The Northern Ireland Office works closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on First World War Centenary Commemorations to ensure the Government’s programme of commemorations has reach and engagement in Northern Ireland. This includes supporting the introduction of the UK Government’s programme to mark the centenary of the Suffrage Movement. 14-18 NOW, the UK's art programme for the First World War centenary, is planning activity in Northern Ireland to mark this important centenary which we will fully support. I understand the devolved administration is also co-ordinating a programme of events in Northern Ireland to mark the centenary.

The Government believes that the Stormont House Agreement proposals represent the best means of addressing Northern Ireland’s past in ways that will be fair, balanced and proportionate. The next phase is to consult publicly on how to address the legacy of the past and move Northern Ireland forward, including details of how the new institutions could work in practice. A public consultation would provide everyone with an interest the opportunity to see the proposals and contribute to the discussion on the issues.

The Government wants to consult soon but wants this to happen at a time that will best build support and confidence in the new legacy institutions from across the community. I am reflecting carefully on the next steps for taking forward a consultation.

I received Mr Trevor Reaney’s advice on pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 December and intend to publish it shortly.

This Government has provided the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the additional resources they asked for and need to tackle the Northern Ireland related terrorism threat. This includes £160m in Additional Security Funding to PSNI over the current spending review period. On top of this, cross-government spending on counter-terrorism right across the UK will increase by 30 per cent in real terms over this Parliament.

I have a regular programme of engagement which includes community and faith groups. One of the regular topics of discussion is the restoration of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly.

I have asked Mr Trevor Reaney to provide me with advice on pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly by 15 December 2017. Our estimate of the direct cost of this exercise will not exceed £5,000 plus expenses. No members of Northern Ireland Office staff are dedicated to work on the advice, though I have offered Mr Reaney access to administrative and media enquiry support for his work.

I met the deputy Chief Minister, and Minister for EU Exit, the Hon. Dr Joseph Garcia MP on 21 February 2017 where we had a productive discussion on a range of issues, including those related to the land border with Ireland.

The new North/South electricity interconnector has been given planning approval in Ireland and a recommendation from the Planning and Appeals Commission in Northern Ireland is expected shortly.

Construction of the interconnector has been estimated at approximately three years.

We remain supportive of the development of a new North/South interconnector and recognise that there is strong support in Northern Ireland and Ireland to see this happen.

The Northern Ireland Office works closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on First World War Centenary Commemorations to ensure the Government’s programme of commemorations has reach and engagement in Northern Ireland, while promoting reconciliation and enhancing prospects for a peaceful, shared future.

My officials are also involved in the planning of local centenary commemorations by sitting on the Northern Ireland First World War Centenary Committee, chaired by the Rt Hon Member for Lagan Valley.

Discussions are therefore underway with key stakeholders in Northern Ireland on plans to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018.

I have asked Mr Trevor Reaney to provide me with advice on pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He will report to me by 15 December 2017. I do not wish to prejudge Mr Reaney’s advice and will consider his thoughts carefully.

The remit of the advice sought from Mr Trevor Reaney does include support and provision for the employment of Members’ staff. The full remit is set out in my letter to Mr Reaney and is available on the Northern Ireland Office website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659476/mla_pay_letter__scanned_.pdf

The economy in Northern Ireland remains strong. The unemployment rate is down to 4.0 per cent over the year, the lowest since the great recession in 2008, and those receiving unemployment-related benefits has decreased again, falling by more than 26,000 claimants since early 2010. More than 10,000 new jobs were created in Northern Ireland over the year, meaning more people with the security of a regular pay packet for themselves and their family.

We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. That is outlined in the Northern Ireland and Ireland Position Paper, published on 16 August 2017. We are positive about the opportunities that our departure presents to Northern Ireland – getting out into the world and doing business right across the globe, while at home building a UK that works for everyone. That is demonstrated by our desire to work with a restored Executive towards a comprehensive and ambitious set of City Deals for Northern Ireland, just as it is by the £4.7bn Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund that will help to deliver innovation, employment and growth right across the UK.

On behalf of the Government I have been engaging intensively with the parties and, as appropriate, the Irish Government towards the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland. The parties have made significant progress but some issues remain outstanding. Our focus now needs to be on finding a compromise on these issues. At present, I believe the parties are best placed to do this through direct discussion, with the support of the UK Government and the Irish Government in accordance with the three stranded approach.

I can confirm that I intend to publish Mr Reaney’s advice as to how we should approach pay and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the continued absence of an Executive.

I fully recognise the frustration felt by victims and survivors at the lack of progress in taking forward Sir Anthony Hart’s recommendations, and deeply regret that due to the lack of a devolved administration, there has been no movement on redress. I continue to believe that the best outcome for victims and survivors of child abuse is a fully functioning Executive where strategic decisions can be made in responding to Sir Anthony's report recognising that it was the Executive which commissioned this report.

I have regular meetings with the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service where we discuss a range of issues. He is aware the HIAI remains a devolved issue. The HIAI is one of the many reasons I remain determined to continue working with all Northern Ireland parties to get an Executive back up and running as soon as possible so that a response can be provided to Sir Anthony’s report at the earliest opportunity.

The inquiry will be a full statutory public inquiry, created under the 2005 Inquiries Act.

A further announcement will follow before the end of the year on its establishment.

I commend the work undertaken by foodbanks across the UK. I will certainly consider any formal invitation to visit the Storehouse North Down food bank that may be forthcoming. However, my primary focus at present is to continue working intensively with the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish Government to secure the restoration of inclusive, stable, devolved government in the interests of the entire community in Northern Ireland.

I and my Ministerial colleagues have had and will continue to have meetings with a range of individuals, groups and businesses across Northern Ireland, including border areas, to discuss a variety of issues including the impact and opportunities of the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The UK Government is determined to make a success of Brexit for the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland. We are committed to ensuring that the interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced through the development of specific solutions to address its unique circumstances.

I have been in regular contact with Bombardier over recent months, including a visit to the Belfast site last month. I hope to visit the site again soon following the welcome announcement of Bombardier’s prospective partnership agreement with Airbus on the C Series programme.

That announcement represents a significant step forward for the C Series and for the workforce in Northern Ireland. While there is some way to go before the deal is completed, Airbus has said that it expects the partnership to secure the C Series and its industrial operations in the UK, Canada and China. We will continue to engage with both Bombardier and Airbus to understand how we can help to best secure jobs in the United Kingdom.

My Rt Honourable Friend the Business Secretary made a statement on 17 October regarding the prospective partnership agreement, which fully reflected this Government’s commitment to supporting the jobs and livelihoods of the many skilled workers at Bombardier’s operations in Belfast.

Salaries and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are the responsibility of the Assembly and, under the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, are determined by the Independent Financial Review Panel. Any change to this arrangement at Westminster would require primary legislation. The Government’s overriding priority remains supporting the restoration of devolved government, as Northern Ireland’s future is best served by local decision-making based on partnership and agreement.