Andy Allen
East Belfast · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for her question. There are two accessible toilet cubicles available to visitors on the ground floor, one designated for male use and one for female use. On the first floor, there is an additional accessible toilet facility that is available for use by all visitors.”
“Before I begin, I declare an interest as a trustee of a charity. Through that role, I have seen at first hand the valuable work that charities carry out and the responsibilities that fall on trustees to ensure that organisations are properly governed.”
“I thank the Member for her follow-up question. While no formal assessment has been undertaken to establish a direct correlation between facilities and attendance by people with disabilities, we regularly engage with and welcome to Parliament Buildings people with disabilities through a range of forums, including involvement with the Youth…”
“<BR /> <BR />Perhaps the most significant issue for scrutiny is the extent to which important operational detail is being transferred from primary legislation into regulations.”
“Nevertheless, it would be useful to know how concerns relating to such organisations, should they arise, would be addressed and how cooperation between regulators would operate should issues arise.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission installed a Changing Places facility in Parliament Buildings in 2011. Standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of many people, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.”
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“The deputy First Minister referenced Craigavon House, which is the subject of one of the commitments that I was thinking of. It is a shame that the UK Government have not delivered on that commitment. What engagement is the deputy First Minister having with Executive colleagues to ensure that Craigavon House is restored and protected from further vandalism such as we saw recently?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. It highlights many more questions, two of which I will ping out, if I may. Minister, what interim support is being provided to schools for a child who is waiting for that educational statement? I appreciate that you said that that is not the approach that we should be taking, but it is the current approach. What support is available to parents who are going through that statementing process to allow them to interact and make sure that the statement best meets the child's needs?”
“The Member, in her response to the Minister, said that he could have factored in an assumption. If the Minister were to do that, can the Member give a guarantee that we would not then be back here criticising the Minister for making an assumption?”
“Does the Member agree that this is and should be an Executive priority?”
“The Minister rightly referred to what people want us to do. Another area that I think of and, indeed, declare an interest in as a disabled person is access in society. The community infrastructure fund, for example, will improve community access, but has the Minister anything under active consideration for improving accessibility across Northern Ireland?”
“Twenty clubs are pleased to be moving forward to the next phase of the fund, but, equally, many more clubs are frustrated that they are not moving forward. Minister, what engagement is your Department having with those clubs to better understand their needs and to understand what the Department can do to support them?”
“Will the Minister expand on the specific measures that are in place in the Department to prevent such breaches?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. A large volume of complaints are received each year by the Trading Standards Service. Will the Minister give her assessment of the effectiveness of the Trading Standards Service? How many of those complaints resulted in prosecution?”
“I echo the First Minister's comments in sending our best wishes to Deborah. <BR /> <BR />First Minister, thank you for your answer. Will you provide clarification on the number of people who have applied but not been successful in receiving support under VSS and say why they were not successful?”
“It is about how we, as an Assembly, send a clear and united message that sectarian and racist attacks will not be tolerated and that the perpetrators will face robust justice.”
“<BR /> <BR />We cannot ignore the wider housing crisis, which the latter part of the motion highlights. As we have often heard in debate, individuals and families across Northern Ireland wait far too long for a secure and affordable home. I see that daily in my constituency office, as, I am sure, do other Members. That shortage creates pressure that others exploit, as I have already set out. The Minister has taken some positive steps, which are welcome, but no one would pretend that they are enough. I look forward to hearing what further action the Minister plans to take to deliver more homes. <BR /> <BR />This is not simply about housing or community relations in isolation.”
