Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts

Wednesday 7th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

5. What steps her Department is taking to facilitate the restoration of devolved government.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Ind)]

9. What progress has been made on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

13. What progress has been made on the restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland.

--- Later in debate ---

[Karen Bradley]

I was clear at the outset that the talks would take weeks, not months. We have been in intensive discussions for two weeks now, and I hope to see the matter resolved as soon as possible.

[Charlie Elphicke]

Does the Secretary of State agree that in normal civil society a party that wins an election comes together and forms a Government, and parties that do not win an election and do not want to be in government go into opposition and hold that Government to account. Have we not now reached the stage in Northern Ireland where normal civil society ought to be operating?