Ukraine Refugee Visas

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Thursday 31st March 2022 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has now elapsed. I understand that the Whip wishes to make a point.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My Lords, before we move on to the second UQ, I urge noble Lords to keep their questions very succinct and short—ideally just one question, possibly two—then hopefully my noble friend will be able to keep his answers short as well. The more Peers who can get in on this important subject, the better.

Judicial Review and Courts Bill

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Report stage
Thursday 31st March 2022 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

My Lords, I am aware that we are without the Minister, so shall we have a brief pause while he is rustled up? That will allow some people to escape the Room and, hopefully, we can track down the Minister. We are all just too efficient—that is why it has happened.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My Lords, in the absence of the Minister, who is not too far away, I suggest that the House do now adjourn until 5.10 pm.

Northern Ireland: Violence

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Tuesday 13th April 2021 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

We have been doing just this. The union is very important. We have said again and again that Northern Ireland is a firm part of the United Kingdom. On the noble Baroness’s question relating to east-west, I suspect that she is referring to the current challenges and the details that need to be sorted out as a result of Brexit. Much work has been done to ensure that food supplies, parcels et cetera are delivered to Northern Ireland from Great Britain and that supermarket shelves are full, as they should be.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has now elapsed. My apologies to the noble Lords, Lord Hain and Lord Dubs. We will have a brief pause to allow the Chamber to reassemble in readiness for the next business.

Northern Ireland: Victims’ Payment Scheme

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Wednesday 20th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I take note of my noble friend’s comment, but what counts is what is happening on the ground. Naomi Long and her board are taking forward the necessary processes to ensure that applications are made available to those victims who wish to apply.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Duncan of Springbank) (Con)]

Unfortunately, the time allowed for this Private Notice Question has now elapsed.

Northern Ireland: Payments to Victims of the Troubles

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Tuesday 6th October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the delivery of payments to victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My Lords, the UK Government brought forward legislation establishing a victims’ payment scheme in January. They did so both to fulfil their legal obligation and because they are committed to doing what they can to progress a scheme that acknowledges the harm caused to those people injured through no fault of their own during the Troubles. Implementation of the scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive. We will continue to prioritise supporting the Executive’s delivery of this scheme because victims have waited too long already.

[Lord Duncan of Springbank (Con)]

My Lords, I am conscious that, during this pandemic, these individuals will be shielding. Money should be in their hands by now and it is not. When I was pushing forward this legislation in this House, two things were clear—one, there should be backdated payments and, secondly, there should be interim payments based on a simple, basic formula. Can my noble friend confirm that these elements have not been lost sight of during this particular stage and that progress will be made in real time? Otherwise, there will be nobody to pay the money to.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My noble friend is absolutely right. Speed is of the essence, as I and other noble Lords said back in June. Now that the designation of the department has taken place, what matters is moving as quickly as possible to deliver for the victims. The Justice Minister has set out a potential timeframe and highlighted key deliverables, such as appointing members to the board and developing the IT systems and application forms.

Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Groups

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Monday 15th June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I agree, and the noble Lord will know that the campaign by the National Union of Journalists is important. Journalists play a vital role in Northern Ireland, and I say again that they must be free at all times to do their jobs without fear of violence. The Secretary of State made that clear last month when he signed the public statement issued by the National Union of Journalists.

[Lord Duncan of Springbank (Con) [V]]

My Lords, will my noble friend the Minister give a commitment to meet, as a matter of some urgency, representatives of the National Union of Journalists to discuss practical steps that can be taken to avoid endangerment of life?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I will certainly take that back to the Northern Ireland Office and speak to my noble friend about it offline. The PSNI works tirelessly to prevent crime and harm to individuals, including journalists, and it is important to bring those responsible before the courts. It has and must have our fullest possible support.

Northern Ireland: Victims Payment Scheme

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Duncan of Springbank

Wednesday 3rd June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

Yes, the noble and right reverend Lord is right. I am in no doubt and it is clear that the hurt and the suffering caused by decades of terrible violence have had a profound and deep-rooted impact on individuals and generations of families in Northern Ireland. As regards morality, the moral duty is implicit on all who are involved. Again—I know the Secretary of State would be nodding as I say this—I urge all parties to get together as soon as possible and expedite these payments.

[Lord Duncan of Springbank (Con)]

Noble Lords will recall the great efforts we went to in order to ensure that the payments could be made at the very earliest date. That date has now passed, and frankly that is shameful. We knew how much it was going to cost and the cost of administering it, and we have let the ball slip through our fingers. It is imperative now that the Secretary of State meets them urgently. This should be resolvable this week. Every single day is a day too long for those poor victims.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

That is right; my noble friend echoes what I have been saying. To clarify, the UK Government made the legislation establishing a victims payments scheme in January. They did so both to fulfil their legal obligation under the Act and because they are committed to doing what they can to progress the scheme, which has been delayed by political disagreements for too long. We must put those political disagreements to one side and go ahead as soon as possible and make these payments.