Speeches by Swann.

“Facial recognition did get some coverage, because it was very much a trial in Holyhead. Is there an intention to roll that out in other ports or airports across GB, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland? What is your plan?”

“It does, Gordon, but I suppose it raises another. You mentioned the gaps that others are becoming aware of, and you are obviously aware of those gaps as well. What actions are you and law enforcement taking to close those gaps at speed?”

“A significant expectation of the common travel area via the land border being used for the purposes of both irregular migration and criminal activity has been reported. Has the scale or nature of that changed in recent years?”

“Well, you have been sidestepping this one, Secretary of State. With regard to the local growth fund, there are organisations back home that are now left with a number of days before we will see 400 people paid off and 11,000 system users who are getting economic inactivity support will see their programmes come to an e…”

“Secretary of State, the Irish Government have yet to produce anything on what they going to do regarding legislation in regard to the Troubles. You mentioned to Mr Kohler about finding a balance. You also mentioned your memorandum of understanding with the Irish Government over this. When the Government bring forward a…”

“The PEACEPLUS funding has come out as an option for funding them. Why did you not meet them long before? Why not at the start of last year, when they were raising these alarm bells, rather than saying, “You’ve got £230 million now coming in Barnett consequentials and there are PEACEPLUS opportunities as well.” These or…”

“With regard to the timeline that you raised and the pressure on these organisations—we hear it said, “We’ve listened; we’re hearing”—these organisations have been raising alarm bells since December, really seriously, at the highest level they can, and you are meeting them tomorrow?”

“With regard to the working of that group with the Fiscal Council, is it complementary? Is it additional?”

“When that report comes out, who will take action on the findings or recommendations? Will it be solely up to the Ministers on the Northern Ireland Executive, or will the Treasury at that point be able to step in and challenge, reprimand or advise on better ways of spending—or will it be up to yourself?”

“Into all Departments?”

“Going back to Ms Murray’s original question about the open-book exercise, you said that Treasury officials will be going into each Department. Can you confirm that it is in fact Treasury officials that will go into each Department? When the original announcement was made, it was either Treasury officials or independent…”

“There were specific parties that she criticised, rather than the overall working of the entire Executive, so I would add a note of caution about picking out certain parts of that report. I want to take you back to the answer you gave to Ms Hanna with regard to Northern Ireland’s £1.97 billion underspend. You said it wa…”

“Secretary of State, I think you should look at all of Baroness Hallett’s comments with regard to the functionality of the Executive during the pandemic, because she did pick out good examples of working as well.”

“First, may I join the commemoration of Jeane Freeman, having served with her during her period as Scottish Health Secretary? The question I asked was actually about whether the Secretary of State for Scotland had met the Scottish Veterans Commissioner in respect of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. That legislation w…”

“2. What discussions he has had with the Scottish Veterans Commissioner on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.”

“I thank the Minister for meeting me to discuss the concerns raised by the voluntary community sector in Northern Ireland about how the fund will be split between capital and revenue. We are now looking at a fund that is more capital-heavy than revenue-heavy, and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young …”

“4. What plans he has for the delivery of the local growth fund in Northern Ireland.”

“Where do you see the failure with regard to that? I think specifically of the UK shared prosperity fund, which you raised—I know, Chair, that the Committee has looked at that. When you looked at Government announcements about that, they say they have been working in partnership—in collaboration—with the Northern Irelan…”

“On the one-stop shop approach, a number of organisations and representative bodies—you mentioned pharma and all the rest of it—have similar fears about working not just north-south but east-west. Is there enough co-ordination between those organisations to make sure we get the real benefit and it is not just an all-isl…”

“Where do you see the failure with regard to that? I think specifically of the UK shared prosperity fund, which you raised—I know, Chair, that the Committee has looked at that. When you looked at Government announcements about that, they say they have been working in partnership—in collaboration—with the Northern Irelan…”