Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 27 Oct 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"On another important commitment, on abortion, we are clear that the cycle of inaction must end and we welcome the Secretary of State’s determination on this, but it is a serious matter that the legal obligations are still being ignored. Will the Minister confirm the report today in The Guardian …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Oct 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
"May I take this opportunity to welcome the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Bournemouth West (Conor Burns), to his place? I thank his predecessor, the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr Walker). He and I enjoyed a very cordial relationship, and I hope that the right hon. Member …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Oct 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
"I wholeheartedly agree with the right hon. Lady. She is right that the Welsh Language Act 1993 massively strengthened our culture in Wales and us as a country. I press the Minister on when we can expect that legislation to be forthcoming.
Our amendment would help to push forward progress …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Oct 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
"Labour helped to secure the precious Belfast/Good Friday agreement, and it remains one of our proudest political legacies. We therefore welcome attempts to safeguard power sharing and improve the sustainability of the Executive, the Assembly and the institutions, which collapsed following a political crisis and took three years to restart.
…..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Oct 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
"The House was promised the commissioning of an Irish language Act by the end of October 2021. That is where we are now, and it is nowhere to be seen. The Secretary of State’s refusal to give a date is a disgrace, and a betrayal of the people of Northern …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Oct 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
"Will the Secretary of State give way?..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
Written Question
Wednesday 8th September 2021
Asked by:
Alex Davies-Jones (Labour - Pontypridd)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the progress on the Independent Review of Education in Northern Ireland being undertaken by the Department of Education Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Independent Review of Education was an important commitment made in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, to be taken forward by the Northern Ireland Executive. It presents a real opportunity to ensure that Northern Ireland’s education system works for all children and young people, and helps promote integration and reconciliation at its core.
The Government welcomes the establishment of the Review, the publication of its Terms of Reference and the completion of the recruitment process for the Panel. We hope this progress will continue and look forward to the Panel’s findings, which will be for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider and take forward.
The Government firmly believes that greater integration within Northern Ireland’s education system is an essential aspect of the reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. That is why, as part of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, the Government committed to providing up to £500 million of funding to support shared and integrated education projects. The £400 million New Deal for Northern Ireland will also support initiatives to enable children from different community backgrounds to be educated together.
Written Question
Wednesday 8th September 2021
Asked by:
Alex Davies-Jones (Labour - Pontypridd)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the findings of the poll conducted by the Integrated Education Fund, published June 2021, what steps he is taking to increase access to integrated schools for children; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government firmly believes that greater integration within education is an essential aspect of the reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. That is why, as part of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, the Government committed to providing up to £500 million of funding to support shared and integrated education projects. This funding is supporting the building of 23 integrated schools and 5 shared campuses.
The £400 million New Deal for Northern Ireland will also support initiatives to enable children from different community backgrounds to be educated together. The Government is currently exploring ways in which this funding can best be deployed.
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 29 Jun 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)
"Q It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. Sir Jonathan, thank you for joining us this afternoon. Given your experience from the negotiations, are you concerned that the scope of powers is not clearly defined in the Bill and an Executive could essentially limp on …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 29 Jun 2021
Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)
"Q On that point, Sir Jonathan, the Bill provides for up to 24 weeks for the appointment of new Ministers before the obligation to call an Assembly election is triggered. What assessment do you make of the potential effectiveness of those time provisions?
Sir Jonathan Stephens: I think they …..."Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
View all Alex Davies-Jones (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)