“Here lies a deeper problem: too often, victims feel that the justice system is not on their side. Cases drag on, resources are stretched, and confidence in the system is low. We need a justice system that is not only visible and quick to respond but sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. <BR /> <BR />Condemnation must be matched with action. A refreshed good relations strategy is long overdue, and, while it is welcome that the Executive Office is committed to bringing it forward, it cannot stand alone. We need a strong and properly resourced multi-agency approach, as the Member who spoke previously highlighted. Policing, housing, community safety and good relations overlap. When individuals and families are forced from their homes by intimidation, it is not just a housing matter but a justice matter.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. At the heart of it lies an unacceptable reality: in 2025, people in Northern Ireland are still being intimidated and targeted in their homes. Whether the attacks are sectarian or racist, they are criminal acts and a direct assault on the values of respect, tolerance and peace that so many worked hard to build. They are often carried out by self-appointed brigadiers and their henchmen to intimidate and control. That is shameful and must be condemned without hesitation, but words alone will never be enough. That is why anyone with information must come forward. The police cannot act on whispers; they need facts and evidence. <BR /> <BR />If we are serious about stopping the unacceptable behaviour, communities must be supported to play their part in bringing perpetrators to account.”
“As someone who knows the importance of sport and has had the honour of competing on an international stage, I welcome the fund. It will be welcomed by many grassroots clubs and organisations. Minister, how did the Department arrive at the determination to split the funding between government funding and the 35% required to be raised through Crowdfunder? Do you feel that that will potentially be a barrier for smaller clubs?”
“I congratulate all the clubs that were successful in this phase, and I recognise the frustration of many others. Moreover, it would be remiss of me not to commend the Minister for finally progressing that much-needed fund. <BR /> <BR />Minister, it has been said that the total estimated cost of the funding for projects will be £98 million. If, given the challenging budgetary landscape, you are unsuccessful in finding additional finances, notwithstanding what you highlighted about finding additional resource, what is the next phase of the process to look at taking forward those 20 projects? Not all of them can succeed out of the £36·2 million.”
“The Assembly Commission therefore believes that Mark McEwan has the appropriate skills and experience to undertake the responsibilities of commissioner effectively. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission was pleased to table the motion on the appointment of a Commissioner for Standards, and I commend to the House the nomination of Mark McEwan as the Commissioner for Standards.”
“<BR /> <BR />Having completed a rigorous recruitment competition, the Assembly Commission is delighted to nominate Mark McEwan as Commissioner for Standards for a period of five years, as set out in the 2011 Act. It is an important and significant role that requires expertise and sound judgement. Mark McEwan has 26 years' experience in policing, including serving in the Metropolitan Police in London and, most recently, as Assistant Chief Constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland before his retirement in 2024. From his extensive policing career, Mr McEwan not only has extensive experience of conducting investigations, including of sensitive and high-profile cases, but was involved in overseeing processes to uphold professional standards and deal with misconduct.”
“The Assembly has delegated that function to the Assembly Commission. The recruitment panel comprised the Speaker, on behalf of the Assembly Commission; the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Cathy Mason; the Clerk/Chief Executive, Lesley Hogg; and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards at Westminster, Daniel Greenberg CB. The Assembly Commission thanks the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges for her important involvement in the recruitment process. The Assembly Commission also particularly thanks Daniel Greenberg for giving of his time. The experience and expertise that he provided was of great assistance to the panel.”
“I thank the outgoing commissioner, Dr Melissa McCullough, for her service and dedication, particularly in managing her significant responsibilities amidst the additional challenges of the COVID pandemic and the period when the Assembly was not sitting. <BR /> <BR />The 2011 Act that provides for the office of the commissioner requires that the person to be appointed as Commissioner for Standards be:”
“The Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 provides for the role of a Commissioner for Standards. It also provides for the commissioner's independence and powers, which include the same powers as the Assembly to call for witnesses and documents. The commissioner's primary role is to carry out investigations of complaints relating to the Assembly's code of conduct and the ministerial code of conduct and to report the outcome of those investigations to the Assembly. The role of the commissioner is therefore an important part of the framework for ensuring that high standards of conduct in public life are upheld in the Assembly.”
