Business of the House

Debate between Jim Allister and Lucy Powell

Thursday 31st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Powell]

I am sorry to hear of the decision in my hon. Friend’s constituency, but he will know that, unfortunately, many of the commitments made by the previous Government to support projects like the one he mentioned were commitments of fiction, because there was no money whatsoever allocated to them. This Government take supporting our communities incredibly seriously. That is why we have boosted local government funding, and why we are continuing our drive to devolution.

[Jim Allister (North Antrim) (TUV)]

The Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant and Animal Health) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024 have been laid before the House. They impose EU obligations on not just Northern Ireland but the whole United Kingdom. Could we have a debate in Government time on the back-door creep of EU regulations? The unelected House has already debated this matter; should not the elected House?

[Lucy Powell]

We have debated these matters at length over many years. I will look into the statutory instrument to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers, but as he knows, we are keen to ensure that controversial statutory instruments are considered on the Floor of the House, for greater scrutiny.