a negotiation with her conducted a negotiation with her majesty's treasury in that sort of way, i imagine they have quite tight pockets and they are difficult to get hold of and probably wouldn't want ongoing commentary, but i'm sure they will make it as public as they can when they can. and i thank —— | they can when they can. and i thank —— i think on the point about the east—west body, it's important it works with all parts of great britain. a, works with all parts of great britain. . ., ., , britain. can i congratulate my right honourable friend _ britain. can i congratulate my right honourable friend on _ britain. can i congratulate my right honourable friend on his— britain. can i congratulate my right honourable friend on his patience l britain. can i congratulate my right| honourable friend on his patience of this deal, the prime minister and the dup for negotiating such a tough and positive document. the northern ireland parties have been incredibly patient through the last months. i pay tribute to them. and i would like to put on record thanks to the labour party and the shadow secretary of state for the labour party for their support of the government's deal. this will be a huge relief to many across northern ireland who whether it is public

services, waiting lists or other elements of society have got to the end of their tether. and would he agree with me that this deal is a significant boost to the economy, to peace and to the union? flan significant boost to the economy, to peace and to the union? flow i significant boost to the economy, to peace and to the union?— peace and to the union? can i thank the former— peace and to the union? can i thank the former secretary _ peace and to the union? can i thank the former secretary of _ peace and to the union? can i thank the former secretary of state - peace and to the union? can i thank the former secretary of state for - the former secretary of state for his very kind comments. and yes, i absolutely believe this deal will bring greater prosperity to northern ireland. when i was given this role, ireland. when i was given this role, i was given three tasks. one was to help him find a route through the northern ireland protocol conundrum and that became the windsor framework. the second was to try and get stormont back up and running, so local people make decisions for their fellow people in local people make decisions for theirfellow people in northern ireland. and i would like to think we are getting there as well. in the third is to make northern ireland one of the most prosperous parts of

the united kingdom, and i think we can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion — can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion such _ can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion such as _ can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion such as this, _ can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion such as this, it - can all agree with that. mr speaker, an occasion such as this, it is - an occasion such as this, it is ordinary courteous to thank the minister or secretary of state for the statement that they make —— on occasions. may i on behalf of the right honourable member of lagan valley and on behalf of our party think the secretary of state most sincerely for his steadfast endurance in our negotiations, for his commitment to ensure we got to this stage and for not giving up on resolving the issues that have been an impediment to devolution operating sufficiently and properly in northern ireland. he will know that on monday evening, tuesday morning, our party took a decisive decision to move forward. and when we did so, we did it on the basis of what we know to be contained within the command paper published today. though we were told that the windsor framework could not be reopened, we

have succeeded. there we were told that there would be no change in the green lane, the green lane is gone. when we were told there would be no removal of barriers on trade between gb and northern ireland, we have removed all checks within the uk internal market system, apart from those ordinary required for criminality and the prevention of smuggling. and we were told that there would be no legal change to there would be no legal change to the windsor framework or the eu text. and yet, as part of the process of trust and commitment as we proceed, colleagues will have noticed just yesterday the publication of over 60 pages of legislative change to text on the european perspective that will allow the rest of the world products and the rest of the world products and the benefits of uk—wide trade deals to truly be available on a uk—wide basis. so we are very grateful to

the secretary of state, to the prime minister who was here and indeed, for the offers of support and commitment we have had from his majesty's loyal opposition and leader of the opposition himself. we are grateful for that. we are grateful that we have got to this place today, that we have turned the impossible into the possible. we have turned the undeliverable and we have turned the undeliverable and we have delivered it in this command paper. and so we are hopeful for the future, secretary of state, but he will know that our position is predicated on both the full and the faithful implementation of delivering what it is we have achieved. i would delivering what it is we have achieved. iwould be delivering what it is we have achieved. i would be very grateful if he could indicate in the spirit of trust that we have established and the process that needs to flow that not only today's command paper edges today's legislative changes were published, but that tomorrow, were published, but that tomorrow, we will see, subject to the leader of the house, the introduction of

