Simon Hoare debates involving the Northern Ireland Office during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hoare Excerpts
Wednesday 20th July 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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It is an important symbol for girls and young women when they can see women in positions such as Prime Minister and First Minister of Scotland. I respect the First Minister; we had a very constructive first meeting. There were certain issues on which we disagree and will continue to disagree, but we will work practically and pragmatically together.

It is important to deal with the issues of gender violence and domestic violence against women and girls. That is why the Government have—I led this as Home Secretary—a strategy to deal with violence against women and girls, which is now being taken on by my right hon. Friend the new Home Secretary. We have a good record on what we have done, for example, putting into operation domestic violence protection orders and the new coercive control offence, but there is always more to do and we will be doing that.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)
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I welcome my right hon. Friend to her place, and if it is not too untoward to say, I declare it as game, set and match to her this afternoon. Last week, when I met local National Farmers Union representatives in North Dorset, they understood precisely what we were doing in delivering on Brexit, but were keen to ensure that the needs of agriculture and British farmers are front and centre in those discussions and that their interests are not neglected. May I invite my right hon. Friend to make that commitment today?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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I am very happy to make the commitment that, as we look at the position we will take in the negotiations for the UK to leave the European Union, we will consult widely. I recognise that agriculture is a sector that is particularly affected by Brexit, and I can assure my hon. Friend that we will consult and listen to the views of farmers and others involved in the food industry and agricultural sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hoare Excerpts
Wednesday 20th January 2016

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Oliver Colvile Portrait Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)
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4. What steps the Government are taking to reduce cross-border crime in Northern Ireland.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)
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5. What steps the Government are taking to reduce cross-border crime in Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers Portrait The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa Villiers)
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Along with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, the United Kingdom Government recently announced the creation of a joint agency taskforce to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime. It will enhance law enforcement co-operation in relation to, for instance, crime linked to paramilitaries.

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Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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It does. The fresh start agreement allocates £25 million for tackling paramilitary-related crime and £3 million for a new monitoring body, but it provides substantial additional funds for more widely based shared society initiatives, which are also crucial to ending the influence of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland once and for all.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare
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We all know that, unfortunately, many organised crime groups on the island take advantage of the land border and commit the classic cross-border crimes of smuggling and excise evasion. The proceeds of those activities often go towards funding dissident groups. What efforts are my right hon. Friend and her ministerial team making to introduce preventive measures to eradicate such activities?

Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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In Northern Ireland, huge efforts are being made by the PSNI to prevent the border from being exploited by criminals, and those efforts will be enhanced by the new joint agency taskforce, building on the excellent work already done by the police services both north and south of the border in recent years.

Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hoare Excerpts
Wednesday 14th October 2015

(9 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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The Prime Minister has indicated that he is keen to seek further compensation for victims, but of course it is hard to negotiate with a Libyan Government that are not functioning or in existence. I know that a Select Committee of the House is looking at the arrangements made between Tony Blair’s Government and the then Libyan Government.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare (North Dorset) (Con)
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2. What steps she is taking to ensure that the Northern Ireland Executive’s financial position is sustainable.

Ben Wallace Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Ben Wallace)
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It is for the Executive to deliver a balanced Budget and sustainable finances. The Stormont House agreement provides a package of measures to help them achieve this. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, it is not extra money that will sort out this crisis; the local parties need to resolve welfare reform disagreements, deal with budgetary pressures and deliver public sector reform.

Simon Hoare Portrait Simon Hoare
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Does my hon. Friend accept that in principle it is not acceptable for any of the devolved Administrations simply to breach spending limits agreed with Her Majesty’s Government?

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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It is not acceptable for any devolved institution, or indeed any Whitehall Department, to breach spending limits agreed with the Treasury. For that reason, I urge the Northern Ireland parties to resolve their differences, implement the Stormont House agreement and take advantage of the economic package we put together last December to ensure that Northern Ireland goes from strength to strength.