The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Maria
Eagle): Northern Ireland has been proactive in tackling
the challenges associated with climate change. That includes
contributing to the UK climate change programme objectives and targets
as well as specific Northern Ireland actions such asthe
formulation of the Northern Ireland sustainable development strategy
and support for renewables through funding
packages.
Dr.
McCrea: What policies and strategies
have been developed by the Government to enable Northern Ireland to
adapt to the inevitable impact of climate change, and are the
Government considering introducing annual carbon reduction
targets?
Maria
Eagle: As the hon. Gentleman knows, the
Government are introducing legislation at Westminster to deal with
climate change. There are specific strengths and weaknesses to Northern
Ireland’s ability to produce energy and to make use of
alternative sources. The Secretary of State has made it clear that we
want to be an exemplar region, and that is why the sustainable
development strategy is focusing on developing alternative energy
sources and the Government have committed themselves, through a
£59.2 million environmental renewable energy funding package
over the current two-year period, to developing such alternative
technology. Lady
Hermon (North Down) (UUP): Would the Minister care to
comment on speculation that there are plans afoot in the Northern
Ireland Office for electricity generated by wind farms in Northern
Ireland to be used to supply the market in the Republic of
Ireland?
Maria
Eagle: The Department does have plans, as the hon. Lady
will know, to proceed with a single electricity market across the
entire island. To the extent that any generator, whether wind powered
or more traditional, can produce surplus electricity to sell, it will
be possible for that to be sold throughout that market. However, it is
important for our own security of supply that we have the capacity to
import energy and produce more of our own energy from alternative
sources, rather than just relying on fossil fuels, which, as everyone
knows, are running out.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Legislation5.
Sammy
Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP): How many
responses he received during the consultation on the sexual orientation
discrimination legislation expressing opposition to its introduction.
[105400] The
Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. David
Hanson): Three of the 373 responses to the consultation
document expressed outright opposition to the introduction of the
regulations, with most of the remaining respondents expressing concerns
about the extent of the religious exemption, but not outright
opposition.
Sammy
Wilson: The Minister will be aware of
the widespread concern among Christian groups about the implications of
the regulations for them, not because they wish to discriminate, but
because they wish to preserve the ability to exercise their beliefs and
lifestyles. He will also be aware of the opposition from the Northern
Ireland Affairs Committee to the process and to the timing of the
legislation. In the light of that, will he give a commitment that the
legislation will be passed to the Northern Ireland Assembly where it
should be properly dealt with, rather than to Parliament, where it will
be dealt with through an Order in Council ahead of legislation in the
rest of UK?
Mr.
Hanson: I am grateful to the hon. Gentlemanfor
raising those points. We have had a very full consultation on these
matters, and he will know that several points have been raised. The
Government have listened to those points; indeed, the Evangelical
Alliance has publicly acknowledged that the Office of the First
Minister and Deputy First Minister, which I currently represent, has
drafted an exemption that ensures that the alliance’s core
doctrinal beliefs are not underestimated, but taken into account. We
should progress with the regulations on 1 January, and it is fair and
proper that we do so. Goods and services should be provided on the
basis of equality to people who are gay or lesbian, and I shall proceed
with the regulations accordingly. In terms of the United Kingdom and of
England, Scotland and Wales, the British Government plan to bring in
the regulations shortly. We have had extensive consultation, which has
shown that we have a modicum of support for them, and I intend to bring
them forward accordingly.
Rev.
Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): Surely the Minister is
aware that the period for a playback forthe people of Northern
Ireland was not even within the reaches of that set by the Government.
Why is that? The Government say that we should have a certain number of
weeks or months to find out our views on such matters, but, on this
very issue, they have cut that time. What is more, there is grave
concern among all the Churches of Northern Ireland—it is not
often that they all agree, but on this they do—that this is a
matter of such momentum and will have such an influence on people that
consideration of it should at least run parallel with the time given to
it in the rest of the United Kingdom and that it should not be brought
forward, which is what the Minister has
done.
Mr.