and the passage of the legislation so crucially a part of this programme. so crucially a part of this programme-— so crucially a part of this rouramme. . ., ~ programme. can i thank the honourable _ programme. can i thank the honourable member - programme. can i thank the honourable member for - programme. can i thank the i honourable member for belfast programme. can i thank the - honourable member for belfast east. as i mentioned in my statement, he has been integral to what has been happening over the past few weeks and months and i really do enjoy working with him and i really look forward to working with him in the future. he mentions a host of things. he is quite right, the command paper is absolutely clear. we will provide clear legal direction to eliminate any physical checks when goods move within the uk internal market system, part from those required as part of a risk management approach to manage risk through criminality, abuse of the screen —— abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks. he also knows more than anyone that this deal is about safeguarding northern ireland's place in the union. we have set out what that involves and includes new measures on domestic legislation to a month —— to affirm unfettered access northern ireland's

constitutional position and structures and steps to ensure full benefits of the windsor framework felt by businesses and people. and the draft text he mentioned just now that has come forward, and alongside that, we can continue to show the joint solution is the uk and eu can deliver under the windsor framework. he asked me about a very specific question about timetable and i am committed to a timetable. in this government is committed to the timetable. i think everybody in this house should know in all transparency, i should confirm that it is unbelievably important that hopefully with the legal change for tomorrow, we can debate those two issues and they are passed because they are a fundamental part of the timetable leads to stormont�*s return. timetable leads to stormont's return. . . ., timetable leads to stormont's return. . , ., ,, return. can i welcome the progress that has been _ return. can i welcome the progress that has been made _ return. can i welcome the progress that has been made towards - that has been made towards restoration of power—sharing and thank the secretary of state and the dup for their dedicated work on

this. i'm sure there will be much to welcome in the papers published today and we will need to scrutinise them carefully in the 30 or so hours before we are asked to vote on them. one thing we know that they don't contain is a removal of northern ireland from the single market legislation. so will the secretary of state ensure that the government is committed to continuing the dialogue with the european union so that we can amend the windsor framework, so that we can restore democratic control over lawmaking in every part of our united kingdom? can i thank my right honourable friend and former secretary of state, one of the longest serving secretaries of state in this house, for her comments and questions. and she is absolutely right in all she says. in the command paper, which i do hope people will have the opportunity to read before tomorrow, thatis opportunity to read before tomorrow, that is quite some detail about what this deal is. but it is a

comprehensive deal. the sis tomorrow are two small parts of a much wider package contained within this deal, all outlined and detailed in the command paper. and she will also see i think to answer her question specifically an important change to section seven over the withdrawal act. because it now has a powerful democratic safeguard in the storm and break that the new assembly will have immediately at its fingertips. as the honourable members behind me know, i was married in county armagh at the very height of the troubles. and i heard the explosions and i saw the huge bomb damage and tragically, my wife's family lost a number of friends in the troubles. i served for 12 years in the scottish parliament and therefore, i do have some knowledge of devolution. so could i ask the secretary of state

to make it possible that there is a maximum liaison between a restored stormont, and i say good speed to that, a restored stormont and the devolved institutions such as the scottish parliament so the maximum benefit can be drawn from responsible working devolution? find responsible working devolution? and can i responsible working devolution? jifuc can i thank responsible working devolution? situc can i thank the responsible working devolution? fific can i thank the honourable gentleman for his question because he is absolutely right. i also know of his history. his story about his wife, he has mentioned it a number of times before and i thank him for his care and interest in all things northern ireland and all things union. and he's absolutely right and there is a body, the britisha? irish council, that does that at the highest level. where hopefully, at the next meeting, we will have first and deputy first minister is from northern ireland attend. with the other devolved members. this

northern ireland attend. with the other devolved members.- northern ireland attend. with the other devolved members. this is of treat other devolved members. this is of great constitutional _ other devolved members. this is of great constitutional significance, i great constitutional significance, yet made merely by statutory instrument are not acts of parliament. what restrictions have the eu agreed on their eu lawmaking over the new single market in northern ireland and what democratic improvements are being made to ensure divergences and to the stormont break in northern ireland to enable the united kingdom government to remove or veto the imposition of such eu laws? can i thank my right — imposition of such eu laws? ca�*i i thank my right honourable friend for his question. he and i have had a number of discussions over the years on these sorts of matters and his question today is very, very wise. as i mentioned earlier, we are amending section seven a of the european withdrawal act 2018. so there is a powerful now democratic safeguard that the new assembly will

