Tag: Vernon Coaker

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-12-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the investment rate in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Anna Soubry

The ONS only publishes investment data at a country level, for which the latest published data was in the 23^rd December Business Investment release, available on the ONS website. Investment data is unavailable on a regional basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has for consultation on proposed reforms to the UK’s human rights framework in the devolved regions; and what the form, timing and content of such consultation will be.

Dominic Raab

This Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. We will fully consult on our proposals before introducing legislation for a Bill of Rights and we will set out our proposals in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-01-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress has been made on the remaining legacy issues in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

During the talks last autumn, significant progress was made on how to implement the legacy bodies set out in the Stormont House Agreement. It was regrettable that agreement on all the legacy issues could not be reached during the talks process. I have, however, commenced a round of engagement with victims and others as we seek to achieve the consensus needed to bring forward legislation to address the outstanding legacy issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Government’s proposals to reform the UK’s human rights framework.

Dominic Raab

We continue to engage with the devolved administrations to deliver a modernised and reformed human rights framework for the whole of the United Kingdom. We are committed to consulting fully on our proposals prior to the introduction of any legislation and will announce further details in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-01-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she plans to commence talks on the remaining legacy issues in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I recently met the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors and the Victims and Survivors Forum and I have commenced a round of engagement with the political parties. I will continue to meet with victims and others as we seek to achieve the consensus needed to bring forward legislation to address the outstanding legacy issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reforms to the UK’s human rights framework on policing in Northern Ireland.

Dominic Raab

We will consider the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolved matters as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations. We will set out our proposals in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of allegations arising from documents stolen from RUC offices in Castlereagh in 2002 relating to the Shankill Road bombing in 1993; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

The previous Government initiated an inquiry into the implications falling from the loss of information from Castlereagh police station. This was conducted by Sir John Chilcot. The report made recommendations about how to avoid any similar incidents happening in the future.

In relation to allegations made about the Shankill bombing, responsibility for the murder of nine people in this attack, and injury to many others, rests with the terrorists who carried it out. It is also the case that the Chief Constable has stated that he believes that the RUC had no knowledge of the attack which could have enabled them to prevent it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the Government’s proposals to reform the UK human rights framework and its potential effects on policing in Northern Ireland.

Dominic Raab

We continue to engage with the devolved administrations to deliver a modernised and reformed human rights framework for the whole of the United Kingdom. We are committed to consulting fully on our proposals prior to the introduction of any legislation and will announce further details in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if the Government will provide additional funding for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to deal with legacy issues.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

Matters relating to policing and justice are devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. As a consequence, responsibility for funding policing and justice in Northern Ireland (including for Troubles-related issues) rests with the Northern Ireland Executive.

The budget for the Northern Ireland Executive includes funding from Her Majesty’s Treasury in accordance with its funding policy. The funding the Executive receives per capita from the UK Government is more than any other region or country in the UK – 25% above the UK average. All devolved allocation and spending decisions are a matter for the Executive.

Through the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, the UK Government has undertaken to provide financial packages giving the Executive up to £2.5 billion of additional spending power. This includes an additional £150 million to support the proposed new institutions to deal with the past.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she plans to take in response to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s statutory report into the murders at the Heights Bar, Loughinisland on 18 June 1994, published on 9 June 2016; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

What happened at Loughinisland in June 1994 was an act of unspeakable evil, for which there could be no possible justification. The whole House will want to pass on its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those affected by this appalling atrocity.

The Government accepts the Police Ombudsman’s Report and the Chief Constable’s response. We take any allegations of police misconduct very seriously and where there is evidence of wrongdoing it must be pursued – everyone is subject to the rule of law.

The Report is also very clear, however, that those responsible for this despicable attack were the UVF terrorist gang who planned it and carried it out. Nor did the police have prior knowledge of the attack which could have enabled them to prevent it.

The Chief Constable made clear in his report; “The PSNI remains firmly committed to apprehending those responsible for these murders and appeal to the community for information to allow us to do so.”

On behalf of the Government I echo that commitment and that appeal.