Speeches by Benn.

“I would not recognise that at all. We are working really closely. I am working closely with John Healey to make sure we get this right.”

“Yes, on a very close basis.”

“To look at the books relating to all areas of Northern Ireland Executive expenditure.”

“I have had a number of meetings myself, as have the Secretary of State for Defence and the Armed Forces Minister. There continues to be correspondence and meetings. A lot of work has gone into that over the course of the summer and the autumn.”

“As soon as we have a Committee stage date confirmed, the amendments will be published, in line with the normal requirements, a week before. The Secretary of State for Defence, the Armed Forces Minister and I have continued to engage with veterans’ organisations, and we recognise that veterans are looking for greater re…”

“It is Treasury officials.”

“Let’s take the component parts of this. There are public inquiries, which the Government fund. However, I have made it clear on a number of occasions that we will not address the question of legacy through a whole series of public inquiries. That is why I am currently seeking leave to appeal the decision of the Norther…”

“Are you referring in that latter question to the issue of disclosure?”

“I spend a lot of time reading and re-reading the clauses of the Bill, and I will continue to do so, if I may give you that assurance.”

“Well, I hope I have set out to the Committee’s satisfaction where the distinction lies.”

“As I was trying to explain to the Committee, it is not a budget allocation. There are two separate things here. There is the budget, which is set in the spending reviews and the figures are published, and what is called the cash requirement, which is the money that is actually transferred to the account. Someone listen…”

“Absolutely.”

“I think we are talking about two separate and distinct things here. One is about appointments, and appointments to the board fall to the Secretary of State. I think, for public confidence, it will be important that nobody is appointed to the board where anyone perceives there is a conflict of interest. When it comes to…”

“There are. Okay.”

“If I may add one point, there is an example of the issue you alluded to at the beginning of your question, Ms Eastwood, about the different Government Departments. The report by the inquiry on how covid was dealt with and what Lady Justice Hallett had to say had lessons for all parts of the United Kingdom—all. But I th…”

“They will report to the board on the work that they are undertaking. That is what is set out at the moment. Are there amendments proposing to change that?”

“The CEO will be there to report to the board.”

“Well, I look forward to seeing the result of that, too.”

“We will give careful consideration to the amendments that many Members have put down to the Bill. The Government, as the Prime Minister and I have indicated, is considering its own amendments, which will appear in due course and in time for Committee, particularly relating to veterans and providing further reassurance.…”

“You mean Committee stage, not Report stage—sorry. That remains to be seen, depending on how scheduling decisions are made.”