have at its fingertips on the flow of eu law such as it is. i also want to point out and it is actually a very important point and thank the right honourable gentleman because i know the work he did to ensure section 38 was in the withdrawal act. and i hope he recognises that there is an addition in what we are doing which ads northern ireland's place in the united kingdom, and thatis place in the united kingdom, and that is a strong addition to that cause. indeed, his original clause has been a big part of the solution to this conundrum and i am truly grateful to him for it.— to this conundrum and i am truly grateful to him for it. thank you, mr speaker- _ grateful to him for it. thank you, mr speaker. despite _ grateful to him for it. thank you, mr speaker. despite the - grateful to him for it. thank you, mr speaker. despite the gains i grateful to him for it. thank you, . mr speaker. despite the gains which my party leader and deputy party leader have gained in these negotiations, the fact remains that in northern ireland, there are still eu manned border posts being built, which will create a border within

our own country. and when the northern ireland assembly sits, ministers and assembly members will be expected by law to stick to and implement laws which are made in brussels, which they have no say over and no ability to amend and no ability to stop. this is a result of this spineless, weak kneed, brexit betraying government refusing to take on the eu and its interference in northern ireland. the government has admitted there will be divergences in the future and on page 17 of the command paper, there is an indication there will be a legal requirement that new legislation is assessed as to whether it is impacting on trade between northern ireland and gb and if so, ministers have to make a statement. we had the minister's statement. we had the minister's statement only this week saying that that does not mean that the uk

government cannot introduce laws which diverged from the eu laws which diverged from the eu laws which apply in northern ireland. what is it? is northern ireland going to find it has got the ability to stay tied to the united kingdom or will the government proceed happily to change laws here, regardless of the impact it has on northern ireland? i regardless of the impact it has on northern ireland?— northern ireland? i thank the honourable _ northern ireland? i thank the honourable gentleman - northern ireland? i thank the honourable gentleman for - northern ireland? i thank the honourable gentleman for his question. there are a number of points to it. forgive me, some of the points he made were actually incorrect. there is going to be, we have always said, in the protocol bill, we said that there would be checks on goods going into the eu single market. i think every piece of legislation has said that we have proposed in this place has said that. but it will be the uk who are operating the uk internal market scheme. and on this, the fourth anniversary of leaving the european

union, i can tell him absolutely that this agreed package of measures will not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through brexit or through the windsor framework. it will not reduce our ability to diverged, not our commitment to do so, should it be in the interests of the united kingdom. he mentions clause 13 c of one of the statutory instruments. there is a swathe of things that happens behind—the—scenes —— happen behind the scenes before a bill is brought to this house and one of them which the honourable memberfor belfast east has complained to me before about is something called pbl, where we do a chamber of bills and the secretaries of state for scotland, northern ireland and wales attend that to state whether there is any particular adverse effect of the legislation being mooted. what we are saying and what the honourable gentleman rightly asks for is transparency. publishing a written ministerial statement when there is

a huge possibility of significant adverse effect to uk, gb, ni trade, publishing a written ministerial statement is not in any way what he says it is. statement is not in any way what he sa s it is. i, statement is not in any way what he sa s it is. . ., ., statement is not in any way what he sa sitis. . ., ., , says it is. can i congratulate my honourable _ says it is. can i congratulate my honourable friend _ says it is. can i congratulate my honourable friend and _ says it is. can i congratulate my honourable friend and my - says it is. can i congratulate my - honourable friend and my honourable friends in the dup. clearly, this is still a highly emotive issue and understandably so, because when we left the eu, i was promised and the house in the country was promised we would leave the eu as a united kingdom. —— and the country. northern ireland is part of the united kingdom. and as we have heard, they will still be subject to eu laws. so there is acts still very much grinding away which we must get rid of. what is unhelpful as the whisperings from sinn fein of unification at this highly, highly emotive time. can my right