“I thank the Member for his follow-up question. That would seem to be a sensible approach. Whilst I feel that that would be beneficial, I am here to give the Commission's corporate view. I am happy to take that back to the Commission and write to the Member.”
“I thank the Member for his question. On the home page of the Assembly Commission's intranet site, AssISt, Members can find a section called 'What's On', which provides information about events, all-party groups (APGs), education groups and other engagement activities happening in Parliament Buildings in a particular week. Specific room numbers and timings are also provided. The information is collated by the Communications Office and is regularly updated to ensure that it is accurate and complete. Any Member may attend APG meetings, and Members are alerted to education and outreach events depending on the nature of the activity. It is for the sponsor and organiser, not the Assembly Commission, to determine the guest list for each event booked under the sponsored events policy.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, what engagement have you had with community-based restorative justice organisations to help inform that view and, indeed, learn about their role?”
“Part of the problem, as we heard from my Committee colleague, is structure. The arts touch everything, from health to education to the economy, but responsibility sits in the Department for Communities, which has a vast and diverse portfolio. That is not a criticism of the Minister; it is just a reality. The criticism that I have heard is that the arts do not always get the attention and resources that they need. That has to change. We need joined-up thinking across Departments, and we need multi-year funding, as called for in the motion, to allow organisations to plan and grow. We need local councils to be brought in as proper partners, and we need to make sure that access to the arts reaches every community —.”
“He is right, but words need to be turned into action. According to the previously referenced Arts Council 10-year strategic plan, funding has fallen by almost half in real terms since 2011, at a time when demand and public support have only grown. Seventy-nine per cent of people here support public investment in the arts; 87% believe arts and creativity improve health and well-being; and 81% say that arts and creativity build communities. While the strategic plan makes a strong case throughout, the following paragraph from the chief executive's foreword captures the situation particularly well:”
“As we heard, the per head investment in the arts in Northern Ireland is the lowest anywhere in the United Kingdom, and it lags well behind that in the Republic of Ireland too. That gap is well known and long-standing and has repeatedly been highlighted by the sector as a serious and ongoing challenge. <BR /> <BR />Earlier this year, the Minister said in this very Chamber:”
“In preparing for today's debate, I read and reread a broad range of documents. I also liaised with my colleague Pete Wray, who was very helpful in bringing information together. We have heard a lot of the important information, but what stood out for me more than anything in what I read was the consistency of the message that Northern Ireland's arts sector is full of talent and potential but continues to be held back by underinvestment. The arts matter. They are not a luxury, as we have already heard. They are part of how we live, learn and connect, and they contribute directly to our economy, our health, our education system and just about every part of government. However, let us be honest. We are not treating the arts as the priority that they ought to be.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member accept that this is not just a current issue? In fact, it goes back decades, and his party held the Department for Social Development portfolio at one time.”
“In my intervention to the Member for North Antrim, I of course said that the Infrastructure Minister had not taken any new initiatives regarding this matter. In the interests of accuracy, it is perhaps important to say that she has suggested the idea of developer contributions, but that will not address the scale of the problem. We need to address how NI Water is funded.”
“The Member highlighted the scale of the problem, and he also highlighted, like many of us, the fact that 1,000 new homes will not be enough. Does he support our calls for "additional capital investment" to be secured by the Department for Communities so that it can deliver more homes?”
“Will the Member articulate how calling for increased funding to build more homes weakens the motion?”
“The Member highlights the issue for NI Water with water infrastructure. Does he accept that the issue does not appear to be cutting through to the Minister for Infrastructure, who has not brought forward any new initiatives?”
