To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Parades: Northern Ireland
Monday 2nd March 2020

Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the work of the Parades Commission of Northern Ireland on normalising public processions.

Answered by Robin Walker

The Parades Commission continues to have the full support of the UK Government in fulfilling its role on the adjudication of Public Processions in Northern Ireland.

The Commission, which is the lawfully constituted body for making determinations on parading in Northern Ireland, operates independently of the Government in line with the provisions contained in the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998.


Written Question
Women's Rights: Northern Ireland
Thursday 21st March 2019

Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the report entitled, Women in Northern Ireland, UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Shadow Report, published by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in January 2019, what plans she has to increase women’s rights through increased access to family planning services.

Answered by Karen Bradley

The Government recognises the sensitivities of these issues and the strongly held views of stakeholders on all sides of the debate. The Government takes its obligations under the Convention seriously, including having had positive dialogues with the UN CEDAW Committee very recently, and carefully considering the contribution civil society groups and statutory agencies make to the process.

Given these issues are devolved, it is the Government's preference that any changes to the provision of healthcare, including in relation to abortion law in Northern Ireland, are addressed by a restored Executive and Assembly.