30/11/2011 Northern Ireland Question Time

Welcome to daily politics from Northern Ireland. And the

Chancellor, George Osborne, is not the most popular man at the moment

with most notably thousands of public sector workers who are on

strike today. Pensions are the big issue in today's national day of

action along with yesterday's Autumn Statement which predicted

job losses and pay cuts. It is all about the economy and locally, the

hot topic of fuel poverty. Owen Paterson will be taking question

surely but first we are joined by our editor at Jim Fitzpatrick. It

is all about the economy at the moment here and at Westminster.

exactly. Economy is the big political issue and we talk about

the British Chancellor, and Northern Ireland questions I expect

to see economic questions raised. One thing people hear in the

private sector is a cut in corporation tax. I would not be

surprised if we hear something about the Treasury publishing its

responses to the consultation on corporation tax. And the first

ministerial meeting to discuss that which I understand will be the

second week in December. People out on the streets today, it could cost

private sector business today but it is hard to quantify that. Huge

figures quoted of �500 million last but it is difficult to say what the

impact of that will be. Locally there is a limit to what we can do.

The Chancellor is the man, never mind Berlin or the rest of it.

will have an impact here in Northern Ireland. This day the

Chancellor revealed that public sector workers will only see an

increase of 1% up to 2015, which is a real-terms pay cut. He also

announced something which may scurvy 230,000 public sector

workers, at a regional review -- scare the 230,000. When you talk to

the local representatives about economic issues, this is the stuff

they are getting on the doorstep. It is increasingly so, yes. People

striking over pensions. Now they will worry about pay, massive

numbers of people unemployed, these are real issues. Let's go to the

House of Commons. And eight sunny day outside it. Fuel poverty is

popping up in a lot of the questions to be put to the Northern

Ireland minister, isn't it? Yes, five questions I counted from

Labour MPs looking at the issue of fuel poverty. This comes after last

week's motion proposed by the DUP on this whole issue of fuel poverty.

They got 200 MPs to back that motion. It was defeated at the DUP

feel they have brought it to the 4th. The issue and that of the

winter fuel allowance is something that they will have to talk about

this morning. Not just Northern Ireland MPs and MLAs, everybody is

hitting the Chancellor. Yes, and what BDP wanted to do last week was

to make sure they put forward an issue that did not just apply to

Northern Ireland -- what the DUP wanted. They only have eight MPs so

to get 200 MPs to back a motion, they are feeling pretty pleased.

Looking at the order paper, you get a feeling certainly from the Labour

ranks, this is an issue they want to bring forward. Anything else

tickle your fancy in the questions? Inevitably with questions like this,

you have got quite a few questions from lot of MPs say you will get a

diverse range of subjects, things like the Historical Enquiries Team

will be put forward, the Belfast to London link if possible. Something

possible on corporation tax but a large number of the questions,

bearing in mind we have just had the Autumn Statement and that today

is the day of strikes, a lot of questions will have an economic

feel to it. Thank you. I gather we can go live to the House of Commons

now two questions to the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson. Matters

relating to the Historical Enquiries Team are the

responsibility of the devolved administration in Northern Ireland

and the Minister of Justice. thank the Minister for that

response. And for the content of it. I also welcome the progress

undertaken by the Historical Enquiries Team. Can I be reassured

that all the work and progress of that team into the cases involved

will be complete by 2014? I am grateful for the question. I spoke

to the Chief Constable this morning and he confirmed that the

Historical Enquiries Team is investigating three House -- 3268

deaths and they are on target to finish as planned. The Secretary of

State there, is he investigating a murder on 10th December 1971, and

another case where no action was taken. Would the Secretary of State

accept that there is a need to instil confidence in the committee

in terms of work to do. I don't entirely agree, I think the agency

are impartial and the latest polling commission into the

reaction of families is extraordinarily high. 90.5% said

they were very satisfied or satisfied with the performance of

the 80 T. The Historical Enquiries Team was set up by the former

Northern Ireland Secretary. Yesterday there was some disturbing

allegations that his computer may have been hacked. Does my right

honourable friend share these concerns? Will he assure the House

macro that the Northern Ireland Office will co-operate with the

police? The question does not relate to the work of the

Historical Enquiries Team so we had better leave it there. Paul Dobbins.

In cases that involve police officers, historical enquiries are

currently carried out by the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland.

Given that they are a Crown appointment could the Secretary of

State tell me what discussions he has had with the Justice Minister

about the succession to the current ombudsman, who indicates he intends

to leave his post at the end of January? The Police Ombudsman is

devolved and I talked to the Justice Minister, Mr David Ford,

this morning. I touched on the issue of a replacement and we

agreed we would meet to talk about this shortly. With the Secretary of

State agree with me that it is not the role of Westminster to set the

agenda here but for the people of Northern Ireland to decide how and

when they look back and what they look at? Yes, I think the

honourable member makes a good point. The Government in

Westminster does not own the past. Handling very difficult and

contentious and fraud issues with the past should be done with

consensus with local people in Northern Ireland. Not withstanding

some of the limitations and differentials attached to the work

of the Historical Enquiries Team, it has done much good work. In the

context of dealing with the past more widely, does the Secretary of

State believe that more could be done to draw on the good work of

the Historical Enquiries Team, drawing out the issues, patterns

and lessons that could be learned from their work that has only gone

to the families but not the wider public? I think the honourable

member makes a good point, there's an extraordinary archive of

knowledge being built up by the Historical Enquiries Team and I

think he knows that I am interested in opening up government archives

though they can be assessed by professionals. Down the road, this

might be a matter worth discussing with the devolved Executive to see

if it could form the basis of an I meet regularly with the first and

matters including the Northern Ireland economy and we met earlier

with the Minister for enterprise, trade and investment to consider a

range of issues related to economic development. Can I thank my

honourable member for his answer. Could her get him to agree with me

that it has improved transport links that will be vital in terms

of economic development and the completion of the M6 motorway link

will be vital? I admire the skill of that question

and I congratulate that honourable member for working for his

constituents. Sailing twice daily to Northern Ireland and I hope this

new link will betrayed to his constituents. Given the nature of

our local economy, do you agree that the economic development of

Northern Ireland will depend on stable industrial relations and do

you further agree that the Government must do more to deal

with the genuine concerns of public sector workers and their pensions

under siege while those who have caused the economic crisis,

particularly bankers, are getting away Scot free? I don't entirely

agree with her. I think the strikes today a most regrettable. They will

not help a single business in Northern Ireland or bring a single

job to Northern Ireland. The Government is in talks with the

unions and a very fair offer has been made considering the cost of

public pensions increased by a third over the past 10 years. Up to

�30 billion. We are all in this together and the unions should work

with the Government. In those discussions with Northern Ireland

ministers about economic development, has the head

appreciation for the fat that the UK has remained outside the euro

and has retained its AAA rating? honourable friend is spot on. We

came to power with interest rates higher than Italy. Thanks to the

very disciplined and determined manner in which the coalition has

addressed the deficit, we now have interest rates level-pegging with

Germany. That is a benefit to every single person in Northern Ireland.

The Secretary of State will be aware of the recent developments as

a pay of Ugo heating tank developed in my constituency. Could the

Secretary of State to give us an update on the development of the

enterprise zone that he piloted and could he tell us what benefits that

would bring to companies such as the one in my area? I am very

interested in his Budget. In opposition, I talk about running

the whole of the Northern Ireland area into an enterprise zone. And

that resulted in ways we could develop the private economy. Quite

separately, my right honourable friend, the Chancellor, has

proposed enterprise zones throughout the UK establishing them.

Doing so is entirely in devolved hands. I hope the Executive take up

The Northern Ireland economy is over-dependent on public spending.

The Government shows a commitment with the Executive to rebalance its

overtime by promoting investment and growing the private sector.

There are many world-class Northern Ireland businesses, we need more of

them. Would the Minister confirm that last week, a survey showed

that Northern Ireland earnings increased by 3.5% compared to less

than 1% on the mainland? And rebalancing jobs is the key to

Northern Ireland's recovery? entirely agree. One survey showed

public spending represents 77.6% of GDP in Northern Ireland, we know

that is wholly unsustainable and we are committed to rebalancing the

economy and working with the Executive. One of the ways of

rebalancing the economy towards private sector is to ensure that

there are more funds from the banking sector to private firms.

What steps is the Government going to take to ensure that the credit

easing measures announced yesterday would apply effectively in Northern

Ireland, given the lack of market penetration by UK mainland banks

and the high dependence upon Irish Banks? The National Loan guarantee

Scheme which the Chancellor announced yesterday it does apply

to Northern Ireland. But will be a great benefit to small businesses

right across Northern Ireland. -- that will be. I understand the

average private sector wage in Northern Ireland is �27,000 per

year compared to the average public sector wage of �29,000. What impact

does the Secretary of State believed aback yesterday's

announcement to set wages locally have on Northern Ireland? My right

honourable friend is correct. The difference shows the task we have

in helping revive the private sector and making it an attractive

place for bright, enterprising young people to go into. That is

what we would like to do. Does the Secretary of State except that the

proposed changes to public pension contributions will have an even

more severe impact on Northern Ireland because of the shape and

I would like to congratulate the honourable gentleman on having won

the leadership of his party. I look forward to working with him. This

is basically a good news story. People living 10 years longer, and

that has put this huge pressure on the cost, which is up to 32 billion

across the UK. An increase of a third over 10 years. Lord Hutton

came up with a very sensible report and I would appeal to all those in

Northern Ireland who what in the unions to continue discussions with

the government because our offer is extremely fair. Given the rip --

the importance of Northern Ireland to the UK economy and the

likelihood of the break-up of the eurozone, what discussions has my

right honourable friend had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and

what the Northern Ireland Executive about how the Northern Ireland

economy could best cope with such a crisis? The Chancellor and the

Treasury are looking at all contingencies because the report

yesterday showed that the crisis in the euro zone is causing a real

impact on hour economy. I am in regular contact with the government

in Dublin and will continue our discussions. When thousands of

public sector workers in Northern Ireland are worried about their

pensions, with cuts to public services, when growth figures have

been so significantly downgraded, does the Secretary of State

remember, when commenting on the Budget of March 2011, he said, this

is a budget across the whole of United Kingdom, in which Northern

Ireland will share. Where did it all go wrong? I am grateful to the

honourable member for his question. He knows perfectly well when it

went wrong. It went wrong when his colleagues landed us with the

biggest deficit in Europe and we are digging this country out.

we go, the complacent answer of somebody who has no answers at all.

What little faith the Secretary of State has in the people of Northern

Ireland, their ability to do their sums. It might not have been math a

title but even I know that if you take away 4 billion and return 142

million, it does not add up to a fair deal for Northern Ireland. Is

it not time that the Secretary of State stood up for Northern Ireland

and told the Chancellor to get a proper plan for jobs and growth?

have kept interest rates low. That is the biggest service we can

deliver to Northern Ireland, and thanks to the disciplined and

determined manner in which we are addressing the deficit, we have the

lowest interest rates in western Europe. That benefits every family

with a mortgage, every business with an overdraft in Northern

Ireland. Our policy is that any legislation arising from the work

of the commission examining a UK Bill of Rights, we would wish to

apply it to Northern Ireland at this can be arranged with the

parties there. Could I ask the Minister what discussion he has had

with the Secretary of State for justice on the impact that a new --

that it UK Bill of Rights will have on Northern Ireland Bill of Rights?

We have to be clear that any discussion about the UK wide Bill

of Rights is distinct from a discussion about the rights

specific to Northern Ireland. We believe the proper vehicle for

bright specific to Northern Ireland would be within a UK-wide Bill of

Rights. The Good Friday agreement does call for a Bill of Rights for

Northern Ireland, but does my honourable friend agree with me

that the right that people in Northern Ireland quite

understandably accept, at the right of freedom of religious expression,

for example, does rise to also belong in the United Kingdom?

honourable friend is absolutely right. Northern Ireland enjoys the

same protection as anyone in the rest of the UK. There is anti-

discrimination legislation, for instance, which is the strongest in

Europe. What we need is a consensus from the Executive and from the

Assembly to ensure that this matter is finally resolved to the

satisfaction of all. No. 5, Mr Speaker. The political situation in

Northern Ireland is more stable than for regeneration but stability

is not an end in itself. It is time for the Assembly and executive to

work water prosperous Northern Ireland in which everyone has a

genuinely shared future. Northern Ireland Executive have

published a draft programme for government. Will my right

honourable friend, on this development and does he welcome

what is happening in Northern Ireland? I am delighted that after

six months the draft programme has come forward and I very much hope

that the Executive will crack on, working with the Assembly, to

deliver its main elements as soon as possible. The Assembly are

agreed unanimously that the secretary of state should convened

talks to deal with the issue of the past. Why in the face of that

consensus does the Secretary of State refused to do so?

grateful for that question. A little unfair! Within a couple of

days, I went to talk to the Speaker to decide how best to address this.

I am going to write to the leaders of all the main parties to discuss

with their representatives how to take this forward. This app problem

on the past is that there is no consensus that we have detected. We

have been right around Northern Ireland talking to all sorts of

groups involved in the past and sat lead there is no consensus. This is

very much an issue that has to be sorted out with local parties.

issue on which the Secretary of State did take action... Does he

not agree that the decision of the Irish Prime Minister to come to

Northern Ireland last week and seek to we launch a campaign about this

issue is deeply unhelpful to North- South relations and could be

compared to a tense do neuter the civic inquiry? -- attempts.

review is going ahead. We believe it is the right decision. We know

that there are strong feelings in Dublin on this issue. I have said

privately and publicly that we will recognise that they will stake

those differences publicly, but I would a short the honourable member

that we will not allow this issue to damage in any way be excellent

relations that we have with the government in Dublin. Does he

recognise that the decision by the Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Belfast

this week to refuse to hand out a Duke of Edinburgh Award to a young

man because he was an army cadet is deeply unhelpful in terms of

community relations? It stands in stark contrast to the first Mr's

vision set out on Saturday of an inclusive, forward looking Northern

Ireland. This is something which has deeply disturbed people right

across the community. I think the right honourable Member makes an

interesting point. The armed forces are a wonderful example of people

from right across the Community working together. I have that

wristband of the Royal Irish Regiment on. They have

representative from right across Northern Ireland and the Republic

and 11 different nations. They set an example to us all of how we can

work together. There has been a lot of noise in the chamber. It is very

unfair to the Secretary of State. If No. 6, Mr Speaker. With

permission, I will answer questions 6, 7 and 8 together. I attended the

opposition debate on pensioners and the winter fuel payment on 22nd

November. The matter was also discussed on 31st August when I met

ministers to discuss this and other matters. Measures to tackle fuel

poverty in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of executive

ministers. I understand that the proportion of homes in Northern

Ireland that are in fuel poverty is higher than in Scotland, England

and Wales, and the Housing Executive said that almost 50% of

household cannot afford to keep their homes this winter -- heat

their homes. What are they do to help these people and is it enough?

The figures are very startling for Northern Ireland. These are

devolved matters and I understand the Executive Park tackling

efficiency and achieving affordable energy prices. The Housing

Executive is doing a lot about housing and the honourable member

will be pleased with the announcement of a London �42

million over three years for Northern Ireland. Perhaps some of

that could be spent on improving their housing stock. Wales has

higher than average fuel poverty. Is the government not in dialogue

between the devolved administration so that best practice and solutions

that work can be shared? I would remind the honourable gentleman

that in 2004 his colleague had a target to eradicate fuel poverty

informal house sold by 2010. The current strategy states bluntly

that this target will not be achieved. In fact fuel poverty

increased to 302,002 1009. -- in 2009. How does he equate this by

the fat that fuel prices have gone up by 15% this autumn. There are a

number of schemes in Northern Ireland such as the introduction of

will stance, and I would point out that contrary to what members

opposite say, this government has maintained the winter fuel

allowance and chose to keep a higher cold-weather payment

allowances, which is more than that government would have done, had

they won the last general election. Would you agree with me that the

announcement by the Chancellor yesterday stopping the inexorable

rise in fuel will be most welcome for people in Northern Ireland and

for people in Hastings and Rye? Honourable Friend is entirely right.

The Chancellor's announcement to defer the increase on the first of

Jerry to 1st August is very welcome, as indeed is the further increase.

She will also want soup welcome the biggest increase in pension since

19 no weight, I believe, which will also help those most Honourable

been society -- 19 their weight. Does the Minister share my concern

about the opposition whip's effort to flood the order paper, with a

third of the questions being identical? I'm extremely grateful

but it does nothing to do with fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. Does

the Minister share my concern that 70% of homes in Northern Ireland

are heated with heating oil. Is not the parakeet get them connected so

that there is a wide and, more competitive market that they can

access -- the priority. We welcome discussions like the undersea

energy grid been discussed by the minister. 82% of homes across rural

Ulster rely on the most expensive form of heating oil to heat their

homes. The councils of Northern Ireland, the assembly in Northern

Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties representing this House are

united in their support for a higher winter fuel allowance in

Northern Ireland. How is the Secretary of State representing

that United political will to the Cabinet? I do not want to be

cynical about the previous government, unless I have to be,

but I would draw the honourable member's attention to the fact that

they raised these allowances two years running up to the election,

and their plans have they won the election were to reduce them. We

could have stuck to those figures but we chose to increase the

payments in the benefit of all but on most vulnerable. In wishing the

minister of state the very happiest of birthdays today, may I remind

him that politicians are often accused of giving warm words and

Cold Comfort? Bearing in mind the uniquely disadvantaged position of

the fuel poor in Northern Ireland, will he at least approaches College

in the Treasury for an operating in the allowance this year in view of

the inclement forecast? I have just explained to the previous

questionnaire that we have chosen to increase allowances in a way

that the previous government were simply not going to. The facts of

their in their spending commitment. STUDIO: We can see David Cameron

behind birthday boy. With me still, Jim Fitzpatrick on business and

economics, our editor. A bit about fuel, Ian Paisley Jr making a

strident point? Yes, people here are more reliant on fuel oil. If

you pay 20 -- 10% of your income on heating your home, you are in fuel

poverty. I other issues, enterprise zones and low interest rates being

a great benefit was mentioned. Secretary of State is putting it to

the Executive, if you want an enterprise zone, get on with it. A

bit of rumbling below the surface as to why the Executive has not