Speeches by Robinson.

“Are you saying that the announcement that was made last Tuesday was already there and it is, in real terms, less than what was there the previous year?”

“That brings me to a point I think you were trying to open up earlier, which is what Government can do and the outlier impact. You say “outlier”; a number of European countries have brought forward support packages, for example. Hauliers have been the beneficiary. Agriculture has been a beneficiary of that. Consumers ha…”

“They are two separate things, but they are compatible.”

“Good morning to you all, gentlemen. David, can I come to you first if you do not mind? Credit to you for being the first person who has really sung and hummed along when giving evidence today; that was an entertaining spectacle. David, you were kind enough to meet me, and I am sure you have met some other political lea…”

“Yes, and receiving VAT on top of that again, so we have a duty differential that is higher in the United Kingdom, but there is also increased VAT on the increased cost that consumers and businesses are paying.”

“Thank you. That is quite stark.”

“You said there September, October and November. When we met five weeks ago, when we were talking about resolution within a week or two, you were saying this would stretch well into the autumn. We are now five weeks on and there is still no sign of a resolution. You said autumn five weeks ago; are you now saying autumn …”

“Thank you. That is quite stark.”

“I will support the hon. Gentleman’s request for us to back the amendment and not disagree with it, as the Government have asked, although I could easily be convinced that Governments should be making these decisions themselves, rather than Parliament making decisions on proscription or otherwise. Does he think that in …”

“The Prime Minister knows he is the main character in an ongoing national scandal. Given all the blame apportioned in his statement, it is incredible that only one person has lost their position. Does the Prime Minister also recognise that it is incredible to learn that in Northern Ireland a political appointment was ma…”

“Is it scheduled?”

“Just at the end of January, so three weeks.”

“Brendan, you might have to give a precis as to what actually happened—Simon Byrne and Ormeau Road and so on—because I am not sure there is awareness.”

“When was that?”

“Has every leader met you since you asked to see them at the start of the year?”

“The person asking you questions is one.”

“When do you think you understood that to be the case?”

“How long were the answers?”

“Does that not crystalise how there is no political dominance? Within a board of that nature, you will find people grouping together, agreeing with one another, disagreeing and then building a coherent consensus.”

“How long has that been the case?”