Northern Ireland Office

The Government is committed to retaining Part 4 of the Legacy Act, which includes the oral history and other measures stemming from the Stormont House Agreement.

The full implementation of Part 4 was difficult in the challenging context created by the Legacy Act’s other provisions, which were widely opposed by all Northern Ireland political parties, victims’ groups and key stakeholders. That is why this Government’s focus has necessarily been on addressing the problems with the Legacy Act by ensuring a reformed and strengthened Legacy Commission can deliver for victims. This in turn will create the space for Part 4 measures to make a meaningful impact.

While preliminary work on these measures continues, progress has been made on two related initiatives: an Official History relating to the Troubles, and a project to digitise and make freely available online Troubles-related records held by The National Archives. A first batch of approximately 1,000 records was published in April 2026 and we expect further announcements on these projects in the near future.

Intertrade UK plays a vital role as an advisory body supporting intra-UK trade and strengthening the UK internal market. The Government continues to value Intertrade UK’s written advice on a wide range of internal market trade issues which it has provided consistently since becoming operational in 2025.

Intertrade UK was awarded £2.25m of funding to be split evenly over three financial years at the Autumn 2025 Budget, and is now implementing the first year of its work programme. The UK Government looks forward to seeing Intertrade UK implement the events and research elements of its programme throughout the rest of this year.

Fleur Ravensbergen is undertaking this scoping exercise independently of the Government. To protect the independence of this role we have not been assessing her work as it progresses. We expect to receive her report in the Autumn and will take time to carefully and thoroughly consider it.

In accordance with the Good Friday Agreement and the Principle of Consent, Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK for as long as its people wish for it to be.

There is no clear basis to suggest that a majority of people in Northern Ireland presently wish to separate from the United Kingdom.

As set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the duty to call such a poll rests with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland alone.

The Government is committed to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill which will replace the flawed Legacy Act with a fair, transparent system that will allow victims and their families obtain the answers they have long sought, and provide robust and deliverable protections for our former service personnel.

The Government remains committed to an independent and objective examination of UK Government policy in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, and progress continues to be made. Supported by the project’s independent expert advisory panel, the recruitment of a team of historians is now in its final stages, and we expect to make further announcements on this in the near future. The total budget for the project is £3.6 million over its life cycle. The estimated timetable for completion is five years.

The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper, which includes delivering regular meetings of the East-West Council.

The most recent EWC meeting took place in January on the theme of Connectivity: improving East-West trade and community links across the UK. This meeting included four UK Government Ministers from three departments, demonstrating the Government’s broad and deep commitment to delivering for people in Northern Ireland. We intend that the Council will next meet in autumn 2026.

This Government continues to support Northern Ireland within the Union. We remain focused on delivering real, tangible benefits of the Union for everyone in Northern Ireland. This includes delivering economic growth in every postcode, providing practical support for families in Northern Ireland and across the UK, and working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 14 July (HL1786), which outlines how the referenced commitment is embedded throughout the continued work of the Government.

The implementation of several Government strategies have been accompanied by the publication of Northern Ireland-specific papers that evidence the mutual benefits of the Union and include long-term plans to support specific sectors. For instance, the launch of the Industrial Strategy in June 2025 was complemented by the publication of a Northern Ireland-specific paper. This paper analysed the Northern Ireland industrial sector, identified the key areas that add significant value to the UK as a whole, and outlined the long-term plan to support and grow the sector.

Through this approach, the Government is moving beyond high-level commitments to deliver tangible results that demonstrate the mutual benefits of Northern Ireland’s place in the Union.

Since July 2024, my Department has made several appointments of individuals from outside the civil service to public bodies and advisory roles.

Appointments made by the Northern Ireland Office generally fall within three categories: Public Appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Unregulated Public Appointments and Direct Ministerial Appointments.

Regulated appointments follow the strict processes set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments, while Direct Ministerial Appointments are made to provide short-term advisory functions, bringing specialist external expertise directly to Ministers.

