Vol. 774 Thursday No. 36 8 September 2016 PARLIAMENTARYDEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT ORDEROFBUSINESS Questions Brexit: Belfast Agreement.............................................................................................1123 Employment: Remuneration.........................................................................................1125 Zimbabwe .....................................................................................................................1128 Brexit: Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010............................................1131 Business of the House Motion on Standing Orders ...........................................................................................1133 Business of the House Timing of Debates.........................................................................................................1133 Civil Society and Lobbying Motion to Take Note.....................................................................................................1133 Grammar Schools Statement......................................................................................................................1177 NHS: Health and Social Care Act 2012 Motion to Take Note.....................................................................................................1180 National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2016 Motion to Approve ........................................................................................................1209 Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2016 Motion to Approve ........................................................................................................1215 Grand Committee Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Question for Short Debate........................................................................................GC 149 Universal Declaration of Human Rights Question for Short Debate........................................................................................GC 160 Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards Question for Short Debate........................................................................................GC 175 Schools: Admissions Question for Short Debate........................................................................................GC 190 Legislation Question for Short Debate........................................................................................GC 205 Lords wishing to be supplied with these Daily Reports should give notice to this effect to the Printed Paper Office. No proofs of Daily Reports are provided. Corrections for the bound volume which Lords wish to suggest to the report of their speeches should be clearly indicated in a copy of the Daily Report, which, with the column numbers concerned shown on the front cover, should be sent to the Editor of Debates, House of Lords, within 14 days of the date of the Daily Report. This issue of the Official Report is also available on the Internet at https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2016-09-08 The first time a Member speaks to a new piece of parliamentary business, the following abbreviations are used to show their party affiliation: Abbreviation Party/Group CB Cross Bench Con Conservative DUP Democratic Unionist Party GP Green Party Ind Lab Independent Labour Ind LD Independent Liberal Democrat Ind SD Independent Social Democrat Ind UU Independent Ulster Unionist Lab Labour LD Liberal Democrat LD Ind Liberal Democrat Independent Non-afl Non-affiliated PC Plaid Cymru UKIP UK Independence Party UUP Ulster Unionist Party No party affiliation is given for Members serving the House in a formal capacity, the Lords spiritual, Members on leave of absence or Members who are otherwise disqualified from sitting in the House. © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2016, this publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1123 Brexit: Belfast Agreement [8 SEPTEMBER 2016] Brexit: Belfast Agreement 1124 House of Lords internal agreement between the parties in Northern Ireland but an international treaty between two sovereign Thursday 8 September 2016 states of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland? As such, can he tell us whether it is lodged 11 am with the European Union and, if so, what implications would the withdrawal of one of the parties from the Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of Truro. European Union have on the status of that international treaty? Brexit: Belfast Agreement Viscount Younger of Leckie: It is true what the noble Question Lord says: it is an interrelated agreement—it is power sharing for Northern Ireland and it is quite a complicated 11.06 am agreement, but there is no reason to suggest that the Tabled by Lord Rana outcome of the referendum means that the agreement needs to be revisited. Perhaps I can reassure the noble To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their Lord on that. The UK Government, Irish Government assessment of the impact of Brexit on the future of and Northern Ireland political parties are fully committed the Belfast Agreement. to upholding the agreement and its successors. Lord Dholakia (LD): My Lords, on behalf of the Lord Howell of Guildford (Con): My Lords, is my noble Lord, Lord Rana, and at his request, I beg leave noble friend aware that the Republic of Ireland has to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order shown some interest recently in associate membership Paper. of the Commonwealth? Do Her Majesty’s Government consider that this could be useful in resolving some of the border problems which are being discussed? If so, Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): My Lords, the willtheGovernmentconsiderpressingtheCommonwealth future of the Belfast agreement is not, and never has authorities to develop the relationship with the Republic been, in question. The UK’s exit from the EU does not of Ireland which is already blossoming quite strongly? change the commitment of the UK Government and the people of Northern Ireland to the Belfast agreement, its successors and the institutions that they establish. Viscount Younger of Leckie: This is a helpful comment The Government will make a success of the UK’s exit from my noble friend. I know that the new Secretary from the EU and continue to build a brighter, more of State for Northern Ireland has hit the ground secure future for Northern Ireland. running, if I may put it that way. He has been meeting a variety of parties to ensure that he gets into his new role. I will pass that message on. Lord Dholakia: My Lords, the Minister is aware that Northern Ireland has a border with another EU country. Under the Belfast agreement, most people Lord Rogan (UUP): My Lords, several Ministers living in Northern Ireland are entitled to dual citizenship. have repeatedly stated that our land frontier with the Many people already carry Irish passports and, since European Union will not be a hard border. What the referendum, many more—including unionists—have discussions have the Government had with the applied for Irish passports to protect their status as Government of the Republic of Ireland to determine EU citizens. Can the Minister explain how the the exact nature of this, our only land border? Government will work to secure the retention of EU citizens’ rights, including the free movement of goods Viscount Younger of Leckie: It is clearly a priority and people across the Irish border? Does he agree with and I can reassure the noble Lord that discussions are me that this is a unique situation affecting 1.8 million already taking place. There is—and always has been—a people and can he explain how Brexit affects them? strong will to preserve the common travel area and to ensure that we do not have a hard border. This is what Viscount Younger of Leckie: The noble Lord quite the Government are working towards. rightly points out the important rights afforded to the people of Northern Ireland under the Belfast agreement. Lord Hain (Lab): My Lords, is not the problem that Let me reaffirm that there is nothing in the outcome of this is the first time in history that Northern Ireland the referendum that undermines the Government’s and the Republic will be on opposite sides of a European rock-solid commitment to that agreement and its border? They joined together in 1973; although the successors. The Government recognise the very real common travel area has been in existence since the benefits of the common travel area; the open border early 1920s, there were tough security controls and for people and businesses has served us well. The border checks during the Troubles. Is it not unthinkable Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has been very that, in an era of mass refugee migration and jihadi clear that it is an absolute priority for him that we, terrorism, the only land border between the UK and “do not … see a return to the borders of the past”.—[Official the EU would be completely open? Report, Commons, 20/7/16; col. 815.] Viscount Younger of Leckie: The point is well made Lord Reid of Cardowan (Lab): Will the Minister by the noble Lord, who has much experience in this confirm that the Belfast agreement is not just an particular area. I want to reassure him that this is very 1125 Brexit: Belfast Agreement [LORDS] Employment: Remuneration 1126 [VISCOUNT YOUNGER OF LECKIE] The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I thank the Minister much at the top of the agenda. On the one hand, we for her reply.