Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lady Hermon Excerpts
Wednesday 21st March 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Karen Bradley Portrait Karen Bradley
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I firmly believe that transparency is the important thing that we have here. We should all know where money is coming from, and I understand the hon. Gentleman’s comments.

Lady Hermon Portrait Lady Hermon (North Down) (Ind)
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I am very interested to hear the Secretary of State’s explanation of why the Northern Ireland Office deliberately and wilfully ignored the advice and recommendations of the Electoral Commission that the publication of donations to political parties in Northern Ireland should be backdated to 2014, not 2017.

Karen Bradley Portrait Karen Bradley
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There was no wilful ignoring or anything else. My predecessor consulted all the parties in Northern Ireland and there was broad support for July 2017.