In line with our transparency obligations, all such appointments are factually recorded and announced publicly on the Northern Ireland Office GOV.UK page:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/northern-ireland-office

Appointments made since July 2024 are as follows:

Regulated Public Appointments:

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Nazia Latif was appointed as Commissioner on 1 September 2024.

Geraldine McGahey was reappointed as Chief Commissioner from 1 March 2025.

Maureen Brunt, Siobhan Cullen, Ellen Finlay, Monica Fitzpatrick, John McAllister and Preeti Yellamaty were reappointed as Commissioners and Harry Robinson was appointed as Commissioner, with each to commence from 1 June 2025.

Stephen Matthews and Lisa Caldwell were reappointed as Commissioners from 1 March 2026.

A short term extension to the appointment of Neil Anderson as Deputy Chief Commissioner was announced with effect from 1 March 2026.

Kevin Doherty was appointed as a Commissioner with effect from 5 March 2026.

Colin Kennedy was appointed as a Deputy Chief Commissioner with effect from 1 September 2026.

Kristel Miller was appointed as a Commissioner with effect from 1 September 2026.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Mairead Holder was appointed as Commissioner on 1 September 2024.

Northern Ireland Office Non-Executive Board Member

Fiona Ross was reappointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Northern Ireland Office on 1 March 2026.

A short term extension to the appointment of Les Philpott as Lead Non-Executive Director to the NIO was announced with effect from 30 September 2026.

Unregulated Public Appointments:

Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland

David MacAnulty and Donald Leeson were appointed as Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 October 2025.

NI Veterans Commissioner's Office Commissioner Reappointment

David Johnstone was reappointed to a second term with effect from 1 September 2026.

Independent Reporting Commission

John McBurney, Mitchell Reis and Monica McWilliams had their appointments as Commissioners extended with effect from 1 October 2026.

Direct Ministerial Appointments:

Robert Hamill Inquiry

Sir John Evans was appointed as Chair on 7 October 2024.

Intertrade UK

Baroness Arlene Foster was appointed as Chair, and Dr Esmond Birnie, Kirsty McManus, Suzanne Wylie, Roger Pollen and Angela McGowan were appointed as Members on 28 February 2025.

Board of the International Fund for Ireland

Jointly appointed with the Irish Government, Shona McCarthy was appointed as Chair, alongside board members Janet McConkey, Katy Hayward, Angila Chada, and Bill Pauley on 1 March 2025. Anne Conaghan and Anne Carr were also reappointed to the Board on 1 March 2025.

Independent Expert Advisory Panel - Official History of UK Government Policy during the Troubles

Lord Paul Bew, Professor Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, Professor Henry Patterson, Professor Richard Bourke, Professor Helen Parr and Professor Ian McBride were appointed the independent expert advisory panel to make recommendations on key details of this project in April 2025.

Patrick Finucane Inquiry

Sir Gary Hickinbottom was appointed as Chair and Baroness Nuala O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese were appointed as Assessors on 13 June 2025.

Independent Expert on Paramilitary Group Transition to Disbandment

Fleur Ravensbergen was appointed on 23 September 2025, in a joint appointment with the Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

All appointments listed above have been published on the Northern Ireland Office GOV.UK page. Further details on all public and direct ministerial appointments are regularly published.

From 1 July, new leases will include a mileage allowance of 10,000 miles a year – e.g. 30,000 over a three-year lease or 50,000 over a five-year lease. Three out of four Scheme customers drive 10,000 miles or fewer per year. However, Motability recognise that a small number of customers will be unable to change driving behaviour or absorb the mileage charges. On 8 July, Motability announced an exceptions process for those who exceed this new limit for some journeys made for healthcare, education and employment. The customer will need to evidence this extra mileage.

The Motability Scheme is operated independently of Government. Decisions about eligibility, lease terms, mileage allowances and support arrangements are matters for Motability. The Government's role is to provide qualifying disability benefits that customers may choose to use to access the Scheme.

Northern Ireland Office Ministers meet regularly with Members of Parliament to discuss a wide range of issues relating to departmental responsibilities and matters of interest to constituents.

As crises do not respect borders or boundaries, resilience is a shared responsibility between individuals, communities, businesses, local, devolved and national government across the UK.

