Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Laurence Robertson Excerpts
Wednesday 27th November 2013

(10 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Laurence Robertson Portrait Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con)
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What assessment has the Secretary of State made of whether all paramilitary organisations are observing ceasefires? Does she agree that if any are not doing so, they are betraying rather than serving the people they purport to represent?

Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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I completely agree, and I think that my hon. Friend puts it very well when he says that paramilitary groups that come off their ceasefire are betraying the communities they purport to represent. My understanding is that, at the moment, no paramilitary organisations have come off their ceasefire, although I am, of course, well aware of the concerns felt about individual members of the Ulster Volunteer Force who are involved in criminality in east Belfast. The police are taking action to counter that.