My Lords, it is a tragedy that the voice of the people of Northern Ireland is presently not being heard on this issue. While it is very good of the noble Lord to have raised this issue in this House—and I respect everything that he has said—because of the self-imposed...

My Lords, it is a tragedy that the voice of the people of Northern Ireland is presently not being heard on this issue. While it is very good of the noble Lord to have raised this issue in this House—and I respect everything that he has said—because of the self-imposed...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord McAvoy, for bringing this regret Motion before your Lordships’ House this evening, and I echo many of the points that he raised. On these Benches, we deeply regret that the Government brought forward these caps on child tax credits. We do, however,...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord McAvoy, for bringing this regret Motion before your Lordships’ House this evening, and I echo many of the points that he raised. On these Benches, we deeply regret that the Government brought forward these caps on child tax credits. We do, however,...

My Lords, in a recent blog to mark the 50th anniversary of the Social Policy Association—I declare an interest as its honorary president—the internationally respected Professor Emeritus of Social Policy, Jonathan Bradshaw, asked:

“What is the worst social security policy ever?”.

The answer was the two-child policy. He described it as discriminatory...

My Lords, in a recent blog to mark the 50th anniversary of the Social Policy Association—I declare an interest as its honorary president—the internationally respected Professor Emeritus of Social Policy, Jonathan Bradshaw, asked:

“What is the worst social security policy ever?”.

The answer was the two-child policy. He described it as discriminatory...

My Lords, I start by apologising to the House and to the noble Lord for my late arrival.

The noble Lord, Lord Patten, is correct that Northern Ireland has followed a policy of parity for decades. That ceased a couple of years ago, when spare room subsidy legislation came in—colloquially known...

My Lords, I start by apologising to the House and to the noble Lord for my late arrival.

The noble Lord, Lord Patten, is correct that Northern Ireland has followed a policy of parity for decades. That ceased a couple of years ago, when spare room subsidy legislation came in—colloquially known...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their contributions this evening, and I thank the noble Lord, Lord McAvoy, for bringing this Motion before the House. I will attempt to address each of the points that have been raised as best I can, but I will make a few general...

My Lords, I thank noble Lords for their contributions this evening, and I thank the noble Lord, Lord McAvoy, for bringing this Motion before the House. I will attempt to address each of the points that have been raised as best I can, but I will make a few general...

My Lords, I am moving this Motion to express the loyal Opposition’s regret that the Government have pushed through an ill-thought-through and detrimental policy without proper consideration of the specific context of law in Northern Ireland or of the women and professionals who will be affected by this policy.

The regulations...

My Lords, I am moving this Motion to express the loyal Opposition’s regret that the Government have pushed through an ill-thought-through and detrimental policy without proper consideration of the specific context of law in Northern Ireland or of the women and professionals who will be affected by this policy.

The regulations...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the many positive strands in his response and beg leave to withdraw the Motion.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the many positive strands in his response and beg leave to withdraw the Motion.

Lords motion to regret. Motion debated and withdrawn.

Lords motion to regret. Motion debated and withdrawn.

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chloe Smith) has today made the following statement:

In the light of recent questions in the House, I wish to set out the policy and respective responsibilities regarding the non-consensual conception exception to the policy to provide additional support...

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chloe Smith) has today made the following statement:

In the light of recent questions in the House, I wish to set out the policy and respective responsibilities regarding the non-consensual conception exception to the policy to provide additional support...

In the light of recent questions in the House, I wish to set out the policy and respective responsibilities regarding the non-consensual conception exception to the policy to provide additional support in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit, and its interaction with Northern Ireland criminal law.

There has been particular...

In the light of recent questions in the House, I wish to set out the policy and respective responsibilities regarding the non-consensual conception exception to the policy to provide additional support in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit, and its interaction with Northern Ireland criminal law.

There has been particular...

Welfare reforms in Northern Ireland. 86p.

Welfare reforms in Northern Ireland. 86p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on family incomes in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on family incomes in Northern Ireland.