We work in close cooperation at both official and ministerial level on resilience, organising regular ‘four nations’ meeting. These aim to complement the everyday work teams across government do to collaborate with counterparts in the devolved governments on risk and resilience. The most recent meeting was in June.

This group discusses how each government is developing its own strategies and frameworks to strengthen resilience and identify opportunities for greater collaboration.

The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.

Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. We intend that the Council will next meet in autumn 2026.

The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union.

Part of that commitment is regular meetings of the East-West Council. The Council last met in January 2026, with representatives from the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive in attendance.

There were no agency staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office in the last five years.

The new SPS Agreement we are negotiating with the EU will facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland - protecting the UK’s internal market, reducing costs for businesses and improving consumer choice.

Working with the EU and fast parcel operators, we have ensured that, from 1 July, the vast majority of Low Value Imports will not face EU duties when moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, helping to cut costs and protect GB-NI trade.

At the last budget, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help Northern Ireland boost trade with Great Britain. This will include a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service that will support businesses to trade across the UK and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access.

This includes over £2 million in funding for Intertrade UK over the next three years, to promote business and trade opportunities across the UK internal market.

I have recently had discussions with the Home Office on immigration and the Common Travel Area following the recent public disorder in Northern Ireland in mid-June.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland joined the Minister of State for the Home Office at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Tuesday 7 July to discuss the operation of the Common Travel Area.

The Joint Framework includes unprecedented information sharing commitments by the Irish Government, and we welcome the recent publication by the Irish Government of proposals for legislation that will facilitate this.

However, we are aware that the present lack of information-sharing arrangements between the ICRIR and Irish authorities is impacting a number of Commission investigations.

The Government meets regularly with the Irish Government, at both ministerial and official level, to discuss a range of legacy issues. In the course of such meetings we have raised the matter of Irish authorities co-operation and information sharing with ICRIR, in light of the Dillon judgment, which found the ICRIR capable of conducting effective and human rights compliant investigations.

While this is ultimately a matter for the Irish Government, the UK Government has been clear that it is our view that such a step would allow those cases to progress for the benefit of victims and survivors who have requested these investigations.

The Government is continuing to implement the Safeguarding the Union command paper and to support Northern Ireland's place in the Union. This commitment is embedded throughout the work of the Government and is focused on delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. We are going beyond setting out the value of Northern Ireland’s place in the Union on paper, by delivering real, tangible benefits of the Union for people in Northern Ireland.

For instance, via the recently launched Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal. Through sectoral analysis, this initiative provides concrete benefits to the Northern Ireland defence industry, which will boost supply chains and support hundreds of highly skilled, well-paid jobs. In addition, the Government has provided Intertrade UK with £2.25 million over the next three years to help strengthen the UK internal market. This will include independent research into improving infrastructure and connectivity across the United Kingdom, one of the body's priorities in its published work programme.

The Government continues to engage with a wide range of interested parties at ministerial and official level. This includes regular and recent discussions with victims groups, groups representing veterans, human rights organisations, elected representatives, and others including academics.

The disorder in Ballymena last year was shocking and unacceptable. There is no place for racism or violence of any kind in Northern Ireland. One of the characteristics of this country is that we treat people with equality, respect and dignity, regardless of where they come from.

Following the disorder in Ballymena, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland spoke with community organisations supporting the Roma community and the Romanian Ambassador to the UK to ensure those impacted were receiving appropriate support. Following the disorder in June of this year, he has also spoken directly with Northern Ireland Party Leaders, and Northern Ireland Office officials engaged with the Consulate General of Romania. I have also visited Ballymena since the riots and met with community groups.

Northern Ireland Office officials remain active in cross-Government forums to prevent the recurrence of unrest. The UK Government is committed to supporting the Northern Ireland Executive to develop strategies to strengthen community cohesion and prevent disorder in future.

The Government cooperates closely with the Irish Government on the security of the Common Travel Area, with a focus on preventing abuse of free movement by those not entitled to the Common Travel Area’s benefits. Cross-border security is a standing agenda item at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, with the next Conference expected later this year.

