To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on local airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on local airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) airport operators in Northern Ireland and Great Britain on the Airports Commission: Final Report, published in July 2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) airport operators in Northern Ireland and Great Britain on the Airports Commission: Final Report, published in July 2015.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations she has received on the effect on Northern Ireland of proposals for new runway capacity in the London area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations she has received on the effect on Northern Ireland of proposals for new runway capacity in the London area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has made to the Davies Commission on long-term airport capacity needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations she has made to the Davies Commission on long-term airport capacity needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations her Department has made to the European Commission about the ring fencing of airport slots for regional destinations.

[156481]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations her Department has made to the European Commission about the ring fencing of airport slots for regional destinations.

[156481]

I join others in thanking the Minister for the way that he presented the order. We have expressed before concerns about the way that Northern Ireland is governed and I do so again in the short time available to us to discuss the budget. The Order in Council procedure was put in...

I join others in thanking the Minister for the way that he presented the order. We have expressed before concerns about the way that Northern Ireland is governed and I do so again in the short time available to us to discuss the budget. The Order in Council procedure was put in...

I shall briefly reply to those questions. I fully agree that although we have four systems of education, by far the two largest are the Roman Catholic system and the state system. The other two are small in comparison: integrated to a certain extent and Irish language to an even smaller extent....

I shall briefly reply to those questions. I fully agree that although we have four systems of education, by far the two largest are the Roman Catholic system and the state system. The other two are small in comparison: integrated to a certain extent and Irish language to an even smaller extent....

I am very disappointed to hear that announcement, because most of us think the Civic Forum was a total waste of time.

I am very disappointed to hear that announcement, because most of us think the Civic Forum was a total waste of time.

As I said, the get-out there is that when the Northern Ireland Assembly returns, a decision can be taken on the forum’s future. I will not have to take it. The noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney can take it and argue the case. That is what it is all about. He disagrees with it,...

As I said, the get-out there is that when the Northern Ireland Assembly returns, a decision can be taken on the forum’s future. I will not have to take it. The noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney can take it and argue the case. That is what it is all about. He disagrees with it,...

No, it is not the same. The fact is, as I said, that Northern Ireland public expenditure per head is 29 per cent higher than the UK. That is much higher than the figures in Wales and Scotland.

No, it is not the same. The fact is, as I said, that Northern Ireland public expenditure per head is 29 per cent higher than the UK. That is much higher than the figures in Wales and Scotland.

In fairness, we need further clarification. If it is not done on the basis of population, how is it done? How do we arrive at a figure of £15 million for pensions of people who work in a north/south body? How much is the southern Irish administration paying towards that £15 million?...

In fairness, we need further clarification. If it is not done on the basis of population, how is it done? How do we arrive at a figure of £15 million for pensions of people who work in a north/south body? How much is the southern Irish administration paying towards that £15 million?...

The short answer and the sincere answer to that has to be ““yes””. I put the issues the noble Lord raised with me last July and subsequently to the head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland; they did not just go into the department. So far as I know, I still have some...

The short answer and the sincere answer to that has to be ““yes””. I put the issues the noble Lord raised with me last July and subsequently to the head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland; they did not just go into the department. So far as I know, I still have some...

Before the noble Lord sits down, perhaps I may say that he is highly regarded and respected in Northern Ireland. I am grateful for the opportunity to make the point. I also understand that I have put forward a lot of small points which can only be responded to in a letter. However, I would like...

Before the noble Lord sits down, perhaps I may say that he is highly regarded and respected in Northern Ireland. I am grateful for the opportunity to make the point. I also understand that I have put forward a lot of small points which can only be responded to in a letter. However, I would like...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. If the money is only going to be made available for a stadium at the Maze, why did the Government advertise so that 12 different sites applied to be considered? Was that just a wasteful exercise, or were the Government always only going to...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. If the money is only going to be made available for a stadium at the Maze, why did the Government advertise so that 12 different sites applied to be considered? Was that just a wasteful exercise, or were the Government always only going to...

For clarification, is the Minister saying that if the stadium is not built in the Maze, the money earmarked for the national stadium in Northern Ireland will no longer be available?

For clarification, is the Minister saying that if the stadium is not built in the Maze, the money earmarked for the national stadium in Northern Ireland will no longer be available?

I honestly do not know. It would be better if I delivered a few paragraphs in a letter rather than doing it off the top of my head—or on my feet from my notes. I have not answered any of the questions of the noble Lord, Lord Laird, and I have almost come to the...

I honestly do not know. It would be better if I delivered a few paragraphs in a letter rather than doing it off the top of my head—or on my feet from my notes. I have not answered any of the questions of the noble Lord, Lord Laird, and I have almost come to the...

I welcome the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Shutt of Greetland about a potential inquiry for Waterways Ireland. It does not matter what the mechanism is, we need something that is seen to be fair. Every time any of us try to spot anything up about Waterways Ireland to the bodies,...

I welcome the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Shutt of Greetland about a potential inquiry for Waterways Ireland. It does not matter what the mechanism is, we need something that is seen to be fair. Every time any of us try to spot anything up about Waterways Ireland to the bodies,...

Somewhere in my notes it says that we have had an ““interesting debate””. I do not think that I need to refer to my notes for that; we have had an interesting debate. I will do my best, in my self-limited time, to respond to some of the points. I am afraid that I will...

Somewhere in my notes it says that we have had an ““interesting debate””. I do not think that I need to refer to my notes for that; we have had an interesting debate. I will do my best, in my self-limited time, to respond to some of the points. I am afraid that I will...

I thank the Minister for confirming the figures. In fact, they are even higher than I was expecting. I hope that a family of six people in County Offley or anywhere else in the Republic of Ireland recognises that this £1,250 means, on the simplicity of these figures, that they would have to send...

I thank the Minister for confirming the figures. In fact, they are even higher than I was expecting. I hope that a family of six people in County Offley or anywhere else in the Republic of Ireland recognises that this £1,250 means, on the simplicity of these figures, that they would have to send...