues across Whitehall on matters relating to Northern

:30:17.:30:21.

Ireland, including my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary

:30:21.:30:26.

for Defence. Does my honourable friend agree much can be lowered

:30:26.:30:34.

from the Royal Irish Regiment which recruits from all sections? He is

:30:34.:30:39.

absolutely spot-on, I am very proud to have been stationed in my

:30:39.:30:43.

constituency. I went to the din on Monday celebrating the capture of

:30:43.:30:51.

the first French eagle. They are a glorious example of an organisation

:30:51.:30:56.

bringing people together from all parts of the community and also

:30:56.:31:03.

from south of the border. Recognising the tremendous

:31:03.:31:08.

sacrifice of our brave soldiers from Northern Ireland contributing

:31:08.:31:12.

to the defence of the United Kingdom, does the Secretary of

:31:12.:31:15.

State acknowledged there is a time bomb of mental health problems

:31:15.:31:19.

facing those returning from the field and what necessary steps will

:31:19.:31:27.

be taken to assist them? I endorse his comments and would

:31:27.:31:31.

pay tribute to the Three reigns of the Royal Irish who lost their

:31:31.:31:35.

lives in Helmand campaign last year. He is absolutely right to draw

:31:35.:31:40.

attention to the mental health problems and those discuss this

:31:40.:31:42.

with my Honourable friends in Cabinet and he should discuss it

:31:42.:31:46.

with local ministers who are responsible for delivering the

:31:46.:31:54.

services in Northern Ireland. That is it from Northern Ireland,

:31:54.:31:58.

we will be going live to the House of Lords from questions from the

:31:58.:32:02.

Prime Minister shortly but Stephen Walker is still with us in the

:32:02.:32:07.

studio. Some stirring tales of soldiers past and present, ending

:32:07.:32:12.

things off. What caught my imagination was this notion that

:32:13.:32:16.

the Secretary of State could call a border poll whenever he wanted to,

:32:16.:32:21.

that emerged in a question. Quite interesting, the question that he

:32:21.:32:25.

has this power to call a border poll. The issue of border poll is

:32:25.:32:30.

often talked about on website, political activists get interested

:32:30.:32:34.

in it, appearing in letters to newspapers and to raise this issue

:32:34.:32:37.

quoting this survey from Queen's University saying it to be said of

:32:37.:32:41.

people in Northern Ireland wanted to stay within the UK. He wanted to

:32:41.:32:46.

know if there were any plans to call aboard a poll and he said he

:32:46.:32:51.

had not received a single phone call or letter so quite clear it is

:32:51.:32:55.

not an issue for him. Interesting he has this power to call whenever

:32:55.:32:58.

he wants. It is and obviously he would want

:32:58.:33:02.

to look at the timing very carefully because as a committed

:33:02.:33:06.

Unionist he would want to Northern Ireland remain in the Union.

:33:06.:33:10.

And the Bill of Rights. This was a question the junior

:33:10.:33:14.

minister had to handle. He said there was no consensus on this

:33:14.:33:18.

issue of the Bill of Rights, a subject that routinely comes up. He

:33:18.:33:23.

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