The Government recognises the financial pressures the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) faces. However, policing is largely a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant.

The Government has provided Northern Ireland with a record settlement of £19.3 billion on average per year of the Spending Review – the largest settlement in real terms in the history of devolution. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to make decisions on the allocation of resources in line with its identified priorities and for the Department of Justice to allocate funding to the PSNI.

In recognition of the security situation in Northern Ireland, the Government is providing the PSNI with £37.8 million in Additional Security Funding each financial year until 28/29. In addition, a further £4 million has been allocated to PSNI for this financial year to help with the costs incurred by the PSNI during the recent disorder.

Despite the recent disorder, and the security incidents in Belfast, Lurgan and Dunmurry, the Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) in Northern Ireland threat level remains SUBSTANTIAL, following its reduction in March 2024.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre keeps the Threat Level from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism in Northern Ireland under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year.

I wish to recognise the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and security partners, who work day-in, day-out to keep our communities safe.

It is clear that the participation of both the UK and Irish governments in legacy processes is vital if we are to achieve better outcomes for victims and survivors.

That is why the Joint Framework agreed between the UK and Irish governments in September 2025 includes significant commitments by the Irish Government, specifically the fullest possible cooperation with the Legacy Commission, the establishment of a dedicated unit within An Garda Síochána as a single point of contact for cross-border cooperation on Troubles related cases, and a financial contribution of €25 million.

In the UK, the Troubles Permanent Disablement Scheme provides payments for permanently injured victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Victims and survivors have also been able to obtain financial redress through civil proceedings - something that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 sought to prevent, and which the Troubles Bill will reinstate.

The entitlement to compensation from the Irish Government for victims and survivors of alleged state collusion by the Irish authorities is a matter for the Irish Government. The UK Government will always support the right of victims of the Troubles to seek redress, including in the event that there is evidence of collusion by the Irish authorities.

Planning for the UK’s G20 Presidency in 2027 is underway, and decisions on guest attendance have not yet been taken.

As I stated in my written ministerial statement issued on 7 July 2026, the inquiry panel has fulfilled its terms of reference and the checking process has been undertaken to meet obligations in relation to article 2 of the ECHR and national security. Given the time needed for the panel to finalise the text and to print the report, the final report will be published shortly after the summer recess.

168 officers were deployed to Northern Ireland under mutual aid arrangements to assist with the response to the recent violent disorder.

Engagement with industry stakeholders indicates that the Regulation is expected to deliver overall benefits for businesses in Northern Ireland. In particular, it preserves dual-market access to both the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market.

The Regulation also introduces measures intended to reduce administrative burdens, including provisions enabling the use of digital documentation in place of paper documentation, which are expected to generate cost savings for businesses.

In addition, the Government is legislating to continue recognising products that meet the updated EU machinery requirements in Great Britain. This will enable many manufacturers to place the same products on the markets in Northern Ireland and Great Britain without the need for additional conformity assessment. The Government expects this approach to support the smooth flow of trade within the UK Internal Market while reducing costs and administrative burdens for businesses operating across the United Kingdom.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland meets regularly with the logistics sector and businesses trading between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including through the Northern Ireland Business Stakeholders Group.

Working with the EU and fast parcel operators, we have ensured that from 1 July the vast majority of low-value imports will not face EU duties when moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, cutting costs and protecting GB-NI trade.

The 25th anniversary of the disbandment of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the establishment of the Police Service of Northern Ireland provides an opportunity to recognise the work of both organisations to keep the public safe and protect life, often in the most challenging of circumstances.

Belfast will host this year’s National Police Memorial Day service, providing a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the many officers who lost their lives in the course of duty.

I speak regularly to colleagues across this House, across Government and across the Northern Ireland Executive, raising the issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.

Making progress on this matters enormously to me and to Government. People are rightly passionate about rising to this challenge.

I am proud of the steps we have taken but know that there is far more to do. Just this week, I attended the Violence Against Women and Girls Working Ministerial Group to ensure we can make further progress in Northern Ireland and right across the United Kingdom.

