Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 30 Nov 2020
Patrick Finucane: Supreme Court Judgment
"I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, and specifically the decision not to proceed with a full public inquiry at this time for the reasons that he outlined. Does he agree that there is so much more we can do to help individuals in Northern Ireland on both sides of …..."Scott Benton - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 18 Nov 2020
Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals
"Northern Ireland will always be as much a part of our United Kingdom as my constituency, so the notion of businesses in Ulster facing barriers to trade with those in Blackpool and elsewhere is completely unacceptable. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need “flexible and imaginative solutions” around Northern …..."Scott Benton - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Sep 2020
Northern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal Obligations
"This Government have been clear that they will work flat out during September to agree our future relationship with the EU. Does my right hon. Friend agree that there is no reason why these clarifications as to how the protocol is implemented should undermine our negotiations in any way whatsoever?..."Scott Benton - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Jun 2020
Abortion Regulations: Northern Ireland
"To follow on from the comments from the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart), which I completely endorse, there is an incredibly moving account by a 24-year-old lady, Heidi Crowter. Heidi said that the proposed regulations make her feel “unloved” as they permit abortion up to birth if a …..."Scott Benton - View Speech
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Written Question
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Asked by:
Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much has been spent on supporting pregnant women in Northern Ireland who have decided to keep their babies since 21 October 2019.
Answered by Robin Walker
Maternity and prenatal health is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland.
The Government recognises the importance of consulting with experts, counselling and other support services to support women and girls through any difficult decisions. This will be a matter for the Department of Health to take forward as part of its commissioning of abortion as a new healthcare service, once the regulations are laid in the UK Parliament shortly.
Written Question
Tuesday 17th March 2020
Asked by:
Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support and (b) promote the Ulster-Scots cultural heritage in communities throughout Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The devolved administration in Northern Ireland is primarily responsible for supporting and promoting languages, including Ulster-Scots. The New Decade, New Approach agreement contains important commitments for the Northern Ireland Executive to progress on supporting and promoting Ulster-Scots language and culture.
In reserved areas, such as broadcasting, the Government is committed to supporting Ulster- Scots as appropriate, and has ensured that the BBC Framework Agreement includes a specific clause which provides a clear commitment for the BBC to continue to deliver output in Ulster- Scots, and provides funding for the Ulster-Scots Broadcasting Fund (USBF).
The Government has also itself committed, under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, to supporting discussions with NI Screen to explore how the remit of the Ulster USBF can be broadened, and will increase funding to reflect any broadened remit. The Government will also, under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, work to recognise Ulster-Scots as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.