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“Government consideration of a congestion charge for Belfast is utterly ridiculous. Belfast has nothing like the public transport infrastructure that benefits other cities where such charging operates. In London commuters can take the tube, bus, overland rail services or a combination of the three.

By contrast, those who work in Belfast have to commute by car from constituencies such as mine because we simply don’t have adequate public transport.”

The North Down MP continued:

“This Bill was savaged in the House of Lords mainly because of its infringement on free speech. Applying commonsense, the Upper House made necessary changes to the legislation and I’ll be opposing any Government attempt to undo those changes.”

Citing experiences in Northern Ireland, the UUP Home Affairs Spokesperson continued:

“We must bear in mind that since 1987 we in Northern Ireland have had laws prohibiting incitement to religious hatred. But there hasn’t been a single successful prosecution in nearly twenty years –hardly a legal success.

“This Bill was savaged in the House of Lords mainly because of its infringement on free speech. Applying commonsense, the Upper House made necessary changes to the legislation and I’ll be opposing any Government attempt to undo those changes.”

Citing experiences in Northern Ireland, the UUP Home Affairs Spokesperson continued:

“We must bear in mind that since 1987 we in Northern Ireland have had laws prohibiting incitement to religious hatred. But there hasn’t been a single successful prosecution in nearly twenty years –hardly a legal success.

“I’m well aware that in November last year the Garda made additional resources available to tackle serious organised crime. Such resources do however need to be deployed effectively. Most serious organised crime is cross-border and most is paramilitary linked.

In recent days the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has confirmed that his view on the continued existence of paramilitary criminality is consistent with that of his senior detectives – it is still prevalent.”

Speaking from Westminster, the North Down MP continued:

“It doesn’t matter whether smuggling or other criminal operations are for the organisation itself or for personal gain, if the organisation’s structures are exploited to effect the crime. I intend to take the opportunity created by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee visit to Dublin to challenge Noel White, the Head of the Garda’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, on these issues.

“ASBOs are tailor-made for this type of nuisance. The anti-social behaviour of prostitutes loitering in a particular area can cause just as much fear and annoyance as yobs loitering in an area with menace. Both can be made subject of ASBOs and both can be banned from that area.”

The North Down MP confirmed that she had spoken to the relevant Home Office Minister, Fiona Mactaggart MP, about ensuring that Northern Ireland was not left behind the rest of the United Kingdom when it comes to new proposals to tackle the problems created by prostitution. Lady Hermon continued:

“This type of behaviour relies on prostitutes knowing where to find their so-called “clients”, and vice versa. If they are made subject of ASBOs and it’s made a criminal offence for them to go to their “place of work”, we will soon see how many are willing to risk a substantial custodial sentence.

“I’m very pleased my colleague, John Laird, has sought to introduce his Private Member’s Bill to remove 50/50. He has rightly taken advantage of the less restrictive Lords’ criteria for launching such Bills and could not have identified a better issue. I fully expect him to steer this Bill through the Lords, giving me an opportunity to take up the fight once again in the Commons.”

The UUP Home Affairs Spokesperson, who has consistently opposed 50/50 police recruitment, continued:

“This morally repugnant recruitment policy is vastly more expensive than its predecessor. Not only are hundreds of applicants suffering religious discrimination, but a much higher percentage of our taxes is being spent on implementing it.

Speaking after the Secretary of State’s announcement, she said: “My strong opposition to the OTRs legislation is already well documented. So, I’m absolutely delighted with the Government’s decision - even at this late stage - to withdraw this morally bankrupt piece of legislation. I remain disappointed, nevertheless, that Peter Hain refused to confirm that the Northern Ireland judiciary would never have operated the appalling scheme as originally proposed by the Bill.”

The Ulster Unionist MP continued: