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 British Council’s Study USA programme in Northern Ireland on career progression, global skills and economic mobility for university students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds; and what steps he is taking to ensure support for students not otherwise able to access international study opportunities.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The British Council Study USA initiative is a great programme that has benefited the career development of many students in Northern Ireland over its 30 years. Skills and further/higher education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure the appropriate support for lower-income students wishing to study abroad is in place.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Secretary of State and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK's resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff within his Department are reliant on a visa for employment.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The information requested regarding how many staff within the Department are reliant on a visa for employment is not held centrally. Right to work checks are carried out for all new employees as part of the recruitmenton process.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department was invited by the Office for National Statistics to provide evidence or input into its review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.

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, 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 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the absence of pension rights on retired Full Time Reserve Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross officers who served between 1972 and 1988; and what steps his Department is taking to support the finances and welfare of those affected.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The pension rights of retired police officers is a devolved matter for which the Department of Justice is responsible.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what policy reason the day of birth would be removed from electoral ID cards in Northern Ireland under the Representation of the People Bill.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The day of birth will be removed from the electoral ID to ensure that electoral identity cards are used to prove one’s identity in order to vote, rather than as a secondary form of identification, for other purposes.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, how many meetings officials from their Department have attended on the national conversation on defence and security; which directorate in their Department is responsible for the departmental contribution to that national conversation; and what the job title is of the official responsible.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Officials from the Northern Ireland Office regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on National Defence was a recommendation in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which the Government accepted. The Ministry of Defence is the lead department for delivering the SDR, with support from the Cabinet Office, and particularly from the National Security Secretariat.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing Government, the private sector and the public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The Northern Ireland Office is actively supporting this work across a number of directorates including discussions with defence industry representatives, businesses and academia to better understand the contribution of the defence sector in Northern Ireland. This work is led by the Director for Security, International and NI Politics, and the Director for Growth, Public Service Transformation and NI Fiscal Sustainability.

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.

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

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what are the outcomes of the UK shared Prosperity Fund programme in Northern Ireland including (a) the total number of participants engaged across the region; (b) the number and percentage of participants who achieved sustainable employment and the methodology used to measure this; (c) the number of percentage of participants who entered further or higher education; (d) he number of participants who entered volunteering roles; and (e) how many women achieved each of the above outcomes.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Up to September 2025, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Northern Ireland has supported around 36,000 people. Of these, 12% have sustained work for at least six months, 27% undertook education activity and 7% participated in volunteering opportunities. Definitions for these indicators are published here: UKSPF_Indicators_25-26_.xlsx. For those declaring gender, 52% were female.

The UKSPF allocated funding for economic inactivity projects by competition. Provision was available in all parts of Northern Ireland. Where any area was under-served, we have encouraged deliverers to broaden their geographic reach.

My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland, with more information to follow.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme was representative geographically and based on evidenced need across Northern Ireland; (b) any gaps were identified in the UK Prosperity Fund Programme; and (c) how does the Department propose to ensure that any previously identified gaps in provision will be addressed in the new programme.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Up to September 2025, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Northern Ireland has supported around 36,000 people. Of these, 12% have sustained work for at least six months, 27% undertook education activity and 7% participated in volunteering opportunities. Definitions for these indicators are published here: UKSPF_Indicators_25-26_.xlsx. For those declaring gender, 52% were female.

The UKSPF allocated funding for economic inactivity projects by competition. Provision was available in all parts of Northern Ireland. Where any area was under-served, we have encouraged deliverers to broaden their geographic reach.

My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland, with more information to follow.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the local growth fund on critical infrastructure, transport connectivity, digital infrastructure and energy resilience in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Local Growth Fund has the scope to support economic growth in Northern Ireland through investment in a broad range of interventions including infrastructure, innovation, business support and skills MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working with the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the funding in Northern Ireland, ensuring that investment aligns with Northern Ireland’s priorities and delivers meaningful impact for local people.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there will be an open call for the new Local Growth Fund.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. More detailed information on delivery of the funding will follow.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of whether the proposed funding allocations of the Local Growth Fund align with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Local Growth Fund will drive economic growth and improve living standards by supporting infrastructure, innovation, business support and skills. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working with the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the funding in Northern Ireland, ensuring that investment aligns with Northern Ireland’s priorities and delivers meaningful impact for local people.

Found: Matthew.Carter@hmtreasury.gov.uk CMA, CPS, National Archives, NIO, SO, SFO, TSOL, UK Supreme