Wednesday Volume 638 28 March 2018 No. 119 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 28 March 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 737 28 MARCH 2018 738 me and some of my colleagues to discuss how best to House of Commons advance the celebration and recognition of that achievement? Wednesday 28 March 2018 Mr Lidington: I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock and his colleagues, as I am always happy to talk to the elected representatives of Northern Ireland constituencies PRAYERS here. It is important that we find a way to mark that centenary appropriately and do so in a way that is [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] genuinely inclusive and recognises the sensitivities associated with many centenary anniversaries affecting the island BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS of Ireland that have fallen in recent years. NEW WRIT Kwasi Kwarteng: Given that we are leaving the EU, Ordered, will my right hon. Friend assure this House that he will That the Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the do everything he can to preserve the single market of Crown to make out a new Writ for the electing of a Member to the United Kingdom, which is infinitely more important serve in this present Parliament for the County constituency of to many Unionist Members than the single market of West Tyrone in the room of Columba Barry McElduff, who since the EU? his election for the said County constituency has been appointed to the Office of Steward and Bailiff of Her Majesty’s Three Mr Lidington: My hon. Friend is right. The United Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham in the County of Buckingham.—(Julian Smith.) Kingdom’s common market existed well before we joined the European Union, and it will continue to exist after ROYAL ASSENT we leave. The living standards of people in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland alike benefit Mr Speaker: I have to notify the House, in accordance from the existence and strength of the internal market with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that the Queen has of the United Kingdom, and the Government will do signified her Royal Assent to the following Acts: their utmost to protect and defend it. Northern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) Act 2018 Martin Whitfield (East Lothian) (Lab): Given that the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill places additional Northern Ireland Assembly Members (Pay) Act 2018 and somewhat unwarranted restrictions on Scottish Northern Ireland Budget (Anticipation and Adjustments) Government Ministers that do not apply to Ministers Act 2018. down here, does the right hon. Gentleman think that that strategy strengthens the Union or puts it at risk? Oral Answers to Questions Mr Lidington: The withdrawal Bill, in providing for the transfer of considerable additional powers from Brussels to the devolved Governments in Scotland and CABINET OFFICE Wales both strengthens devolution and upholds our constitutional settlement. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked— Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con): Does my right hon. Friend share my frustration Leaving the EU: The Union at the actions and attitude of the SNP Government regarding clause 11 of the withdrawal Bill? While he has 1. Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP): What discussions been working on an agreement with the devolved he has had with Cabinet colleagues on strengthening Administrations, they have been blocking, frustrating, the Union during the process by which the UK leaves agitating and doing everything in their power to the EU. [904617] manufacture a constitutional crisis in our family of 10. Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con): What discussions nations. he has had with Cabinet colleagues on strengthening Mr Lidington: One of the virtues that I have sought the Union during the process by which the UK leaves to cultivate in this job is patience, as well as endurance, the EU. [904628] so we continue talking to both the Scottish and Welsh The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister Governments, but the allegations of a so-called power for the Cabinet Office (Mr David Lidington): The grab are completely unmerited. Government are unapologetically committed to the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. As Ben Lake (Ceredigion) (PC): Under a previous UK the Minister responsible for constitutional issues across Government, up to 90% of the Welsh fishing quota was the Government and as chair of a number of Cabinet sold to foreign firms. This Union now has more than Committees, I have regular discussions with Cabinet one Government, so what discussions is the Minister colleagues about such issues. having with colleagues in the Welsh Government about the future allocation of the Welsh fishing quota? Gavin Robinson: I am grateful to the Minister for that reply and for his commitment to our precious Union. Mr Lidington: One of the tasks that faces us, as the He knows that Northern Ireland will achieve a significant United Kingdom, as we leave the European Union is to milestone on the day after the transition period: its devise the appropriate fisheries regime that provides a centenary as part of this Union. Will he agree to meet just result for fishing communities in all parts of the 739 Oral Answers 28 MARCH 2018 Oral Answers 740 UK. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for also launch a consultation this summer on the introduction Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking forward of a new electoral offence to tackle the intimidation of to discussing that future with the devolved Administrations parliamentary candidates and campaigners. and with parliamentarians. Electoral Fraud Eddie Hughes: Can my right hon. Friend suggest what more can be done to counter the often toxic 2. Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con): What steps the atmosphere on social media that is frequently directed Government are taking to tackle electoral fraud. at female candidates? [904619] Brandon Lewis: My hon. Friend makes a very important The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe point, and he is right. Sadly, it is noticeable that abuse Smith): Electoral fraud is unacceptable at any level, and on social media is particularly directed at women. We vulnerabilities cannot be allowed to continue to undermine recently enacted the Digital Economy Act 2017 to help the integrity of our democracy, so the Cabinet Office is ensure that online abuse is effectively tackled through a working with five local authorities to pilot voter robust code; but ultimately, as political parties, we have identification and with three others to pilot measures to our bit to do to make sure we give people protection improve the integrity of the postal and proxy vote online—robust debate but with respect—and it is very processes. sad that the Labour party has failed to live up to that by bringing forward its own respect pledge. Chris Philp: What efforts are being made to cross- reference the electoral roll with the immigration and Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op): Meetings nationality database to ensure that only people with held in the evening often create a barrier to women eligible nationalities appear on the electoral roll and can entering politics, particularly local politics. What steps therefore vote? is the Minister taking to ensure that women get appropriate time off work and are provided with childcare? Chloe Smith: We entrust electoral registration officers to do that task, and we think it is very important that Brandon Lewis: A number of local authorities are they do so. Electoral registration officers have the ability looking at how they can vary their meeting times. The to make nationality checks where they believe it is Local Government Association, the chairman of which appropriate. Indeed, this House also recently agreed to I met just this morning, is looking at how it can advise changes to the registration forms to emphasise to would-be local authorities on what they can do to encourage voters that such checks will be made, and we think that more participation. Some local authorities even pay for is important. childcare; but ultimately, we have to make sure that Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab): Over people feel they can conduct themselves in public life 40 leading charities and academics have written to the with respect and have the space for proper, robust Minister expressing their concern that these voter ID public debate. pilot areas have failed to carry out equality impact assessments adequately. Most participating authorities Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): Will the have identified negative impacts on various groups, Government work with schools and universities to such as people with disabilities, Asian and black encourage more young women to get involved in standing communities and Travellers, but astonishingly Bromley for political office? Borough Council claims the pilot will have no impact on any of those groups. Why is the Minister allowing Brandon Lewis: Absolutely. Again, my right hon. these pilots to proceed on the basis of such clearly Friend makes a good observation. It is important that inadequate equality impact assessments? we encourage people from all backgrounds, including women and young people, to feel that they can get Chloe Smith: These pilots are, in fact, very important. involved and that there are opportunities to get involved, They allow us, as a country, to begin to be sure that the participate and contribute to public life. To do that, people voting in any given election are eligible to do so. they need to feel safe in that environment, and that is I continue to be disappointed that the Labour party largely down to the political parties delivering it.