“That is where we need to be to deliver much-needed housing; we need to scale up housing delivery. It is forecast that we are going to deliver only 1,000 homes in this mandate. Perhaps that will increase, as it did previously, through the monitoring rounds. We have heard from the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations that we need to be building at least 2,200 homes as highlighted in the housing supply strategy. I have said previously in the Chamber, so it will come as no surprise, that I do not believe that even that is enough, but I am a realist and acknowledge that there are budgetary challenges, but we need to be doing all that we can. Housing is one of the most pressing issues that we need to address. It cuts across all Departments. If we can provide good quality secure housing, it will have significant health benefits.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our amendment also highlights the challenges with our existing infrastructure. There is no denying that, with our current infrastructure set-up, there are housing developments that simply cannot be taken forward due to the inability to connect to water or waste water infrastructure. Indeed, I have been contacted by housing associations highlighting the unaffordability or inviability of some schemes due to the cost of simply connecting. <BR /> <BR />Last, but by no means least, and perhaps, crucially, it:”
“Since the Minister took up his post, I have heard him state that he wants to implement borrowing powers for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Indeed, his predecessor, and the Minister who stepped in for a short time to replace his predecessor, brought forward the revitalisation or reclassification of the Housing Executive, and that is nearly five years in the making. We have not made enough progress on that front. I know and appreciate that negotiations have taken place. I have spoken to colleagues who have been part of those negotiations, through talks processes with the Treasury, about how difficult that is, but we must prioritise. It is imperative that the Communities Minister engages with the Finance Minister to bring further pace to those negotiations.”
“However, in the wider context of our housing crisis, those measures on their own are simply not enough. They will not address the housing crisis before us. They will not deliver enough homes for the many people who approach us, day and daily, looking for support to get a secure home. Those people are living in temporary accommodation, they are living in accommodation that is not suitable, and they are living in accommodation that needs significant investment, such as some of our Housing Executive properties. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment also laments the lack of progress. It is perhaps important to contextualise that. It laments the lack of progress on delivering borrowing powers for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. What do I mean when I say that? I mean that the Treasury is not giving this the urgency and priority that it deserves.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know only too well the challenges with temporary accommodation and the amount of money being spent on non-standard temporary accommodation and the pressures that that puts not only on budgets but on households. Many individuals and families are living in that non-standard temporary accommodation, which is wholly unsuitable for them and their families. <BR /> <BR />When we place the housing crisis in context, we can simply say that we need to build more homes. That is the true reality and scale of the crisis before us. I have outlined the measures that the Minister has brought forward, and his predecessors have brought forward others, such as working on the development of the housing supply strategy and other such initiatives.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to propose the amendment to the Opposition motion and thank them for tabling it. <BR /> <BR />There are a number of aspects to our amendment. Some of it is about stating the factual context of where we are today. It highlights the Minister's stated commitment to tackling homelessness and boosting housing supply. That is similar to what other Communities Ministers have highlighted during their tenures. It acknowledges various initiatives that the Minister has brought forward to date, such as the affordable rent scheme, often known as the intermediate rent offering; the £10 million allocation to the loan to acquire move-on accommodation fund; and the decision to allow the Housing Executive to use its reserves to purchase accommodation for temporary housing.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. As he said, it is long overdue. Would the Minister consider having an independent body or panel to oversee the implementation of the strategy and, where required, hold Departments to account?”
“The Minister said that his Department does not directly own any land or buildings that are surplus to requirement, but will he outline to the House whether he supports land or buildings that are no longer required for educational purposes being utilised to tackle our social and affordable housing crisis?”
“That is only right and is the main objective of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Whatever outcome is reached, the independent remuneration board will have made its decisions through its own process and judgement. Members should not lose sight of the fact that that is what they are voting for today: for salaries and pensions to be determined independently. It is difficult to see how anyone could reasonably object to that. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Assembly Commission, I commend the Bill to the Assembly and look forward to Members' contributions to the debate.”
“Once the Bill has passed and been granted Royal Assent, the role of the members of the Assembly Commission, and Members of the House, ends. The Clerk to the Assembly/Chief Executive will oversee a process to appoint the independent remuneration board. No Member or party will be involved in it. The debate and the decisions around what the levels of pensions and salaries for Members should be will therefore rest with the independent remuneration board, not the Assembly Commission or the Assembly.”
