The Government’s Legislative Programme (Northern Ireland) 2022-23

Wednesday 11th May 2022 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Brandon Lewis)]

The legislative programme for the third Session was outlined at the state opening of Parliament on Tuesday 10 May. This statement provides a summary of the programme and its application to Northern Ireland. It does not include draft Bills, Law Commission Bills or finance Bills.

This ambitious legislative programme underlines the importance that the Government place on the Union and Northern Ireland's integral part within it. It reinforces the Government commitment to grow the economy across the UK to help address the cost of living and create the conditions for more high-wage, high-skill jobs, delivering for people and businesses across Northern Ireland, as part of a strong United Kingdom.

It also builds on the unprecedented action the Government have taken to support individuals, businesses and communities to get the Northern Ireland economy back up and running. The Government are providing historic levels of funding for the Northern Ireland Executive which will receive on average £15 billion per year over the spending review period. This marks the largest funding settlement for Northern Ireland since devolution in 1998. The Executive will also receive an additional £47 million as a result of measures announced in the spring statement. The Executive can spend this funding as they see fit in devolved areas to benefit people in Northern Ireland.

The Government are also investing an additional £3.5 billion in Northern Ireland through the city and growth deal programme, the new deal for Northern Ireland, Peace Plus and the New Decade, New Approach financial package.

This financial boost, together with further funding streams and legislative action, will continue to lay the foundations for delivering prosperity, safety, ongoing support for communities right across Northern Ireland, and working with the Executive to ensure the effective delivery of public services.

My Department will also lead on two of the Bills within the legislative programme which have a specific focus on matters at the heart of Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will address the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past by providing better outcomes for victims, survivors and their families, giving veterans the protections they deserve and focusing on information recovery and reconciliation.

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill will deliver a carefully balanced package of identity and language measures as negotiated by the Northern Ireland parties under the New Decade, New Approach deal.

I will also shortly return to Parliament and lay regulations that will place a duty on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to make abortion services available as soon as is reasonably practicable: remove the need for Executive Committee approval before services can be commissioned and funded; and confer on me the power to do anything that a Northern Ireland Minister or Department could do to ensure that abortion services are provided in Northern Ireland to the standard decided by Parliament in 2019.

The Bills that will extend, in whole or in part, to Northern Ireland are listed below:

Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Bill of Rights

Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Bill

Brexit Freedoms Bill

Data Reform Bill

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

Energy Security Bill

Financial Services and Markets Bill

Harbours (Seafarers’ Remuneration) Bill

Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill

Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Media Bill

Modem Slavery Bill

National Security Bill

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

Online Safety Bill

Procurement Bill

Products Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill

Transport Bill

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill

In line with the Sewel Convention and associated practices, the Government will continue to work constructively with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers to secure the legislative consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly where achievable and appropriate.

[HCWS59]