Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Health Minister on ensuring pay parity for health workers in Northern Ireland with Great Britain.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Public sector pay is a devolved matter. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to take decisions on pay awards.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7013 on Northern Ireland Office: Official Cars, which organisation provides official cars for his Department's transport in Great Britain.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

For security reasons, the Northern Ireland Office is unable to disclose specific details on car travel for Ministers and officials in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which organisation provides for official cars for Government transport in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

For security reasons, the Northern Ireland Office is unable to disclose specific details on car travel for Ministers and officials in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when his Department last reviewed the (a) structures, (b) weaponry and (c) capability of (i) loyalist and (ii) republican terror groups in Northern Ireland; and if he will publish that review.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.

The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), after MI5 passed over responsibility earlier this year. JTAC keeps the Threat Level in Northern Ireland from NIRT under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year. However, the threat is wholly driven by violent Dissident Republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), and not by Groups that support the GFA.

The Chief Constable’s statement of 30 October was clear that the PSNI, alongside security partners “continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response.”

Rightly, any criminality or threat - by individuals or groups, loyalist or republican - will be investigated by the PSNI and those responsible will be brought before the courts.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has taken steps to help tackle medicine shortages in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Medicines supply in Northern Ireland remains stable. UK-wide supply issues may arise from time to time due to manufacturing problems or access to raw materials. The overwhelming majority of medicines are in good supply and we have well-established processes to manage supply issues.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government are taking to help support businesses transition to new trading arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

This Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market.

We continue to work closely with businesses to support a smooth and effective transition to the new arrangements under the Framework. In September, the Government announced that the Trader Support Service has been extended to the end of 2025 and that a competitive procurement exercise will begin in early 2025 to deliver ongoing support to traders from 2026.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for the (a) establishment and (b) work of the Castlereagh Foundation.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 contains provisions for the Establishment of the Castlereagh Foundation. The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the commenced provisions under this Act. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation. The Government wants to see devolved institutions in Northern Ireland consider the provisions set out under the legislation themselves before any consideration of using or commencing the powers provided for in section 8 of the Act.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on protecting veterans who served in Northern Ireland from vexatious claims in relation to their service.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I regularly discuss the Government's approach to the legacy of the Troubles with Cabinet colleagues and with the Northern Ireland Executive, and I am consulting widely on the repeal and replacement of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, including with the veterans community.

The Government recognises the dedicated service of the vast majority of members of the Armed Forces, as well as police officers and members of the security services, who did so much to keep people in Northern Ireland safe during the Troubles. Any veteran who does go through legal proceedings will receive welfare and, where appropriate, legal support.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to commission a report on paramilitary influence in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.

This Government is committed to making streets across the United Kingdom safer, and we want to see a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are no longer able to cause harm to communities. Where any criminality exists, it should be dealt with fully by the police.

The effort to tackle paramilitarism is led by the NI Executive in particular through its Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC), which was established after the Fresh Start Agreement. The Programme is working to tackle the presence of paramilitaries through evidence-based early interventions, targeted law enforcement measures and initiatives that provide direct support to help build safer communities resilient to paramilitarism. The UK Government provides 50% of the funding for the Programme - currently £8m per year through to March 2026.

The Programme has tracked changes in public perceptions of paramilitary influence since 2017 through the Northern Ireland Life & Times (NILT) Survey. This information can be accessed here: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/perceptions-paramilitarism-northern-ireland-findings-northern-ireland-life-and-times-survey-2017

The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) which was established in 2017 reports annually on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland. The IRC’s most recent report, the Sixth Report, was published in December 2023, with the latest report due to be published in Winter 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the independent report entitled Assessment on paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, published on 20 October 2015, what recent assessment his Department has made of the level of influence the IRA army council has on Sinn Fein.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.

Although it is acknowledged that some individuals engaged in serious criminality may also have ties to former paramilitary Republican organisations, such activity does not present a threat to national security.

The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), after MI5 passed over responsibility earlier this year. JTAC keeps the Threat Level in Northern Ireland from NIRT under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year. However, the threat is wholly driven by violent Dissident Republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), and not by Groups that support the GFA.

Where any criminality exists, this should be dealt with fully by the police.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timescale for repealing section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, in accordance with the commitment set out in paragraph 116 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP1021).

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

The Government is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market while implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, including having regard to all aspects of the Northern Ireland economy, and taking forward policies in the Safeguarding the Union Command paper.

The Government has no current plans to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what were the overall costs associated with all aspects of implementing the Windsor Framework Agreement for Northern Ireland, including the installation and staffing of border inspection posts.

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

As set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, the UK Government has committed to fund the direct costs associated with reaching the required level of compliance to implement its obligations under the Windsor Framework. The provision under this commitment is set out in the Northern Ireland Office’s Main Estimates 2024-25 Memoranda.

The UK Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market. Implementing arrangements have been designed to ease the flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and reduce administrative and other business burdens.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much additional security funding the Government plans to provide to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Recognising the unique security situation in Northern Ireland, the UK Government makes an additional contribution to the PSNI through Additional Security Funding.

As we announced in the Spending Review last week we have increased Additional Security Funding (ASF) for the financial year 2025-26 to £37.8 million . ASF was previously c£32m a year.

This increased funding from the Government will provide the PSNI with more resources they need to tackle the threat posed by Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland, and so help them to continue to keep people safe.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department plans to appeal the Dillon judgement handed down in the Belfast Court of Appeal on 20 September 2024, NICA 59.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is committed to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act, and to implementing legacy mechanisms that are compliant with human rights and can be supported by communities across Northern Ireland.

We are considering the implications of the Court of Appeal judgement, which are complex and wide-ranging, and I will update the House as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the Government has lodged an application with the Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal the judgement.

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