The Threat Level in Northern Ireland is under constant review by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). There is a formal assessment of the Threat Level, which is reviewed twice yearly. This was done most recently in March - where the threat level was set at Substantial - and will be reviewed again in September this year.

The security incidents in Lurgan and Dunmurry earlier this year, as well as the recent disorder were attacks on the Police and our communities. May I take this opportunity to put on record my gratitude to the PSNI and community groups working tirelessly to tackle this trend and keep our communities safe.

The Government is continuing to make progress on the implementation of the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, and to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK Internal Market.

The Government regularly publishes papers and strategies that demonstrate Northern Ireland's value to, and place in, the Union. For instance, the Modern Industrial Strategy – published in June 2025 – and the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal – published in April 2026. The Government remains focused on delivery, and will continue to provide further updates on specific commitments as and when they are implemented.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of Northern Ireland related matters, including Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market.

The Windsor Framework’s UK Carrier (UKC) Scheme allows GB based businesses to work with parcel operators to move consumer parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland without completing full customs declarations. The Government continues to work with industry to support the smooth flow of goods and ensure Northern Ireland consumers have access to goods from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Additionally, work is underway within Government to deliver the enhanced one stop shop service which will provide tailored advice to businesses on the rules they need to follow and the facilitations available to them. The service will help businesses trade across the UK and benefit from Northern Ireland’s unique dual market access.

We have taken ‘political appointees’ to mean special advisers. A list of special advisers by department is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers which is laid in parliament. The Annual Report on Special Advisers 2026 will be published in due course.

The Robert Hamill Inquiry opened in 2005. The previous chair of the Inquiry reported that the Terms of Reference were fulfilled in 2011. However, due to legal proceedings, the Inquiry report has not yet been published. These legal proceedings have recently concluded and steps are now being taken to publish the report. Following publication, I will take steps to ensure the total amount paid for inquiry expenses since its establishment is published within a reasonable time of the end of the inquiry, as required by Section 39 of the Inquiries Act 2005.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) provides officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tool that has been assured to the appropriate security standards and approved for official use.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

Patrick Finucane was brutally murdered in February 1989 in front of his wife, Geraldine, and three children. Mrs Finucane and her family have sought answers about the killing of their loved one for over 37 years. I am pleased that the Patrick Finucane Inquiry has now got underway, following the publication of its terms of reference.

The Inquiry is an independent statutory public inquiry, established under the Inquiries Act 2005 to complete an Article 2 ECHR compliant investigation into the murder of Patrick Finucane. While I am the Sponsor Minister for the Inquiry, it is rightly independent from Government. Inquiry spend is therefore an operational matter for the Inquiry, and details of Inquiry spending will be published on their website in due course.

The UK Government provided Intertrade UK with £2.25m funding as part of the wider £16.6m Internal Market Package at Autumn Budget 2025. The funding allocation is split evenly over three financial years, commencing in 2026/2027.

Intertrade UK was established by the UK Government to advise on and promote trade across the UK’s internal market. The funding has been provided to enable Intertrade UK to deliver on its published work programme which can be viewed here.

Rail infrastructure is devolved and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. The Government is providing Northern Ireland with £19.3bn per year on average over the Spending Review period. This provides the Executive with the funding needed to invest in its priorities.

However, through the UK’s £730m investment into the PEACEPLUS programme, we are supporting rail connectivity between Belfast and Dublin through the programmes’ €165m investment in the Belfast-Dublin Fleet Enterprise. The new fleet is set to be delivered in 2028 following the formal signing on contracts in June this year.

Civil litigation plays an important role in enabling facts to be uncovered, as well as enabling victims to feel that they have achieved some measure of justice even where they have not been able to achieve that through the criminal justice process.

For example, four individuals were found responsible for the Omagh bombing in the civil courts in 2009. The Judge in that case ordered £1.6m damages to the Omagh families as a result of this.

Civil claims are always decided on their merit by independent courts and in the vast majority of cases, civil claims are taken against the State, not against individuals.

This Government’s commitment to our Operation Banner veterans is unshakeable and that is why the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill puts in place the strongest possible safeguards, which were not included in the Legacy Act.