Speeches by Robinson.

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

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

“I do not mind who takes this question about the defence industry; it’s up to you. You will know that the Committee held an inquiry just prior to the general election and you will also know that there was a commitment in the “Safeguarding the Union” document about promoting and extolling the benefits of increasing defen…”

“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…”

“It is a separate session.”

“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…”

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

“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…”

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

“Pay half, pay twice. For the benefit of the Committee, it is important to get the distinctions right. The Paymaster General has indicated, and you reaffirmed this morning in Westminster Hall, the desire to see negotiations commence on a veterinary and SPS agreement in 2025. Is that on track and do you think those negot…”

“That is a bargain.”

“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?”

“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.”

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

“On legacy, very briefly, Secretary of State, I think that it is fair to say, and members of the Committee will acknowledge, that you are not responsible for the architecture that is before us. In fact, your party in opposition supported many of the proposals for change and amendments at the time of the passage of the B…”

“Secretary of State, these questions relate to whether your role is to be the Government’s champion in Northern Ireland or Northern Ireland’s champion within the Government. We are going to take evidence on this issue, but I can tell you that there is a greater density of farms that remain in sole ownership or family ow…”

“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 …”

“What about the end of this month?”

“Lebanon is in crisis, and my constituent Catherine Flanagan is in despair. Her three-year-old son David Nahle has been out of her care for the past two years. The Belfast High Court has indicated that he should be returned to his mother and has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of his father. However, when my const…”

“It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Jarrow and Gateshead East (Kate Osborne). In reflecting on the maiden speeches that we have heard this afternoon, I will just add a comment to what the hon. Member for Yeovil (Adam Dance) said in his Titanic analogy. As the Member of Parliament for Belfast East, I always r…”