Historical Enquiries Team Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Historical Enquiries Team

Baroness Primarolo Excerpts
Wednesday 7th March 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stephen Pound Portrait Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab)
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I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. I am sure that I speak for the whole House in saying that our profound sympathies are with him in the memory of Kenneth Smyth. There is a great deal of concern across the House about the time frame in which the HET—

Baroness Primarolo Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)
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Order. Will the hon. Gentleman turn around so that we can all hear him?

Stephen Pound Portrait Stephen Pound
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I apologise profoundly, Madam Deputy Speaker. There is a great deal of concern throughout the House about the time frame in which the HET conducts its inquiries. The Northern Ireland Assembly has requested that the Secretary of State hold multi-party talks on this subject. Does the hon. Gentleman agree with me that that seems to be a positive way forward, in accordance with the expressed formal wish of the Northern Ireland Assembly?