Former DUP MLA for Belfast East
We remain committed to ensuring that victims and survivors receive the best services possible. The Victims and Survivors Service continues to be our front-line delivery body for the provision of these services. Some £14 million has been allocated to victims and survivors in this financial year, which is the highest ever opening budget for the sector. Victims and survivors groups who meet...
I have to say that, when we comment on the past, we all need to be very careful that we are not adding to the trauma that many live with daily. Some of those whom I met recently recounted to me that, when something is said — it may not be a big moment to the person who said it — the victims who hear it are deeply hurt, and many can be re-traumatised. I certainly do not agree that a line...
The focus of the ministerial subgroup on regional opportunities has, to date, been on the north-west, but it has always been our intention that, as its work progresses, it should consider the measures required to promote economic opportunity across other areas of Northern Ireland. That will include, in due course, infrastructural and economic needs and opportunities in the south-west,...
Since the minority ethnic development fund was introduced, it has supported hundreds of projects and groups and has been a key contributor to our growing and vibrant sector. Our support will continue into 2016-17 and beyond. There will be a call for applications to the 2016-17 minority ethnic development fund once all obligatory governance requirements have been met. We are aware that...
Mr Speaker, it is a great pleasure and a huge honour for me, in carrying out my last duty as nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, to nominate my good friend and successor as party leader, Mrs Arlene Foster, to be First Minister of Northern Ireland. I know that I am only permitted to make a formal proposal at this stage, but I want to say that Arlene has been an excellent...
Mr Speaker, it is with great humility, an enormous sense of responsibility and, indeed, the imagination of endless potential for Northern Ireland that I affirmed the Pledge of Office and take up this post today. I can think of no greater honour than to have the opportunity to serve my country and the people of Northern Ireland as their First Minister. I am truly humbled by the trust and...
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to make this statement. It is typical of the fairness and courtesy that you have demonstrated during your time in office that you provided me with this opportunity and made all the necessary arrangements. I can assure you that I do not intend to trespass on your generosity by speaking for too long. It has been a great privilege to...
Nobody should know that better than you.
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of the contribution of Sure Start children's centres to the objectives of his Department.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is his policy to support (a) the provision of direct payments to farmers under Pillar One of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and (b) a CAP budget of at least equivalent monetary value following reforms of the CAP with effect from 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage new entrants into agricultural careers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the UK's consumption of (a) liquid milk and dairy products and (b) beef and beef products was met by imports in the latest period for which figures are available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect on the UK's (a) food security and (b) environment of (i) decoupling and (ii) reduction in livestock numbers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress in the implementation in the UK of measures for the electronic tagging of sheep.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the meeting of the EU Fisheries Council, December 2009, when he expects to convene a meeting to consider the Common Fisheries Policy on Area 7 nephrops total allowable catch quota.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much it cost on average for the Rural Payments Agency to process a single payment in the latest period for which information is available.