“I also thank the Chairperson, members and staff of the Ad Hoc Committee for the scrutiny of the Bill that they have undertaken in the past few months. The work that they have done, and the evidence that they have taken, has effectively dealt with some of the myths and false claims that have been made about the Bill. The Ad Hoc Committee brought forward an amendment to ensure that the independence of the remuneration board would be clearly reflected in the Bill's title. The Assembly Commission welcomes the Assembly's support for that amendment, as the core purpose of the Bill is to ensure that salaries of Members are determined independently. Throughout the Bill's development and scrutiny, the Assembly Commission's focus has been on ensuring that it upholds the independence of the board.”
“The Bill simply seeks to amend the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to remove the independent body's powers to make determinations about allowances and ensure consistency with the 2020 resolution. In passing the Bill, the Assembly is fulfilling its responsibility to regularise the position and provide legal clarity. <BR /> <BR />As the Bill has been so long in development, it is appropriate that I acknowledge all of the Assembly Commission members who have been involved in the process over the past almost 10 years. I particularly thank all the Assembly Commission officials who have undertaken the detailed work over that time to get us to the final version of the Bill.”
“The Assembly Commission welcomes the opportunity to bring the Bill back to the Assembly to conclude its legislative process. From the outset, the Assembly Commission has set out that the Bill is a technical Bill, dealing with the process of how the salaries and pensions of Members are determined. That has been clear as the Bill has progressed through the House. I am therefore not going to go back through all the technical aspects of the Bill today. The key point is that the Bill gives effect to the resolution that was passed in June 2020, when the Assembly voted to give the Assembly Commission the power to make determinations on Members' allowances and agreed that decisions on salaries and pensions should be made by an independent body. That has been the settled position of the Assembly for some five years.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and for the pace at which he moved to provide it. I welcome the U-turn by the Labour Government. The increase in the income threshold is something that my party pressed for, as, I know, did other parties. Minister, you highlighted the new income threshold, but what engagement have you had with the UK Government on increasing pension credit? If I am not taking liberties, Mr Deputy Speaker, will you, Minister, outline whether you will bid for additional money in the same way for non-pensioner households that also need support?”
“<BR /> <BR />The current housing build will deliver only 1,000 new starts this year, which, I repeat, is nowhere near enough. If additional capital funding is delivered, it is imperative that the Executive get around the table, look at how they can deliver increased investment in social and affordable housing and accompany that with the investment in water and waste water infrastructure that is required to enable that build.”
“They do not address the scale of the problem and do not deliver for the tens of thousands of people who are hoping that a broken system will come through for them. <BR /> <BR />As was said, tomorrow we will hear from the Chancellor about her comprehensive spending review. There is much speculation that it may well deliver an increased capital budget for this place. If it delivers increased capital funding, there is no doubt that the Executive must prioritise pressures. They must look at where that funding is most needed, and, for me, it is in housing. I have been an MLA for 10 years, and, I am sure that, like me, no Member can deny the fact that, in that time, they have been approached daily by constituents hoping that they can deliver housing for them. Frankly, in most cases, we cannot, because the housing system is not fit for purpose.”
“Across Northern Ireland, we have individuals and families not knowing where they are going to sleep tonight. We have children who are unable to attend school due to having been moved to temporary accommodation that is far too far away from a local school to which they can travel. We have individuals and families relying on the goodwill of their friends and families, pushing relationships close to the brink. We have debated multiple times in the House through Adjournment debates and private Members' motions how we have a housing crisis and that we need to provide more social and affordable housing to deal with that crisis. Whilst the interventions that the current Minister for Communities and his predecessors made are welcome, they do not go far enough.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, will you advise the House on what steps you are taking in consultation with your Executive colleagues to leverage surplus land or buildings for social and affordable housing?”