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Friday Volume 656 15 March 2019 No. 270 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Friday 15 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/. 663 15 MARCH 2019 Speaker’s Statement: New Zealand 664 Terror Attacks world, but we do not have to be Muslim to understand House of Commons their loss, and their sense of grief and fear; we just have to be fully paid-up members of the human race. Friday 15 March 2019 Mr Speaker, I warmly endorse what you and the Security Minister have said. Through you, may I express our solidarity with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The House met at half-past Nine o’clock all the people of New Zealand and Muslims right across the world? In the wake of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim prejudice not just in this country but right PRAYERS across the world, let us say plainly and simply that we are not blind to what is going on; we have been here [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] before on many different fronts and in the face of many different types of prejudice. Speaker’s Statement: New Zealand Let me also say, I think on behalf of the whole House, to the people of New Zealand: you are not Terror Attacks alone in confronting hatred and prejudice. Weunderstand what happens when people are bystanders to hatred and Mr Speaker: In respectful memory of the 49 people prejudice, so we walk alongside you and with you. who horrendously lost their lives in the terrorist attack Being a good ally is not just knowing when to stand in Christchurch, New Zealand, and of the apparently with or beside you; sometimes it is knowing when to dozens who were injured in the attack on the two stand in front of you, when there is a battle to be mosques, as well as in solidarity with the people of New fought. Zealand and Muslims around the world, I humbly suggest to the House—I know that both sides of the It is time for all of us in this House, across the House are on the same page as me in this regard—that country and around the world to think about the hatred we hold one minute’s silence at 11 am. I think that some and prejudice facing not only Muslims but lots of colleagues will want to say something about this matter minorities, and to understand what it genuinely means now, before we get on to today’s business, sitting in to be an ally and never to be a bystander. As we have private or any of that. I therefore call Minister Ben Wallace. seen painfully in Christchurch, this is where hatred and prejudice lead, but this is not necessarily how it needs to The Minister for Security and Economic Crime (Mr Ben end. Wallace): Let me say to the House on behalf of the Government that we send our sincere condolences to Mr Speaker: This poisonous barbarity will not prevail; the victims and people of New Zealand for their loss, I think we are all clear about that. I deeply appreciate and that they have our offer of any assistance required the words of the Minister and the hon. Member for to deal with this repugnant attack. The UK stands Ilford North (Wes Streeting). In saying what they have shoulder to shoulder with New Zealand against terrorism, said, and doing so in the way in which they have, they and we will not falter in our commitment to uphold the have spoken for millions—if not hundreds of millions—of values of tolerance, religious freedom and democracy people around the world. I think colleagues will understand that we both hold so dear. that there is a particular piquancy about me calling the Later today, the Home Secretary and I will be speaking hon. Member for Christchurch (Sir Christopher Chope). to police counter-terrorism leaders and the security services to discuss what further measures we can take to Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): May I, protect our mosques and communities from any threat on my behalf and that of my constituents, express our here in the United Kingdom. No one should be in any sympathy and solidarity with the citizens of our twinned doubt that our police and security services treat all city of Christchurch in New Zealand? This grotesque threats the same and all terrorists the same. No matter manifestation of religious hatred is beyond comprehension, what community, religion or background they come but as the Minister intimated, it requires us all to from, a terrorist is a terrorist, and we shall deal with redouble our efforts to promote the virtues of tolerance them exactly the same. and religious freedom as the best weapons against the outrage of terror. Mr Speaker: I thank the Minister for the clarity and passion with which he has addressed the House. Colleagues will not be surprised to know that I intend to write to Mr Speaker: I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman. my opposite number in New Zealand, and I know that I will be able to do so conveying the sympathies of the Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West) (Lab): I stand in House and the collective outrage of the House at this solidarity with all those who have spoken, and I thank bestial slaughter. you, Mr Speaker, for your words. I have the great honour and privilege of representing a constituency Wes Streeting (Ilford North) (Lab): As the co-chair where there is a large faith community of many faiths. I of the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, want to say to the Muslims in my constituency, as I thank you, Mr Speaker, for what you have just said. I Jacinda Ardern said this morning to Muslims in New also thank, most deeply and sincerely, the Security Zealand: we are you, and you are us, and this hatred is Minister for what he said about reassuring our own not us; it is not for us. I know the pain that my Muslim Muslim community in this country. Any of us who constituents will feel. The thought that people could understand the Muslim community will understand walk into a place of prayer and face this is unbearable. why what has happened in Christchurch will be felt It will give my constituents comfort that you have deeply by Muslims in this country and right across the extended your thoughts to them, Mr Speaker, and that 665 Speaker’s Statement: New Zealand 15 MARCH 2019 666 Terror Attacks the Security Minister is attending to this. I wish to add Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths my thanks to him and ask him to do everything he can (Registration Etc.) Bill to ensure that those in mosques across this country feel safe not just today but forever, and that they are welcome, Consideration of Lords amendments because they are us and we are them. After Clause 1 Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): On behalf of the Labour party and Opposition Members, I EXTENSION OF CIVIL PARTNERSHIP wholeheartedly concur with the Minister and all Members who have expressed their deepest sympathies to those in 9.44 am New Zealand. As you said, Mr Speaker, we should all stand shoulder to shoulder with the Government of Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): New Zealand, the people of New Zealand and Muslims I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords there, here and across the world. The Jewish theologian amendment 1. Martin Buber said that solidarity cannot be found in a Mr Speaker: Said with alacrity and buoyancy. With mosque, synagogue or temple, but is found in the space this it will be convenient to take Lords amendments 2 between people. It is the duty of all of us, in every to 6. legislature across the planet, to reduce the space between people so that the great Abrahamic religions can operate Tim Loughton: First, I echo the comments made by in peace together across the world. you, Mr Speaker, and all other Members on the senseless and brutal murder in New Zealand. New Zealand might Mr Speaker: Thank you. be one of the furthest countries from the United Kingdom, but at times like this we stand shoulder to shoulder with Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): our close cousins in all communities in New Zealand I beg to move, That the House sit in private. and express our sincere condolences and sympathy after Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 163), and this terrible tragedy. negatived. Said with alacrity indeed, Mr Speaker, because today is quite an exciting day. In fact, it is so exciting that I got ROYAL ASSENT halfway to my office in the Commons this morning before I realised that I had non-matching jacket and Mr Speaker: Before we proceed with the first piece of trousers on and had to return. I have quite a nice tie on, business, I have to notify the House, in accordance with and I am taking it personally that I was not singled out the Royal Assent Act 1967, that Her Majesty has signified for such an accolade, too. her Royal Assent to the following Acts: SupplyandAppropriation(AnticipationandAdjustments) Mr Speaker: It is an admirable tie. Act 2019 Tim Loughton: Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 Having made the journey back home, I eventually got Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 to my office to realise that I had left my mobile phone in Stalking Protection Act 2019 my jacket that I had taken off, so things can only get Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital better today.

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