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  • Kevan Jones – 2021 Speech on Storm Arwen

    Kevan Jones – 2021 Speech on Storm Arwen

    The speech made by Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for North Durham, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2021.

    First, I am disappointed that the Secretary of State is not here today to address us on this very important issue.

    There is something seriously wrong with Northern Powergrid—not with the engineers and individuals who are out restoring power but with the management and senior management of that company. The Secretary of State, during his visit, said that he met, as I know the Minister met, local managers, and I thank the Minister for his phone call on Friday morning. But in the past 10 days I have had constituents in Craghead, Stanley, High Handenhold, Edmondsley and parts of Chester-le-Street without power. Some have now had it restored, but Blackhouse, Edmondsley and parts of Craghead are still without.

    I ask the Minister to go back to the power company, as it cannot give the assurance that he has just given to those communities: it says on its own website that there is no date yet for restoring power in parts of my constituency. Constituents have had to experience sub-zero temperatures in terrible conditions. That has been made worse by Northern Powergrid.

    On the night of Friday 26 November, I understand that internally the company issued an emergency for County Durham. That was not transmitted to the local resilience forum until Wednesday 1 December, which only became apparent to the county council and other resilience forums when an enterprising council officer started plotting on a map how many homes were affected. What has made the situation worse is Northern Powergrid’s communications, which raised people’s expectations that power was coming on, so people have stayed in homes when they should not have done. Likewise, information now is still not good. I was even told last week by an employee of Northern Powergrid, “Just ignore what is on the website—it’s complete nonsense.” If they are saying that, what confidence can my constituents have in that information? The communication has been appalling and made things worse.

    The other thing that has made things worse—particularly in my constituency, parts of which are not rural, but are in towns—is the age of the components, so I will ask three quick questions. First, will the Minister do an urgent, independent assessment of the resilience of the grid, especially since we have the storm coming in tomorrow night? Secondly, what has been done since 2013? Thirdly, what can be done to force the company to pass information on to the bodies that need to know, including the resilience forums? What compensation or money will be put forward to Durham County Council and others for the money they have expended so far?

  • Greg Hands – 2021 Speech on Storm Arwen

    Greg Hands – 2021 Speech on Storm Arwen

    The speech made by Greg Hands, the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, in the House of Commons on 6 December 2021.

    As the House will know, the Secretary of State updated Members last week on how we are continuing to work to ensure that power is restored to people’s homes following Storm Arwen. We have provided a named contact for MPs, on request, for each network operator, which I was delighted to do personally with the right hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) on Friday morning.

    Storm Arwen was the worst storm in over 15 years in terms of the disruption and damage caused. Those most badly hit have been in northern England and Scotland, and some have now been without power for over a week. That has made life incredibly difficult and stressful for many residents, and I want to assure them that help is there.

    On Wednesday, I visited County Durham and on Friday I visited Aberdeenshire to see first-hand some of the devastation caused by Storm Arwen, and yesterday the Secretary of State was also in the north-east of England. I thank the engineers, the emergency workers and our armed forces who are on the ground for their incredibly hard work and perseverance in challenging conditions. We have removed the compensation limit to allow customers affected to claim up to £140 per day if they are without power.

    I am glad to say that 99.8% of those affected by the storm have had their power supply restored so far—but this is not good enough. It is completely unacceptable that about 1,600 of them were still in this position as of this morning, although the situation is improving each hour. The remaining areas affected are in the north-east of England, predominantly the Wear valley surrounding Eastgate, where I was on Wednesday. I have been assured by the network operators that all efforts are focused on having power restored to those households in the next days.

  • Sajid Javid – 2021 Comments on Drug Treatment Funding

    Sajid Javid – 2021 Comments on Drug Treatment Funding

    The comments made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 6 December 2021.

    This is a huge moment which will not only save lives but help level up the country.

    We’re investing a record amount into treatment services with money to break the cycle of drug use and to support communities by cutting the drug use which drives crime.

    Treatment services are just one part of the comprehensive strategy which includes helping people back to work, into permanent housing, and cracking down on supply.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2021 Comments on Vulnerable Children

    Bridget Phillipson – 2021 Comments on Vulnerable Children

    The comments made by Bridget Phillipson, the Shadow Education Secretary, on 6 December 2021.

