Speeches by Robinson.

“I commend the hon. Gentleman for the way in which he is engaging in this discussion, in the same spirit as the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater). We often hear that one of the safeguards associated with the Bill is that medical practitioners would be involved and that a diagnosis of a terminal illness, with …”

“I associate myself with the Minister of State’s remarks about Ken Reid. He was a colossus of Northern Ireland politics, and journalism more broadly across the country. I thank her for those comments. The Secretary of State will know that getting the city and growth deals back on track was good, following the disappoint…”

“The Secretary of State knows that city and growth deals are about economic growth and ensuring prosperity within Northern Ireland. Is he aware of the concerns among businesses in England, Wales and Scotland, who are saying that, as a result of the general product safety standards emanating from the European Union, they…”

“I was going to ask that as a supplementary.”

“There is no surety in that process, but we know that there is a cliff edge on veterinary medicines.”

“The Veterinary Medicines Working Group was established and has met on a number of occasions, but that cliff edge is fast approaching. How will you, as His Majesty’s Government, ensure the availability of the veterinary medicines that are so important for farmers, our rural community and food security and safety in Nort…”

“Those are the steps you envisage taking if no resolution is found.”

“If we move on, you have mentioned the Windsor framework on a number of occasions, but you have not referred in this session to “Safeguarding the Union”. To use Ulster parlance, we talk about the Windsor framework and you spoke about there being significant progress, but it did not get baby bathed. The Assembly lay in a…”

“It is a separate session.”

“To square the circle for the Committee on supplementaries, people in Northern Ireland were given a promise on changes on parcels and on customs, and they were to have been implemented already. You have delayed the implementation of those until March 2025. Alongside that, there has been a drawback on the commitment on U…”

“Please do. I do have a constituency interest.”

“I will just confirm that the national shipbuilding strategy in 2017 was very important. The ability to attract Government work to Northern Ireland was incredibly important. The allocation of the award for the fleet solid support ships remains crucial for the regeneration and renaissance of shipbuilding in Belfast. My f…”

“Yesterday Parliament passed the Second Reading of the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. You will know directly that you were involved in a process of reappointing a veterans commissioner for Northern Ireland. Can you share with the Committee where that process lies, how many applications you have received and what the ti…”

“Do you think it will be done by the end of this calendar year?”

“What about the end of this month?”

“I thank the Secretary of State for getting to the point where he talks about progress, but I remind him, as he will have heard this morning, that every Ulster MP in Westminster Hall today rails against the fundamental impediment to our constitutional position and the overarching framework that has been imposed upon us …”

“I agree with that. It does not answer the next question of course.”

“I am not going to parse partial or conditional, but it is one of the challenges on legacy. I think that you accept that too.”

“As am I. Would you or one of your colleagues like to explain the division of responsibilities for the Windsor framework between the Northern Ireland Office and the Cabinet Office?”

“That is a bargain.”