Oral Answers to Questions

Steve McCabe Excerpts

Wednesday 30th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hurd]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his creativity in introducing that point, which I am sure will have been heard by the relevant Secretary of State. He raises an important point about the opportunity and need to talk up the UK economy and to talk up the opportunities to increase business and trade links across the UK internal market once we leave the EU.

[Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)]

7. If he will bring forward legislative proposals to maintain welfare mitigation payments in Northern Ireland after March 2020.

[Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Ind)]

8. If he will bring forward legislative proposals to maintain welfare mitigation payments in Northern Ireland after March 2020.

[Steve McCabe]

I am—[Interruption.] I am sure that the people of Selly Oak would like the welcome that the Prime Minister just received.

In view of the importance of this issue, will the Minister consider amending the Bill, because it is clear that if the people of Northern Ireland face this welfare cliff edge, there will be major problems from March next year?

[Mr Hurd]

This is an incredibly serious issue. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland benefit from these mitigations, and there is a sunset provision for the end of March 2020. The hon. Gentleman will know that alternative mechanisms are available to the devolved Administration to extend the mitigations, but that is not ideal. The best way would be to change the legal framework, which is best done in Northern Ireland by a Northern Ireland Executive, and the day when it is restored cannot come too soon.