Speeches by Smith.

“To acknowledge the point on legacy that Brendan was making, that other police forces are not required to pay for historical legacy issues, this may be a slightly unfair question, but the conversation seems to go round in circles. The national Government give increasing devolution settlements overall to Northern Ireland…”

“Good morning, gents. It is good to have you back with us. I want to turn our attention to something that you mentioned in your answers: normalisation. I lived in Belfast between 2001 and 2008, first off the Donegall Road and then just off the Cregagh Road. Every time I would go back to see friends or family in the west…”

“Yes or no is fine.”

“Again, there is a distinction between the operation and the oversight. Clearly, from an oversight and strategic perspective, you must take an interest, as the board, in the overarching systems and processes.”

“You do not know how long after the publication—”

“Presumably you are cross-checking the systems that it has. Sorry, I was about to finish, but you have made me interested again.”

“Will the hon. Gentleman give way?”

“There are many things in the hon. Gentleman’s speech that I agree with, but as someone who grew up on the Clyde, does he welcomes the naval shipbuilding on the Clyde and the sales to Norway. Those who live in Scotland—I grew up 15 miles as the crow flies from Faslane—are also protected by the nuclear deterrent.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. Any debate in which we are talking about the health and wellbeing of children and young people requires us all to be measured in our remarks, not least in the context of a debate that has been so toxic at times. Our focus in clinical studies and in any treatme…”

“I warmly welcome the funding just announced, including for areas in my constituency—Budle bay, Belford and areas along the Coquet river. The national assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk assessment says that one in four homes are projected to be at risk of flooding by 2050. Will the Minister give us further ass…”

“7. What steps she is taking to help protect communities vulnerable to flooding.”

“The children of Belford primary school in my constituency recently wrote to me on a range of subjects. One of them said: “There are too many people using fossil fuels in Northumberland. It is hurting the earth’s surface and increasing global warming. Please can you encourage people to stop using fossil fuels and walk o…”

“Good morning, Secretary of State and Minister of State. Good to see you. We have spent a lot of time this morning quite rightly talking about the financial settlement for Northern Ireland. We have also talked about structural issues, for example around Stormont and the devolution settlement and how that operates. Secre…”

“I am referring to the whole package. We initially put in £250 million to deliver the new legacy framework. But at present we know that when it comes to the inquiries and the process of dealing with legacy—the new legacy commission—that often comes out of existing budgets. Should dealing with legacy ultimately come out …”

“Sticking with detentions in China, last week I had the great honour of meeting Grace Jin Drexel, the daughter of pastor Ezra Jin, who—along with 18 other pastors from Zion House Church—was arrested and detained by the Chinese authorities last October on the very vague charge of illegal use of information online. Basica…”

“The Minister has been very generous. On the specific point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton), similarly in Alnwick and Berwick, in my constituency, there is an issue to do with the diminution of high street banking. Only three years ago, there were three banks in Alnwick and …”

“Will the Minister give way?”

“I am absolutely open to the idea of having a broad category of those who need firearms for their jobs. Farmers in my constituency definitely need them, and that is my starting place, but I am very open to that category being wider than just farmers. The need for a register may be a reminder to the Government that it is…”

“As my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) said earlier, we need must base our decisions on evidence. That is why I welcome the fact that there is a consultation, but it should be a genuine consultation on the facts of the matter. Speaking of facts, I would expect every farmer in my constituency to own at lea…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Alec. I approached you beforehand to tell you that, unfortunately, I cannot be here at the end of the debate because of a Select Committee, so I apologise to the Minister. That is a genuine shame, because this has been one of the most productive and thoughtful West…”