    Arthur’s murder has horrified the nation – it is right that the Government conducts a national inquiry alongside the local safeguarding review.

    Ministers should set out the scope of this review in full as soon as possible.

    Nadhim Zahawi must act now to tackle a culture which sees failure as acceptable and set out a clear plan to achieve the target for every vulnerable child to receive high quality care, ensuring that such a monstrous crime can never happen again.

  • Steve Reed – 2021 Comments on Government Plans to Bypass Judicial Review Rulings

    Steve Reed – 2021 Comments on Government Plans to Bypass Judicial Review Rulings

    The comments made by Steve Reed, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 6 December 2021.

    After a week when No. 10 has behaved as though they are above the law when it comes to Covid regulations, we are now told they want to grant themselves the right to ignore the courts altogether.

    From the bedroom tax to the bombing of Yemen, the judicial review process exists so the public can challenge the Government and other public bodies when it suspects they have broken the law.

    Incredibly, the Government plans to subvert that process by taking on even more arbitrary powers, and in future change the law to comply with their decisions, rather than change their decisions to comply with the law.

    This is nothing to do with the sovereignty of Parliament, but all about the Henry VIII fantasies of a Prime Minister who thinks none of the rules the rest of us have to live by should ever be applied to him.

  • Owen Paterson – 2010 Statement on the Claudy Bombing

    Owen Paterson – 2010 Statement on the Claudy Bombing

    The statement made by Owen Paterson, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 24 August 2010.

    The Claudy bombing was a terrible atrocity carried out by terrorists during the bloodiest year of the Troubles.

    I absolutely condemn the actions of the terrorists who were responsible.

    It was a despicable and evil act carried out by despicable and evil people.

    My anger at the actions of those responsible for the attack is matched in strength by my sorrow that the survivors of the atrocity and the relatives of the dead did not see those responsible brought to justice for their crimes.

    I recognise, of course, that all those involved in combating terrorism at the time were making decisions in exceptionally difficult circumstances and under extreme pressure.

    The Claudy bombings took place during a month which also witnessed the end of a temporary IRA ceasefire, the Bloody Friday bombings, Operation Motorman and widespread civil disorder and violence.

    Nearly 100 people died in July 1972 alone, making it the most violent month in the most violent year of the Troubles.

    In relation to the interaction between the RUC, the then Secretary of State and the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland about Father Chesney, the Ombudsman’s report states that “the actions of the senior RUC Officers, in seeking and accepting the government’s assistance in dealing with the problem that Father Chesney’s alleged wrongdoing presented, was by definition a collusive act.”

    With respect to the government, the Ombudsman observes that the government was “asked by police to assist in resolving a matter of public interest. They had a legitimate interest in doing so. In the course of this enquiry the Police Ombudsman’s investigation found no evidence of any criminal intent on the part of any government minister or official.”

    In his conclusions, the Ombudsman finds that the RUC decision not to investigate Chesney was “wrong” and “contrary to a fundamental duty of police to investigate those suspected of criminality.”

    The PSNI have expressed their regret that opportunities to arrest and interview all of the suspects were not taken in 1972.

    For my part, on behalf of the government, I am profoundly sorry that Father Chesney was not properly investigated for his suspected involvement in this hideous crime, and that the victims and their families have been denied justice.

    In the course of their investigations both the PSNI and the Police Ombudsman have conducted enquiries with the Department. I can confirm that the Department’s files have been extensively searched and that all relevant documents were provided to the Ombudsman.

    The only document referring to discussions about Father Chesney is **the letter of 6th December 1972** quoted in the Ombudsman’s report.

    In the interests of transparency I am today publishing the document and will send a copy to the Public Record Office in Northern Ireland, the National Archives and the Linenhall Library.

  • Owen Paterson – 2011 Statement on the Robert Hamill Inquiry

    Owen Paterson – 2011 Statement on the Robert Hamill Inquiry

    The statement made by Owen Paterson, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the House of Commons on 28 February 2011.

