Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Parades Commission on preparations for parading on 12 July 2015 in Belfast.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
Under the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, the Parades Commission is responsible for operational matters relating to parading, acting independently of Government. I do not discuss individual parading decisions with them. I have not therefore discussed their preparations for parades taking place on 12 July 2015 in Belfast. In recent weeks I have, however, discussed parades, including those taking place on 12 July, with the Chief Constable and the PSNI, and with a number of Northern Ireland’s political parties.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect on the local economy in Coleraine of the enterprise zone in that area.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
At Budget 2014, the Chancellor announced that businesses located within the Executive’s proposed pilot Enterprise Zone near Coleraine will benefit from Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) until 2020.
Implementing this measure is a matter for the Executive in Northern Ireland. I understand that work to finalise proposals is ongoing.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the provisions of the EU Referendum Bill on levels of investment in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The purpose of the Bill is to provide a legislative framework for a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. Giving people a vote on our future relationship with Europe was a Conservative manifesto commitment and was given substantial cross party support when voted on in Parliament.
Northern Ireland will continue to be a very competitive place for attracting inward investment. In his renegotiation with the EU, the Prime Minister intends to enhance the attractiveness of the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, as a destination for inward investment by securing reforms to reduce the risk of excessive or unnecessary regulation being imposed by the EU.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effect in Northern Ireland of welfare reform measures announced in the Queen's Speech in May 2015.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
Welfare reform is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the UK Government believes that Northern Ireland would benefit from agreement by the Executive to replace the current welfare system with one that rewards work, protects the vulnerable and is fairer to taxpayers, as we have done in Great Britain.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effects of policy announcements made in the Queen's Speech in May 2015 on child poverty in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
Tackling child poverty is a devolved issue. However, this government’s commitment to raise the personal allowance to £12,500 alongside measures to ensure that anyone who works for more than 30 hours on the national minimum wage is taken out of tax altogether will benefit those families most at risk from child poverty. The Government also believes that the introduction of welfare reform in Northern Ireland will help tackle child poverty by ensuring through Universal Credit, that work always pays.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of progress in closing the gender pay gap in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
In recent years the pay gap in Northern Ireland has continued to narrow. In Northern Ireland tackling the gender pay gap is mainly the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive Ministers but the Government is also playing its part.
The gender pay gap in the UK has fallen to its lowest level ever and has been virtually eliminated among full-time workers under the age of 40, but our goal must be to eliminate it and as the Conservative Manifesto states, “we will push business to do so.” The Government is tackling systemic pay inequalities through a range of measures including extending flexible working and introducing shared parental leave.
The Conservative Manifesto makes clear this Government’s commitment to “full, genuine gender equality” and states that “we will to require companies with more than 250 employees to publish the difference between the average pay of their male and female employees.”
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the gender pay gap in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
In recent years the pay gap in Northern Ireland has continued to narrow. In Northern Ireland tackling the gender pay gap is mainly the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive Ministers but the Government is also playing its part.
The gender pay gap in the UK has fallen to its lowest level ever and has been virtually eliminated among full-time workers under the age of 40, but our goal must be to eliminate it and as the Conservative Manifesto states, “we will push business to do so.” The Government is tackling systemic pay inequalities through a range of measures including extending flexible working and introducing shared parental leave.
The Conservative Manifesto makes clear this Government’s commitment to “full, genuine gender equality” and states that “we will to require companies with more than 250 employees to publish the difference between the average pay of their male and female employees.”
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has held with the Irish government on the potential implications of the European Union (Referendum) Bill on Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I regularly hold discussions with the Irish Government on a range of issues, including the UK Government’s approach to the EU and the forthcoming referendum.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of changes in technological skills and capacity of dissident republican groups and their potential effect on the peace process.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism remains severe. Dissident Republican groupings retain lethal intent and capability. The threat is being suppressed but the need for total vigilance remains. As we made clear in our Northern Ireland manifesto at the election we will always give the fullest possible backing to the brave men and women of the PSNI and MI5 who do such a superb job. Under this Government there will be no let-up in our efforts to ensure that terrorism never succeeds.
Asked by: Ivan Lewis (Independent - Bury South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Invest NI on the potential implications of the European Union (Referendum) Bill on investment to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently met the Chief Executive of Invest NI and discussed a range of issues in relation to the Northern Ireland economy, including foreign direct investment. I last met the Chief Executive when he and I took part in a seminar at the Japanese Embassy last week to promote investment in Northern Ireland.