Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister on possible changes to classifications and statutory sentencing in drugs misuse policy.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have not had any such discussions.

Drug classification and the supporting legal framework remains a reserved power, primarily managed through the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This is the responsibility of the Home Office.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what evidence his Department submitted to the Office for National Statistics' review of the ethnicity harmonised standard, including in relation to the recording of Sikhs and Jewish people as ethnic groups.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team.

A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement activity, including with representatives of all government departments.

ONS have committed to providing an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have inserted any conditions to their financial commitment to Casement Park to ensure that terrorist organisations cannot use the facility.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government is supporting the Northern Ireland Executive with its plans for building world class infrastructure in Northern Ireland, across all sporting codes. That is why we have provided up to £50 million of capital funding over four years to support the redevelopment of Casement Park.

Under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is a criminal offence to invite support for a proscribed organisation or to arrange, manage, or assist in addressing a meeting known to support its activities.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an investigation or assessment of whether the Gaelic Athletic Association has links to terrorist organisations.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Office has not carried out any such assessment or investigation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Minister for Communities in the Northern Ireland Executive on Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann being held in Belfast.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the Communities Minister, on a range of priorities. Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged directly with Comhaltas on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast this summer.

The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will be a great opportunity for Northern Ireland. As one of only three UK cities with UNESCO City of Music status, I am delighted that Belfast will host the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture. This event will attract global visitors, providing a chance for the city to showcase its rich and diverse cultural offering. The decision by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to bring the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann back to Belfast in 2027 is also very welcome news.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to support the Northern Ireland Executive with Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the Communities Minister, on a range of priorities. Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged directly with Comhaltas on the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast this summer.

The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will be a great opportunity for Northern Ireland. As one of only three UK cities with UNESCO City of Music status, I am delighted that Belfast will host the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture. This event will attract global visitors, providing a chance for the city to showcase its rich and diverse cultural offering. The decision by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to bring the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann back to Belfast in 2027 is also very welcome news.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Northern Ireland Office (NIO) officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence.

NIO directorates are actively contributing to this work, engaging the defence industry, businesses and academia to evaluate Northern Ireland’s defence sector contribution. We are also collaborating with partners to assess and strengthen collective preparedness against emerging threats. These efforts are jointly led by the Director of Security, International and Politics and the Director of Growth, Public Service Transformation and NI Fiscal Sustainability.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential impact of the (a) E‑DATA project in Londonderry and (b) Executive funding for the Magee campus on the Ulster University campus locations at (i) Coleraine and (ii) Belfast.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The E-DATA project is the recipient of funding through the PEACEPLUS programme, into which the UK Government is investing £730 million. We will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive and other partners on the delivery and impact of the project as it progresses.

The UK Government is investing £105 million to the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Region City Deal, which includes funding for the School of Medicine at Ulster University’s Magee Campus. I will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the delivery of this project.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) Shipova case as decided in the European Court of Justice and (b) Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers on gender recognition in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The UK Government is firmly committed to upholding the legal protections established by the Equality Act 2010, including those which protect people against unfair treatment based on the characteristics of sex and gender reassignment.

We have always been clear that the For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling brought clarity to the definition of ‘sex’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

Equal opportunities and anti-discrimination laws remain devolved matters in Northern Ireland, and the extent of the Equality Act 2010 as set out in law remains unchanged. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has a clear statutory duty, under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to offer guidance on the meaning and interpretation of equality law within Northern Ireland, including any implications arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in the Shipova case.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many apprentices the Department recruited in 2025 compared with (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office recruited 1 apprentice in 2023 and 1 in 2025 for a 2-year term. We did not recruit any apprentices in 2022 or 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues in response to reports of suppliers in Great Britain ceasing trade with businesses based in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government continues to take practical action to protect and facilitate trade across the UK internal market. At Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market, including funding for an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service and a dedicated budget for Intertrade UK, the non-statutory advisory body established under Safeguarding the Union to help boost trade across the UK. On a wide range of regulatory areas, the Government has been taking action to account for the views of industry and smooth flows of trade within the UK market, including in pharmaceuticals, toy safety, and the labelling of chemicals.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance he has provided to businesses in Great Britain on the Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland's access to the UK internal market.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK for businesses moving goods under the Windsor Framework, alongside support from the Trader Support Service.

At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help boost trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This will include a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service that will provide additional guidance beyond what is currently available on GOV.UK, supporting businesses in Great Britain to trade with Northern Ireland and take advantage of the facilitations made available under the Windsor Framework.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120605 on Northern Ireland Executive, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about funding of Ulster University campus locations at (i) Coleraine and (ii) Belfast following the E-DATA project announcement.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

While the funding and strategic oversight of the higher education sector are devolved matters for the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government remains committed to the delivery of the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Region City Deal.

Through this City Deal, the UK Government is investing £105 million to support regional growth, which includes funding for the School of Medicine at Ulster University’s Magee Campus. We will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive and other partners on the progression of this City Deal and the PEACEPLUS programme to ensure these investments benefit the wider region.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to proceed with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

On 22 January, the House of Commons approved the Remedial Order, which will remove the conditional immunity provided to terrorists by the previous Government’s immunity scheme.

The scheduling of the debate in the House of Lords will be announced in the usual way.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to proceed with the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Yes. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will establish a reformed, human rights compliant and wholly independent Legacy Commission, which will carry out investigations and provide family reports to give victims and their families the answers they deserve. The Bill will proceed to Committee stage as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Found: Research/GRI/mitchell- institute/ResearchandImpact/Blogs/ArmedGroupsTransitionandDealingwiththePast.html 2 NIO

Found: ensure that this critical policy decision is taken by the government – for example by the Northern Ireland Office

Found: www.parliament.uk/lords The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Office

Found: Erskine House 20-32 Chichester St Belfast BT1 4GF E: correspondence@nio.gov.uk www.gov.uk/nio

Found: www.parliament.uk/lords The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Office

Found: www.parliament.uk/lords Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Office

Found: Erskine House 20-32 Chichester St Belfast BT1 4GF E: correspondence@nio.gov.uk www.gov.uk/nio

Found: engagement with a wide range of government departments—the Cabinet Office, Defra, DBT and the Northern Ireland Office

Found: Data obtained from:Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Office