Oral Answers to Questions

Pamela Nash Excerpts

Wednesday 15th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

2. What recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

[Pamela Nash (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)]

6. What recent discussions she has had on security in Northern Ireland.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mrs Villiers]

The future resourcing of the PSNI is certainly a matter of concern to many in this House. It is within the powers of the Department of Justice to introduce precepting, if it chose to do so. That does not require legislation or further devolution from this House; it is a matter for the Department to decide. Very constructive discussions are under way between the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Department of Justice and the PSNI, with a view to resolving the resourcing question, in particular with regard to the comprehensive spending review year 2015-16.

[Pamela Nash]

With the public rightly concerned after the stalemate reached in the Haass talks and the severe security threats faced by Christmas shoppers in Belfast, to which the Secretary of State referred, as well as the huge costs of £55,000 a day of policing contentious parades in Northern Ireland, will she tell us whether 2014 is really the right time to be cutting the funds to the PSNI, or are the Government going to reconsider that decision?

[Mrs Villiers]

The PSNI is actually receiving additional funds from the Government—£200 million over the current spending review period and about £30 million in 2015-16—and as I have said, discussions continue between the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Executive over whether further funding can be added from the Executive in 2015-16.