Building Safety

Debate between Jim Shannon and Robert Jenrick

Thursday 5th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Robert Jenrick]

The hon. Gentleman asks a pertinent question. In the first instance, we will be working with local authorities, which have such powers available to them. We will be supporting and guiding them to take robust action, but if we reach the end of the year and there are still building owners who have failed to participate—which would be shameful given that taxpayers’ money is available to them—I will consider all options available to us to ensure their compliance.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

Will the Secretary of State’s Department co-ordinate with the Northern Ireland permanent secretary to ensure that we, too, in Northern Ireland are securing improved safety measures for residents and for workers?

[Robert Jenrick]

I will.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Shannon and Robert Jenrick

Tuesday 11th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Robert Jenrick]

My right hon. Friend is nothing if not persistent, but we are not able to vary air passenger duty under EU state aid rules for different regions of the United Kingdom, including the south-west. That will change, or may, depending on the final state of things once we have left the European Union, but we have taken action in government: we have frozen short-haul rates for eight years in a row and exempted children going on family holidays, including to the south-west.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Minister for his response. He is well aware of the issue for Northern Ireland—the disadvantage that we have and the advantage that the Republic of Ireland has. Dublin airport has grown tremendously over the last period of time, so has he had any opportunity to speak to those in charge of Belfast International airport or Belfast City airport to gauge their opinion on how we can grow the economy?