Oral Answers to Questions

David Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 27th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Hilary Benn]

Advice is being provided about the general product safety regulation. Many companies already meet its terms, because they are exporting from the UK to the European Union. There are steps that some businesses will have to take, but I hope the impact will be very small, because there is a way to get through it.

[David Smith (North Northumberland) (Lab)]

8. What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on tackling violence against women and girls.

[Alistair Strathern (Hitchin) (Lab)]

10. What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on tackling violence against women and girls.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We want to get to PMQs, but we will not achieve it at this rate.

[David Smith]

According to Women’s Aid, a fifth of all crime in Northern Ireland is domestic abuse. We know that paramilitary organisations make reporting, confronting or escaping such abuse even more difficult. How are the Government working with the Northern Ireland Executive to break down those coercive barriers to support for women and girls?

[Fleur Anderson]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that question. Alongside the alarming femicide statistics, there are other factors that add to the complexity of gender-based violence in Northern Ireland, and it is important to recognise and take action to prevent these factors—paramilitarism is one of them. We need to tackle the grip of paramilitaries to end this abuse.

Oral Answers to Questions

David Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Deirdre Costigan (Ealing Southall) (Lab)]

7. Whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the budget sustainability plan.

[David Smith (North Northumberland) (Lab)]

10. Whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the budget sustainability plan.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

Where were we, Mr Speaker?

I welcome the publication of the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget sustainability plan—a positive and necessary step towards sustainable public finances—and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has agreed with the Northern Ireland Finance Minister that discussions over a long-term fiscal framework for Northern Ireland can now begin.

--- Later in debate ---

[Hilary Benn]

Given that the European convention on human rights is one of the foundations of the Good Friday agreement, I am frankly astonished that anyone who aspires to lead His Majesty’s Opposition should suggest that our country should leave the ECHR. It would be utterly irresponsible.

[David Smith]

I commend all those who worked to re-establish devolved government earlier this year at Stormont. It is now vital that the Northern Ireland Executive ensure that they have sustainable finances. Does the Secretary of State agree that revenue raising by the Northern Ireland Executive has an important part to play in delivering financial sustainability and stability to Northern Ireland?

[Hilary Benn]

I do. Indeed, raising £113 million was part of the deal that the last Government put in place as part of the £3.3 billion package that led to the restoration—well, that followed the restoration of the Executive. That includes delivering a balanced budget in the current year, and I am very encouraged by the statements of the Northern Ireland Finance Minister in that regard.