Oral Answers to Questions

Daniel Kawczynski Excerpts

Wednesday 30th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con)]

5. What assessment he has made of the benefits to Northern Ireland of being part of the UK.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Robin Walker)]

As part of the world’s sixth largest economy, Northern Ireland benefits from sharing resources to fund public spending on defence, education and health, and from access to the UK’s unique international networks. It also benefits from the Government’s UK-wide policies, including recent increases in the national living wage and the personal allowance. As Conservatives and Unionists, we should always support the Union and Northern Ireland’s place within it.

[Daniel Kawczynski]

In an interview on Radio Ulster this morning, I reiterated our unwavering commitment to Ulster from the Tory Back Benches. I trust that the Minister agrees that, despite the DUP’s initial reservations about the withdrawal agreement, they will hopefully realise that it is in all our interests for it to be passed as soon as possible.

[Mr Walker]

I do agree with my hon. Friend. I think it is clear that this deal safeguards Northern Ireland’s place in the customs territory of the UK, safeguards the principle of consent, and safeguards the right of the Northern Ireland Assembly to opt out of future arrangements if it chooses. It absolutely safeguards Northern Ireland’s constitutional position as part of the United Kingdom.