    In my written statement of the 31 January 2011, I informed the House that following an announcement by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland that they planned to prosecute three individuals in connection with the death of Robert Hamill, I would not publish the report of the Robert Hamill Inquiry until these legal proceedings had concluded. Publishing the report while proceedings are ongoing would jeopardise the individuals’ right to a fair trial.

    I also set out the checking process which is required to meet the obligations on me in relation to Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and in relation to national security. I can confirm that this checking process has now been completed and I have received advice from the checking team which confirms that there is nothing in the report which, if published, could breach Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights by putting the lives or safety of individuals at risk, or put national security at risk. I am therefore satisfied that once legal proceedings have concluded, the report can be published in full. I have advised Sir Edwin Jowitt, the chairman of the inquiry, of this.

    I have also asked Sir Edwin to retain formal custody of the report in a secure location until the legal proceedings have concluded and it can be submitted to me and be published. The report has not been shown to me or to any other member of the government, or to any officials except the two members of the team which carried out the checking process. I have not been briefed on the contents of the report, nor have any officials other than those in the checking team.

    Again, I reassure the House that once the legal proceedings have concluded, I intend to publish the report in full and as soon as practicable. Once a timetable for publication becomes clear, I will update the House accordingly.

  • Owen Paterson – 2011 Comments on Aircraft Crash in Cork

    Owen Paterson – 2011 Comments on Aircraft Crash in Cork

    The comments made by Owen Paterson, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 10 February 2011.

    This is a terrible tragedy.

    I offer my profound condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of those killed and injured.

    I have spoken to our Ambassador in Dublin who is on his way to Cork and who will be working closely with the Irish authorities.

  • Owen Paterson – 2011 Statement on Patrick Finucane

    Owen Paterson – 2011 Statement on Patrick Finucane

    The statement made by Owen Paterson, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 11 January 2011.

    In my written statement of 11 November, I set out a period of two months during which I would receive representations as to whether it is in the public interest that I should establish a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.

    As part of this process, my officials have had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Finucane family and a further meeting will be arranged. In light of the fact that useful discussions are underway between the family and the government, I have decided, with the agreement of the family, to extend the period during which I will receive representations by two months.

    When this further period has concluded it remains my intention to consider the family’s views carefully and in detail, along with any other relevant representations I receive, before taking a decision as to whether or not it is in the public interest to hold a public inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane.

  • Owen Paterson – 2010 Statement on the Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007

    Owen Paterson – 2010 Statement on the Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007

    The statement made by Owen Paterson, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the House of Commons on 16 December 2010.

    I have laid before Parliament the Third Report of Robert Whalley CB, Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (the 2007 Act).

    This Third Report provides an assessment of the operation of sections 21 to 32 of the 2007 act and the procedures adopted by the Brigade Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade for receiving, investigating and responding to complaints. The report covers the period 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010.

    The report highlights the security situation in the past year and the activities of residual terrorist groups who have been dangerous and disruptive and remain heavily involved in organised crime. The Reviewer states that the police have had to deal with more threats and attacks this year, and this has led to a substantial increase (22%) in the use of stop and question and stop and search across the range of police powers. He also makes note of the heavy demand for the services of Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs).

    The Reviewer acknowledges that the Police have responded to his recommendation to further develop recording systems and notes some improvement from his limited sampling of the records; however, there is still some way to go in pursuit of best practice. He welcomes the development of electronic recording which the police are pursuing and the Thematic Review which is being conducted by the Human Rights advisor to the Policing Board into the comparative use of police powers and development of best practice. He comments that it will significantly compliment and enhance work in this area.

    Mr Whalley highlights the marked decrease in military complaints and notes that the departure of the Pumas of 230 Squadron RAF has significantly altered the pattern of military flying in Northern Ireland. He states that the complaints system is efficient and responsive and must continue to function as effectively as it does now. He also emphasises the importance of engaging complainants, and suggests that it should be standard practice to offer a visit to Aldergrove (if not a flight in a helicopter) when a repeat complaint is made. He recommends The Flying Station at Aldergrove should take it as a high priority task to keep the website on planned flying times up to date.

    The Chief Constable and the Brigade Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade have both welcomed the Independent Reviewer’s report and the recommendations made. I too would like to thank Robert Whalley for his work and for the recommendations contained in his third report. I will consider them carefully.