Hanson: Section 62 of the Equality Act 2006has
given my Department the power to make the regulations, and that Act was
passed by both Houses of Parliament. We undertook a consultation
between29 July and 28 September, during which we received
extensive responses. In the light of that consultation, we have made
some changes to the regulations. We have tabled them before the House
and, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, he and members of his party
have prayed against them. I expect a debate not only in the House of
Commons, but in the other place in due course, when there will be an
opportunity to discuss the matter. There will be an opportunity to
decide accordingly in principle at that
stage.
Mark
Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP): Does the Minister accept that
although there is genuine apprehension on the part of some Church
groups, the exemptions and clarifications offered by the Government
mitigate many of the genuinely expressed concerns? Does he agree that
no one will be compromised or discriminated against because of their
religion, but also that no one should be discriminated against because
of anyone else’s religion?
Mr.
Hanson: I accept and fully support what my hon. Friend has
said. The purpose of the regulations is to ensure that people who enter
the marketplace to provide goods, facilities and services to members of
the
public do so on the basis of not being able to discriminate against
those who purchase them. That is a forward-looking, progressive and
morally based policy, and I commend it to the Committee. I hope that my
hon. Friends will support it in the debate that the right hon. Member
for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley) has
instigated. Mr.
Nigel Dodds (Belfast, North) (DUP): What is the rush here?
Given that the Government seem divided at the highest
level—there are reports that the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government opposes the regulations for England
and Wales and that the Government are therefore not bringing them
in—why does the Minister insist that they be brought forward in
Northern Ireland where there is the greatest opposition? He should
answer that and be clear and straightforward with the Committee. The
real reason is that he wants to avoid a devolved Assembly having powers
on the matter, even though he tells us all the time on other issues
that Members of the Legislative Assembly should take responsibility. He
is denying them the opportunity to do
so.
Mr.
Hanson: The key point that the hon. Gentleman has raised
relates to the fact that there have been more than 3,000 responses to
the consultation in Great Britain. That is much wider than the
responses to the consultation in Northern Ireland, which have basically
focused on one point: religious exemption. We have listened and made
changes, and, as I have said, the Evangelical Alliance has publicly
acknowledged that. We can prepare and make ready for the regulations,
and I do not see any reason for delay. That is why I am bringing them
forward. There will be an opportunity for debate in both Houses, and we
shall see what happens in due
course. School
Food6.
Mary
Creagh (Wakefield) (Lab): What steps he is
taking to promote healthy eating in schools in Northern Ireland.
[105401] The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Maria
Eagle): The Governmentare committed to encourage
and support healthy eating in schools and have invested additional
funding of£3 million to improve the quality of food
served in schools. Through that funding we are able to increase
spending on ingredients and to raise the quality, attractiveness and
nutritional content of the food being served. We only hope that
thereafter children in schools will eat
it.
Mary
Creagh: Will the entitlement of
children aged from 14 to 16 to learn how to cook, which was announced
by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in September, apply
to children in Northern Ireland? May I impress upon my hon. Friend the
Minister the need for her Department to respond to the Ofcom
consultation on banning junk food advertising aimed at children aged
under 16? It ends on 28 December and I hope that she will make the
views of her Department and the voice of Northern Ireland’s
children heard.
Maria
Eagle: On the latter point, it is tremendously important
to say that it is not just school meals that lead to obesity or ill
health through bad nutrition. There are other influences, of which
advertising can be one. We shall certainly examine all sources of food
in schools and not only school meals; we will take a look at tuck shops
and vending machines, as well. We will consider whether sweet and soft
drinks, confectionary and savoury snacks should be available, and we
intend to increase the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables and
ensure easy access to fresh, free drinking
water. It is important
for our children to be taught how to cook in the curriculum. We will
consider what lessons for the education system here arise from what is
happening in England. Royal
Irish
Regiment7.
Mr.
Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP):
What measures have been put in place to
assist those members of the Royal Irish Regiment who are being made
redundant under the security normalisation procedures to seek
alternative viable employment.
