I recently held bilateral discussions with party leaders in Belfast to talk about next steps in Northern Ireland and I will meet the parties again shortly. During our discussions, I reviewed the current position with them and explored how the restoration of devolution might be achieved while ensuring the good governance of Northern Ireland in the interim.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4110", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Staffordshire Moorlands"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Karen Bradley"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-09T13:04:20.043Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland Government"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What progress has been made on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4484", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alan Mak"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Havant"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alan Mak"} ], "uin" : "905149"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900289", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900289/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
This government has presided over a period where Economic output in Northern Ireland continues to rise, and the export market has rapidly expanded. Unemployment levels are close to an all-time low, and 52,000 more people are in work compared to 2010. The recent announcement by Bombardier is yet another example of growth in the economy.<\/p>
In my engagements across Northern Ireland I am consistently impressed by the talent and expertise on offer. However, there are crucial economic challenges to address and a restored Executive is essential to make the key strategic decisions needed to advance the Northern Ireland Economy.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4110", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Staffordshire Moorlands"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Karen Bradley"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "905156"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-09T14:06:49.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Economic Growth: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What recent assessment she has made of the level of growth in the Northern Ireland economy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4362", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Argar"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Charnwood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Edward Argar"} ], "uin" : "905151"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900290", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900290/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK as a whole will be leaving the Customs Union.<\/p>
This Government is committed to delivering a Brexit that upholds the Belfast Agreement and the commitments that we have made to the people of Northern Ireland to avoid a hard border with Ireland and any border down the Irish Sea.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4110", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley"}
}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "What the Government's policy is on customs arrangements on the island of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4672", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ged Killen"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutherglen and Hamilton West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ged Killen"}
], "uin" : "905152"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No Northern Ireland Office employee earns less than the living wage - £10.20 in London and £8.75 outside London.<\/p> The Northern Ireland Office is aligned to the Ministry of Justice for terms and conditions including pay.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1496", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Shailesh Vara"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Cambridgeshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Shailesh Vara"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-09T12:14:29.18Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office: Low Pay"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "What steps she is taking to improve wages and conditions for staff in her Department who are on low pay.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"}
], "uin" : "905153"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900292", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900292/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK as a whole will be leaving the Customs Union.<\/p> This Government is committed to delivering a Brexit that upholds the Belfast Agreement and the commitments that we have made to the people of Northern Ireland to avoid a hard border with Ireland and any border down the Irish Sea.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4110", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley"}
}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Trade with EU: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "What assessment she has made of the potential merits of Northern Ireland remaining in the Customs Union.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4634", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christine Jardine"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Christine Jardine"}
], "uin" : "905154"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900293", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/900293/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This government has presided over a period where Economic output in Northern Ireland continues to rise, and the export market has rapidly expanded. Unemployment levels are close to an all-time low, and 52,000 more people are in work compared to 2010. The recent announcement by Bombardier is yet another example of growth in the economy.<\/p> In my engagements across Northern Ireland I am consistently impressed by the talent and expertise on offer. However, there are crucial economic challenges to address and a restored Executive is essential to make the key strategic decisions needed to advance the Northern Ireland Economy.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4110", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Karen Bradley"}
}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Karen Bradley"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "905151"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-09T14:06:49.943Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Economic Growth: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "What recent assessment she has made of the level of growth in the Northern Ireland economy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maggie Throup"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Erewash"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Maggie Throup"}
], "uin" : "905156"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/897917", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/897917/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures closed on 23 January and the responses are being considered. The Government\u2019s response will be published in due course with a revised final impact assessment.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3950", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chatham and Aylesford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tracey Crouch"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "141342"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-15T12:07:45.34Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Gaming Machines"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the effect of a £2 maximum stake on B2 gaming machines on the number of (a) betting shop jobs that would potentially be lost and (b) betting shops that would potentially close.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1568", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Anne Main"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Anne Main"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/897918", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/897918/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "