Wednesday Volume 573 15 January 2014 No. 104 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 15 January 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/. 833 15 JANUARY 2014 834 to 2% yesterday. We will continue to give people support, House of Commons in particular with our triple lock on pensions that delivered the biggest ever single cash increase in the Wednesday 15 January 2014 state pension, and we will continue to deal with the deficit. The real threat to the cost of living would be a Labour Government, who would put up taxes and see The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock interest rates increased. PRAYERS 12. [901930] Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): Does the Secretary of State agree that the real way to deal with [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] cost of living issues is to pursue economic growth with a long-term strategy to rebalance the economy, and that that applies to Northern Ireland, particularly in Oral Answers to Questions engineering and manufacturing? Mrs Villiers: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The only way to achieve a sustainable increase in living NORTHERN IRELAND standards is to run the economy efficiently and effectively, and to have a credible plan to deal with the deficit. That The Secretary of State was asked— is the way we can keep interest rates low and deal with inflation, and that is the way we can make this country a Cost of Living wealthier place. 1. Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab): What steps she is taking to address the rising cost of living in Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Some disreputable people try to reduce the cost living by Northern Ireland. [901918] smuggling fuel across the border with the Republic of 4. John Robertson (Glasgow North West) (Lab): Ireland. What steps are being taken to combat this What steps she is taking to address the rising cost of menace? living in Northern Ireland. [901921] Mrs Villiers: There is very effective cross-border working. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa There is also very effective working between the Northern Villiers): The actions the Government are taking to help Ireland Executive and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. with the cost of living include freezing fuel duty, cutting We take this matter very seriously. My hon. Friend the income tax bills, delivering the biggest ever single cash Exchequer Secretary has been looking with care at the increase in the state pension and helping to keep interest different proposals for new marker technology. I expect rates low by dealing with the deficit. progress on that to be announced very soon. Ann McKechin: The Secretary of State may be aware Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): One in three people, that last year the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary in response to Shelter Northern Ireland questionnaires, Action confirmed that Belfast, with an expected loss of stated that this year they will struggle to pay their rent £840 per adult of working age, will be hit harder than or mortgage payments and that child care costs take up any other major city in Britain. Will she advise the a large part of their budget. What discussions has the House on what specific steps she is taking to address the Secretary of State had with the Department for Work cost of living, given the depth and scale of the problem and Pensions to raise the child care element for full-time in Northern Ireland? working families? Mrs Villiers: As I have said, the Government take this issue very seriously. That is why fuel duty today is Mrs Villiers: The introduction of universal credit in 20 pence per litre lower than it would have been if we Northern Ireland will make about 102,000 people better had stuck with the previous Government’s plans; that is off, according to Social Development Minister Nelson why we have cut income tax for about 618,000 people in McCausland, who also commented that that would lift Northern Ireland and taken 75,000 out of income tax 10,000 children out of poverty. Our welfare reforms are altogether; and that is why people on the minimum designed to incentivise work. Getting people into work wage will see their income tax bills halved by April. is the best way to deal with poverty and we will continue to push forward with welfare reform. John Robertson: I wonder whether the Secretary of State can tell us what her assessment is of the Advice NI Security social policy report, which confirms that over 11 food banks have opened in Northern Ireland since 2012. Is she happy with that? If not, what does she plan to do 2. Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) about it? (Con): What recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if she will Mrs Villiers: Of course it is a matter of regret that make a statement. [901919] anyone feels the need to go to a food bank, but the Government are doing everything they can to support 6. Pamela Nash (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): What people on low incomes with the cost of living. I hope recent discussions she has had on security in Northern the Opposition will welcome the fact that inflation fell Ireland. [901923] 835 Oral Answers15 JANUARY 2014 Oral Answers 836 The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab): If I may, Mr Speaker, I Villiers): The threat level in Northern Ireland remains would like to pay tribute to Paul Goggins, not only a severe, with persistent planning and targeting by terrorists, good friend of mine but a brilliant security Minister as illustrated by the attacks that took place before who served under me in Northern Ireland. His funeral Christmas. However, action by the Police Service of is tomorrow. Northern Ireland and its partners continues to keep How can the Secretary of State justify her answer to those groups under pressure. my hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Pamela Nash), given that the additional security budget, Oliver Colvile: Before Christmas, the Select Committee which the PSNI is entitled to apply for, has been halved on Northern Ireland Affairs went to Belfast and met this year compared with the past three years—and this the Parades Commission. We learnt about the budgetary at a time of rising dissident threats, as we saw in Belfast challenges facing the PSNI. Will my right hon. Friend city centre before Christmas? review giving the Northern Ireland Executive the same powers as all other parts of the UK to levy a policing precept? Mrs Villiers: It is just not true that it has been halved. The Government take very seriously their security responsibilities in Northern Ireland, which is why we Mrs Villiers: The future resourcing of the PSNI is have provided additional funds for the PSNI to deal certainly a matter of concern to many in this House. It with the deteriorating security situation we inherited is within the powers of the Department of Justice to from the previous Government. We will continue to be introduce precepting, if it chose to do so. That does not vigilant. In particular, we will continue to work closely require legislation or further devolution from this House; with Irish counterparts on deepening and strengthening it is a matter for the Department to decide. Very constructive the cross-border co-operation that is crucial to keeping discussions are underway between the Department of Northern Ireland safe and secure. Finance and Personnel, the Department of Justice and the PSNI, with a view to resolving the resourcing question, in particular with regard to the comprehensive spending Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): On policing review year 2015-16. and security and in the context of the recent Haass talks on the past, especially past terrorist crimes, will the Secretary of State take it from me that Martin McGuinness’s Pamela Nash: With the public rightly concerned after comments last night about extremism are seen by many the stalemate reached in the Haass talks and the severe on both sides of the community as not only untrue but security threats faced by Christmas shoppers in Belfast, a transparent attempt to distract from Sinn Fein’s abject to which the Secretary of State referred, as well as the lack of leadership in addressing its continued glorification huge costs of £55,000 a day of policing contentious of past terrorist crimes, as witnessed in Castlederg this parades in Northern Ireland, will she tell us whether summer, which is causing huge damage to community 2014 is really the right time to be cutting the funds to relations? Will she urge Sinn Fein to stop wallowing in the PSNI, or are the Government going to reconsider the filth of murder? that decision? Mrs Villiers: The PSNI is actually receiving additional Mrs Villiers: I encourage all party leaders to continue funds from the Government—£200 million over the working on the Haass issues. Perhaps the more important current spending review period and about £30 million thing to draw from last night’s meeting of party leaders in 2015-16—and as I have said, discussions continue was the welcome news that they would reassemble next between the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Executive week and that these discussions would continue. There over whether further funding can be added from the is an important opportunity here still to be seized by the Executive in 2015-16.