Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)

Wednesday Volume 578 2 April 2014 No. 147 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 2 April 2014 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 865 2 APRIL 2014 866 Mrs Villiers: The police are currently recruiting. They House of Commons recognise the importance of maintaining numbers at appropriate levels, particularly in the light of wastage Wednesday 2 April 2014 rates. It is important for us to resolve the question of 2015-16. The Chief Constable has said that he needs about 7,000 officers to ensure that he can run matters The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock efficiently, and the level is slightly below that at present, so I hope that the future discussions with the DFP will bear fruit, as they have in relation to the security PRAYERS funding agreed by the United Kingdom Government. Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): Given the [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] recent revelations about recordings made at Garda stations in the Irish Republic of all telephone calls made to and from those stations over a number of years, and given that information was withheld from the Smithwick Oral Answers to Questions tribunal that investigated the deaths of police officers Breen and Buchanan, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of those revelations, and of their impact in revealing the level of collusion that may have existed NORTHERN IRELAND between police in the Republic and the IRA? The Secretary of State was asked— Mrs Villiers: I had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Tánaiste and the Irish Government on Security Situation Monday, and I was assured that concern about the recording of police conversations, and other matters 1. Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) relating to the Garda, would not undermine the efforts (Lab/Co-op): What recent assessment she has made of being made in the south to help the PSNI to fight the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if she terrorism. A number of inquiries are under way to will make a statement. [903393] investigate, in particular, whether the recordings will have any impact on current prosecutions. It is very The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa important that those inquiries establish the facts, and Villiers): The threat level in Northern Ireland continues that we ensure that every effort continues to be made to to be severe, with persistent planning and targeting by bring terrorists to justice and put them in jail. terrorists. Action by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and its partners maintains a high level of pressure Mr Dodds: In the course of the Secretary of State’s on those groups, with the aim of preventing attacks and discussions with the authorities in the south, particularly collecting the evidence that is needed for convictions. the police, what efforts are being made to step up the battle against fuel launderers? There is grave concern in Tom Greatrex: Given the recent attempts to attack Northern Ireland, where it is felt—given the number of members of the PSNI—including the events that occurred prosecutions and of people charged—that the battle is just this weekend in Larne—is the Secretary of State not being fought with enough vigour, and that the fact confident that it has all the resources that it needs in that the National Crime Agency is not operating fully in order to respond to such incidents, and does she expect Northern Ireland is having a detrimental effect. members of police forces from Great Britain to undertake a mutual aid operation in Northern Ireland over the Mrs Villiers: The National Crime Agency will still be summer? able to be part of the fight against fuel laundering, because it is a reserved matter. The latest development Mrs Villiers: I wholeheartedly condemn the disgraceful is the announcement of the introduction of a new fuel scenes that have been witnessed in Larne over recent marker, for which I know the right hon. Gentleman and days. Such thuggish behaviour is absolutely unacceptable, his DUP colleagues have pressed very strongly, and and I know that the PSNI is taking very seriously the which is to be produced by the Dow Chemical Company. need to bring those responsible to justice. As we have Work is being done on both sides of the border to discussed during previous sessions of Northern Ireland strengthen the fight against fuel laundering, and work is questions, there is an ongoing debate about police funding also under way on the new marker, which will be much for the year 2015-16. The Government have provided more difficult to remove from fuel. additional funds, but it remains to be seen exactly how much the Department of Finance and Personnel will Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): contribute. Discussions continue, and I strongly support There were 30 national security attacks in Northern the efforts made by the Chief Constable to resolve this Ireland in 2013. Will my right hon. Friend assure the important matter with the DFP. House that there will be a relentless and effective pursuit of the small but violent minority of people in Northern Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): Given Ireland who prefer terrorism to democracy? that the security situation in Northern Ireland is still difficult, is my right hon. Friend confident that the Mrs Villiers: I can certainly give that assurance. The police will still be able to recruit enough officers immediately Government remain absolutely committed to combating to replace those who are retiring from the force? terrorism in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. Strong 867 Oral Answers2 APRIL 2014 Oral Answers 868 support for the PSNI is vital, which is why we have Mr Bain: Great minds obviously think alike. In North given it significant extra resources. We also recognise Antrim and South Down 40% of workers are paid less the crucial importance of combating other forms of than the living wage, and across the Province the levels crime in Northern Ireland, including crime committed of part-time workers, particularly women, on poverty by individuals linked to loyalist paramilitaries. pay are shocking. In fair pay fortnight, can the Minister tell the House whether he will offer incentives for firms Naomi Long (Belfast East) (Alliance): With respect to to pay the living wage, so that we can tackle one of the the latter organisations, does the Secretary of State feel major causes of this Government’s cost of living crisis any discomfort about the amount of time that is spent in Northern Ireland? differentiating between parts of the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force, as though Mr Robathan: As the hon. Gentleman knows, the they were respectively a good organisation and an greatest reason for the economic crisis in Northern organisation gone bad? Does she agree that they are Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom is the illegal organisations that should have long since ceased appalling economic legacy left us by the previous to exist in any structured form? Government. I am surprised that he does not welcome, for instance, the recently published Northern Ireland Mrs Villiers: Both the UDA and UVF are proscribed Centre for Economic Policy spring outlook predicting organisations, but in relation to recent activities in that the local economy will grow by 2.8% in 2014 and Larne, and criminal activity in the hon. Lady’s constituency, that over 13,000 new jobs will be created this year in what the individuals involved are undertaking—however Northern Ireland. That is a fantastic thing to welcome. they choose to label themselves—is utterly unacceptable It is through decent employment that people are lifted criminal behaviour. I am strongly supportive of the out of poverty. extensive efforts being made by the PSNI to put those people in prison and prevent them from exploiting and Mr Speaker: Rosie Cooper. Not here. seeking to control their communities merely to line their own pockets through organised crime. Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): Given that getting Lady Hermon (North Down) (Ind): The Secretary of a job is the most important element in alleviating cost State will be well aware that there has been some of living problems, will my right hon. Friend elucidate controversy within Belfast city council about inviting the measures that the Northern Ireland Office has taken Pope Francis to visit the city. Does the Secretary of to promote private sector investment so that new firms State believe that the security situation and, indeed, the come into Northern Ireland? political situation in Northern Ireland are conducive to a papal visit any time soon? Mr Robathan: My hon. Friend will know that last June an economic pact was signed by the Northern Mrs Villiers: The papal visit to London was extremely Ireland Executive and others that looked forward to a successful, and I have every confidence that the security rebalanced economy with more private sector jobs. In situation will make a papal visit to Northern Ireland the last year some 10,000 jobs have been created in the entirely possible. Whether such an invitation is extended private sector. As I have said, we are expecting another is obviously a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, 13,000 this year, and 23,000 new jobs over the next year. but I think it would be a very positive step if the Pope were to visit Northern Ireland. David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP): The Minister will be aware that 42% of the households in Northern Cost of Living Ireland suffer from fuel poverty.

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