Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of procurement contracts were awarded to UK companies in the 2024-25 financial year.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In the 2024-25 financial year, the Northern Ireland Office has awarded all procurement contracts to UK companies.
Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder).
Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc. VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search).
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department took steps to support the commemorations of the Battle of the Boyne in 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The annual 12th July Commemorations are hugely significant to many in Northern Ireland, as I witnessed first hand during my visit to the County Fermanagh 12th July Parade in Irvinestown in 2024.
Earlier this month, I visited Sloan’s House, the birthplace of the Orange Institution, and took the opportunity to convey my best wishes to all those preparing to mark the 12th. On the 335th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, the Government was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP, who attended the County Armagh Parade in Keady.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62482, when he received the review of post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review on 9 July 2025, in line with the Terms of Reference for the Review.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what statutory instruments have been introduced since May 2025 to implement dynamic alignment provisions under the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
All Statutory Instruments are a matter of public record and are available on the Government’s ‘legislation.gov.uk’ website, or on ‘statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk’.
Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions each of the following has stayed overnight in Northern Ireland since 5 July 2024: (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and (3) Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Since 5 July 2024, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State have travelled regularly across Northern Ireland to undertake official business.
The Secretary of State has travelled to Northern Ireland 42 times since 5 July 2024. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has travelled to Northern Ireland 34 times, and I have travelled to Northern Ireland three times.
Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many officials and special advisers travelled with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during his visit to the United States of America for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March; and what were the associated costs, including flights and accommodation.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland travelled to Washington accompanied by two special advisors and three officials.
Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nio-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-july-to-september-2024.
Information for the period January to May 2025 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nio-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-january-to-march-2025.
Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the total expenditure on overseas visits since 5 July 2024 by each of (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (3) Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Since 5 July 2024, the Department has incurred expenditure of £9,728.99 for overseas travel undertaken by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. A total expenditure of £4,968.33 has been incurred for overseas travel undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. No such expenditure has been incurred for myself.
Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64617 on the Independent Review on the Windsor Framework, whether he received the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by 9 July 2025; and when he plans to publish it.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review to the Government on 9 July 2025. The Government will publish it in full accordance with its existing obligations to do so.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64618 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland, whether he has received the first report of the Independent Monitoring Panel; and when he plans to publish it.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government has not yet received the initial report of the Independent Monitoring Panel, whose first monitoring period ended on 30 June. We expect to receive the Panel’s report in due course and will publish it in accordance with the existing commitment to do so.