Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Field of Birkenhead Excerpts

Wednesday 30th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

7. If he will bring forward legislative proposals to maintain welfare mitigation payments in Northern Ireland after March 2020.

[Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Ind)]

8. If he will bring forward legislative proposals to maintain welfare mitigation payments in Northern Ireland after March 2020.

[The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

The mitigations in place were agreed by the previous Northern Ireland Executive and are sunsetted in March 2020. Ministers here in Westminster do not have the power to instruct the Northern Ireland civil service to take action or to direct spending in relation to devolved matters. Any extension of those mitigations will be a matter for the Northern Ireland civil service and restored Executive Ministers.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hurd]

This is an incredibly serious issue. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland benefit from these mitigations, and there is a sunset provision for the end of March 2020. The hon. Gentleman will know that alternative mechanisms are available to the devolved Administration to extend the mitigations, but that is not ideal. The best way would be to change the legal framework, which is best done in Northern Ireland by a Northern Ireland Executive, and the day when it is restored cannot come too soon.

[Frank Field]

Does the Minister agree that many families in Northern Ireland are particularly affected by the Government’s policy to cap benefits for families with more than two children? When he next sees the Prime Minister, will he ask for the lifting of the cap, which affects poor children throughout the whole United Kingdom, to be part of his election manifesto?

[Mr Hurd]

I understand the right hon. Gentleman’s point, and the Prime Minister has heard it directly.