[105402] The
Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. David
Hanson): The Government are extremely grateful to the men
and women of the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) for the brave
contribution that they made over the years. The Government are
committed to doing all that we can to provide them with practical
support in making the transition to this new stage in their lives and
careers in civilian
life.
Mr.
Campbell: I welcome the Minister’s recognition of
the service of the members of the Royal Irish Regiment in Northern
Ireland. In view of that and of the fact that many people aged between
40 and their mid-50s who never served in the Royal Irish have
difficulty getting employment, is it not essential that Invest Northern
Ireland ensures that any difficulties that former Royal Irish personnel
encounter, especially given the security considerations that still
exist, should be taken into account in ensuring that they get secure,
viable
employment?
Mr.
Hanson: I agree entirely with the hon.
Gentleman. There should be financial support for former members of the
Royal Irish, and we have given £28,000 to those who were in
full-time service and £14,000 to those who were in part-time
service. However, money alone is not enough: we need to provide a
proper aftercare service to ensure that people can get back into the
employment market if they seek to do
so. The
Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my hon. Friend the
Member for Liverpool, Garston, through the Department for Employment
and Learning, is considering an aftercare package for members of the
Royal Irish, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry
of Defence, who has responsibility for armed forces personnel, is also
actively considering what can be done in that respect.
It is important that we help
and support the civilian staff of the Royal Irish as well, and a great
deal of work is being done at present through the devolved Assembly
Administration using the tools that they have at their disposal, and by
my right hon. and hon. Friends in the Ministry of
Defence.
Mr.
Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley) (DUP): The Minister
referred to the civilian staff associated with the Royal Irish regiment
who work in bases across Northern Ireland. Some of those staff will not
benefit from the redundancy provisions. For example, staff of the Navy,
Army and Air Force Institutes worked alongside the soldiers through all
the years of the troubles; they put their lives at risk when they went
on to military bases in Northern Ireland and were so-called legitimate
targets. Can the Government not do something for them, as they deserve
some form of recognition, not least
financial?
Mr.
Hanson: I hope that the hon. Gentleman
accepts that the packages are MOD packages, and that I am taking this
question on behalf of my colleague in the Ministry of Defence. Yes, the
civilian staff will receive the same £14,000-plus redundancy
package as has been offered to part-time Royal Irish members. As I
mentioned, we are keen for the devolved Administration to ensure that
packages are specifically tailored to help civilian staff to
reintegrate into the community and obtain further employment. Ministers
are considering the question of entry to the new deal, and access to
information about local jobs and staff vacancies in the civil service
and the MOD elsewhere in Northern Ireland. I believe that there will be
detailed packages that will help, but if there are problems, I would be
grateful if the hon. Gentleman brought them to my attention or that of
my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and we will do our best to
liaise with the MOD on the
matter. PSNI8.
Mr.
Peter Robinson (Belfast, East) (DUP): How
many meetings the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have held
with Sinn Fein; and what assessment he has made of the level of support
Sinn Fein offers to (a) the PSNI and (b) the courts in Northern
Ireland.
[105403] The
Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. David
Hanson): The Police Service of Northern
Ireland and Sinn Fein representatives have held a number of meetings.
Sinn Fein support for the policing and justice institutions in Northern
Ireland is, as the hon. Gentleman will be aware, a crucial aspect of
the ongoing political process. The restoration of the devolved
institutions on 26 March is dependent on continued progress being made
towards that goal, consistent with the St. Andrews
agreement.
Mr.
Robinson: As one of this city’s Members of
Parliament, may I welcome you, Sir Alan, and your officials to the
historic city of Belfast, which has a great
future? When the
Minister left St. Andrews, did he expect that he might have been able
to give a tad more detail in answering a question such as that one at
this stage? Could he perhaps tell the Committee what tangible signs he
will be looking for after an ard fheis has taken place, which we hope
will deal with policing, that will demonstrate on-the-ground, real
engagement with the police and a commitment to support the police, the
courts and the rule of law?
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