Wednesday Volume 655 6 March 2019 No. 264 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 6 March 2019 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2019 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 939 6 MARCH 2019 940 Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): The Secretary of House of Commons State knows, and the whole House knows, that there was violence on the part of dissident republicans even when we had devolution. However, given yesterday’s Wednesday 6 March 2019 improvised explosive devices and the link to dissident republicans, can she tell the House whether there is any The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock prospect of the security threat level being raised, and does she have any more information about the origins PRAYERS of those devices? Karen Bradley: The threat level in Northern Ireland—the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] level of threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism—is “severe”, and there is currently no suggestion that it will change. I had a conversation with the Chief Constable Oral Answers to Questions this morning. In respect of the specific incident to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, these are the early days of an ongoing investigation, and it would NORTHERN IRELAND not be appropriate for me to say anything further at this stage. The Secretary of State was asked— Nigel Dodds: I thank the Secretary of State for that Devolved Government information, but she will understand the concern that is out there about those devices being sent through the 1. Jack Brereton (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Con): What post. May I urge her to ensure that the lack of devolution progress has been made on restoring devolved government does not hamper the introduction of any powers or in Northern Ireland. [909557] resources that the Chief Constable may need in Northern Ireland—or, indeed, here on the mainland—for the 9. Ross Thomson (Aberdeen South) (Con): What purpose of combating such a terrorist threat? progress has been made on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland. [909566] Karen Bradley: I can assure the right hon. Gentleman of that. Despite the lack of a devolved Executive, we The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Karen now have a fully constituted Policing Board to ensure Bradley): On the first day of Lent, we continue our feast that we have proper governance arrangements in Northern of Northern Ireland business. Ireland. That step was taken after the House passed the I am working closely with the main Northern Ireland Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of parties to restore devolved government. I met the five Functions) Act 2018. However, the right hon. Gentleman main political parties on 15 February, and again—with is right: we need to ensure that the police have the the exception of one party—on 1 March. Northern powers that they need, throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland needs a functioning Executive and Assembly, in order to challenge and deal with the threat of terrorism. and that is what the Government are determined to achieve. Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con): Given that the majority of the parties in Northern Ireland want the Assembly to Jack Brereton: I commend my right hon. Friend’s be restored, would the Secretary of State consider restoring efforts. What steps is she taking to ensure that Northern an Assembly of the willing? Ireland has good governance and political stability in the absence of devolved government? Karen Bradley: My hon. Friend has made a good suggestion, which has also been made by a number of Karen Bradley: My hon. Friend has made the important parties. However, the Government are steadfast in their point that in the absence of Ministers at Stormont, it is commitment to the institutions established under the incumbent on the Government to ensure that, when Belfast/Good Friday agreement and its successors. I necessary, steps are taken to ensure that there is good want those institutions to be fully restored, and that is governance. Yesterday we legislated to put the 2018-19 what I am working to achieve. budget on a statutory footing, and today we will legislate to set the regional rates and cost-cap the renewable heat Owen Smith (Pontypridd) (Lab): One way in which incentive scheme. the Secretary of State might rebuild some of the trust between the political parties that is necessary for the Ross Thomson: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, restoring of devolution would be to make political as in Scotland, it is vital for us to respect the need for funding in Northern Ireland more transparent. Will she devolution in Northern Ireland? Does she share my tell the House whether, and when, she will agree with concern about the fact that four of the five parties in the Electoral Commission, and backdate the funding Northern Ireland want devolution to work, and only legislation to 2014? one party is holding up the process? Karen Bradley: The measures that were taken in the Karen Bradley: I think that all parties and all politicians House in respect of transparency of donations were in Northern Ireland want devolution to work. We want taken with the support of the five main political parties to find a way through this. My hon. Friend is absolutely in Northern Ireland, and with broad support across right: there is no alternative to power-sharing devolution those parties. I will look carefully at the hon. Gentleman’s that is good and sustainable in the long term for the suggestion, but we must be clear about the need to ensure people of Northern Ireland. that such measures are supported in Northern Ireland. 941 Oral Answers 6 MARCH 2019 Oral Answers 942 Karin Smyth (Bristol South) (Lab): The Secretary of Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con): Is State set herself a deadline of 26 March in the Northern the Minister concerned about the possible impact on Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) small businesses of the changes proposed to non-domestic Act. Has she asked her right hon. Friend the Prime renewable heat incentives in the legislation that we are Minister to clear her diary so that she will be available about to consider, and is he particularly cautious about to support that final push to restore devolution, as the advice he may be receiving from the energy Department, Prime Minister was available in February 2018? because it was that that Department that got us into this fix in the first place? Karen Bradley: The Prime Minister takes a very keen interest in all matters in Northern Ireland; she has John Penrose: Without wanting to prejudge this visited Northern Ireland on a number of occasions and afternoon’s debate—as my hon. Friend the Northern regularly meets the main parties from Northern Ireland, Ireland Affairs Committee Chairman has said, we will both here in Westminster and in Northern Ireland. be going through this in a lot more detail—he is absolutely However, the hon. Lady is right to point out that the right that the renewable heat incentive scheme has been Act expires on 26 March and I am looking carefully at the subject of a great deal of concerned commentary, what we can do to ensure there is decision making after because it has dramatically broken its budgets and is that date. not a sustainable solution. I think everybody is treating any proposals with a great degree of concern and scrutiny Business Community because of that history, and I am sure we will have a chance to go through it in more detail, and we will try to 2. Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con): What recent steps ensure that any proposals that are legislated on do not she has taken to support Northern Ireland’s business suffer from the faults that existed in the previous version. community. [909558] Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (John (LD): I have been married to a lady from County Penrose): The Secretary of State and I have frequent Armagh for quite some time. [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, discussions and meetings with Northern Ireland businesses; hear.”] Through my marriage I have come to know the in the last few weeks I have met Newry chamber of image of Northern Irish food products, such as Black commerce and trade, Thales, and Willowbrook Foods, Bush, Tayto crisps and Flanagan’s most excellent sausage and tomorrow I will meet Bombardier. The Government from the city of Armagh. Do the Government agree have provided £3.5 million for Queen’s Belfast precision that marketing Northern Ireland’s special food could be medicine centre, £700,000 for Randox diagnostics, and one way to boost business in Northern Ireland, not just £1 million for Northern Ireland SME research and within the UK but to a world market? development. This afternoon, we will legislate to hold business rates at a 0% real-terms rise as well. John Penrose: Something that Britain and the UK have cottoned on to later than many other parts of the Tom Pursglove: I very much welcome that work, but world is the notion of local food and its marketability, what specific steps has the Minister taken to promote along with our ability to forge a local brand not just for Northern Ireland internationally as a successful business food but for tourism more broadly as well. In congratulating hub and first-class place to invest? the hon. Gentleman on his marital status, and his success in that regard, I am sure he is on to something John Penrose: The numbers speak for themselves: important as well.