Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that EU structural funding for Northern Ireland is replaced by other Government funding after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government is committed to strengthening the Union, levelling up every part of the UK and has committed to replacing EU Structural Funds with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding and of providing clarity on the UKSPF. We remain committed to creating the UKSPF to succeed European structural funds and provide vital investment across the UK as we support the recovery, renewal and levelling up of local economies following Covid-19.
Now we have left the European Union, we have an opportunity to replace European structural funds with a UKSPF which binds together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. The 2019 Conservative Manifesto committed to, at minimum, matching current levels of funding for each nation from EU structural funds.
Over the coming weeks, the Government will be assessing the impact of Covid-19 and how best to support economic recovery. We will need to work closely as one United Kingdom to understand the changing needs of local and regional economies and tailor our response to the impact of Covid-19. We have a real opportunity through the UKSPF to design a fund that is driven by domestic priorities. The Government will set out further plans for the fund at the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Minister on plans to legislate for same-sex religious marriage.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not had any recent discussions with the First and deputy First Minister specifically on plans to legislate for same-sex religious marriage.
The Northern Ireland Executive is aware of the duty that the Government is under in section 8 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, which led to the making of The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019. These Regulations came into force on 13 January and legalised same-sex civil marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships in Northern Ireland.
We have been clear that there were two remaining areas we are committed to delivering on - same-sex religious marriage and conversion entitlements - following publicly consulting on these two issues earlier this year. We will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, following confirmation from the Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy MLA, that the working relationship with his officials should continue. We intend to make regulations on same-sex religious marriage as soon as possible before the end of 2020 to provide similar rights and protections to the law in other parts of the UK.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what support his Department is providing to (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) journalists in Northern Ireland to ensure that they receive sufficient protection in response to threats made against them in the course of doing their job.
Answered by Robin Walker
Journalists play a vital role in our society, as do the public representatives who have defended press freedoms. It is unacceptable that they should find themselves threatened for doing their job. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made this clear last month when he signed the public statement issued by the National Union of Journalists, calling for the freedom of the press to be respected and protected.
Plans for the National Committee and the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists are currently being developed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, but have been necessarily delayed as the Government turns its attention to supporting newspapers through the current Covid-19 crisis. However, the Committee and the Action Plan remain priorities for the UK Government.
Her Majesty’s Government gives the fullest possible support to efforts to tackle the threat from the groups involved in terrorism and paramilitarism in Northern Ireland, supporting the Police Service of Northern Ireland with additional security funding and the Northern Ireland Executive’s programme to tackle paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland works tirelessly to prevent crime and harm to individuals, including journalists, protect the vulnerable and detect those who commit crime and bring them before the courts.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government on a common approach to tackling the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The UK is committed to working with the Irish Government on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and we are communicating at all levels to ensure a joined-up approach. There have been regular discussions between Ministers and officials from the UK and Irish governments and from the Northern Ireland Executive, including a regular Quad meeting, most recently on 19 May, jointly chaired by the Tánaiste and I.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government’s lockdown measures on the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government continues to abide by its obligations under the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements and we are clearly committed to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government on our response to the COVD-19 pandemic. In recognition of the importance of the CTA, as well as the unique position of Northern Ireland, the UK Government’s measures on restrictions applying in respect of new arrivals into the UK will not apply to CTA routes.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what support the Government plans to provide to manufacturers in Northern Ireland whose supply chain is affected by a reduction in imports from China as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The UK Government is closely monitoring developments in relation to the potential impacts on the UK, including the Northern Ireland, economy.
The Government is advising businesses to build their resilience by reviewing their business continuity plans, developing an understanding on the potential impacts to their supply chains or other factors critical to their operations, and following the advice for employers available which is available on GOV.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the possible effect on (a) consumers and (b) the price of goods in Northern Ireland as a result of (i) Governments Brexit deal and (ii) a potential border in the Irish Sea.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
There will be no border down the Irish Sea. The Withdrawal Agreement means Northern Ireland and Great Britain remain part of one UK customs territory while Northern Ireland will continue to benefit from tariff free access to the UK Single Market.
The UK will ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and the Prime Minister has been clear that, beyond the limited changes introduced by the Protocol, there will be no changes to trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The Government will be considering the best way to implement the Protocol in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and will be discussing this with the EU in the Joint Committee and Specialised Committee created under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what scoping exercises his Department has commissioned on the potential for Foyle port to become a free port.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government consultation on Freeports was launched on 10 February 2020 and runs for ten weeks.
The Government wants all the nations of the UK to be able to share in the benefits of Freeports. As such, the Government is committed to working with all the Devolved Administrations to develop a Freeport policy that works for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, as well as England.