Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which (a) veterans groups and associations and (b) other stakeholder groups his Department consulted before deciding to not to continue the Supreme Court appeal on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; and what the nature of their input was.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

In the Dillon and Others case, the Northern Ireland High Court made a number of section 4 Human Rights Act declarations of incompatibility in respect of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Government takes its human rights obligations extremely seriously and did not take forward an appeal.

The Government is appealing to the Supreme Court on two such declarations that were subsequently made by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

In consulting over legacy legislation, the Northern Ireland Office regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including veterans.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of the cost of public inquires on Troubles-related legacy issues in Northern Ireland in the context of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office works closely with His Majesty's Treasury to ensure value for money for the tax payer on all of the policies it delivers, including public inquiries.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has committed to restoring the Loughall inquest since his meeting with Loughall Truth on 24 March 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is committed to repeal and replace the almost universally opposed - and in many respects, unlawful - Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023.

As part of this commitment, the Government has been consistently clear that we will propose measures to allow inquests previously halted by the Act to proceed, as set out in my written ministerial statements of 29 July 2024 and 7 October 2024, and in my oral statement of 4 December 2024.

The Government is continuing to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness as we seek to implement legacy mechanisms that are compliant with human rights, and can command confidence across communities.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to with relevant authorities to support Northern Ireland’s tourism industry.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland remains a highly popular destination for both UK and international visitors. In 2023, the tourism sector contributed approximately £1.2 billion to Northern Ireland’s economy, with 5.4 million visitors. In March, I met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance to discuss the opportunities and challenges that its members are facing.

The Northern Ireland Executive is ultimately responsible for tourism in Northern Ireland. I welcome the Department for the Economy’s efforts to boost the impact of tourism across Northern Ireland through its 10-year Tourism Vision and Action Plan.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The following table shows the number of lost devices in the Northern Ireland Office since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to review the decision not to continue the appeal against the Northern Ireland High Court’s declaration of incompatibility regarding sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The High Court found sections 46 and 47 of the Legacy Act to be incompatible with the UK’s international human rights commitments. This Government takes such matters extremely seriously, and the provisions therefore need to be repealed. The Government is carefully exploring how to lawfully address this complex issue alongside our clear commitment to implement legacy mechanisms that are fully compliant with human rights.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he most recently met with (a) Airbus and (b) other relevant stakeholders to discuss the future of Spirit AeroSystems; and what was discussed at each meeting.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I discussed the future of Spirit Aerosystems in meetings with Airbus on 25 November 2024 and 23 April 2025, the trade unions on 29 January 2025, and the Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, on 3 March 2025. My officials are continuing to collaborate with the Department for Business and Trade to monitor the latest developments and provide updates.

The Government has worked with the Northern Ireland Executive to secure the future for Spirit Aerosystems’s operation in Belfast, its workforce, and the wider aerospace sector. The Department for Business and Trade has continued to be in contact with Spirit, Airbus, Boeing, and other potential buyers to ensure the best outcome whereby the new owners commit to invest and grow the businesses, thereby sustaining jobs and safeguarding the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland.

On 28 April 2025, Airbus publicly announced that it had signed a definitive agreement with Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems to acquire specific Spirit operations directly related to Airbus programmes in the UK. In Belfast, Airbus will take ownership of the A220 wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The A220 mid-fuselage work package will also transfer to Airbus if a buyer for the remainder of the Belfast site is not found prior to closing of the deal later this year.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he plans to take with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure adequate funding for SEND in devolved nations.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Funding for special educational needs is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for the Department of Education to ensure special educational needs are adequately funded in Northern Ireland.

As set out in the recent Spending Review, this Government is providing the Executive with a record £18.2bn for 2025-26, the largest settlement since the start of devolution. That translates into over £1.5 billion more in 2025-26. It is now for the Executive to decide how to allocate that funding.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it remains their intention that the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland local government elections will be held on the same day in 2027.

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

The dates on which Northern Ireland local elections and Northern Ireland Assembly elections are to be held are set out in legislation. The Government does not intend to change the date of the 2027 elections.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in taking forward the provisions contained in Part 4 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 relating to oral history and the memorialisation strategy.

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

Further to my Oral Statement in December 2024, the Government has been focussed on repealing and replacing the Legacy Act, ensuring that its mechanisms are human rights compliant and capable of commanding public confidence. We remain committed, however, to the oral history and other measures set out in Part 4 of the Act - which are widely supported in principle - and will set out further details in due course. In the meantime, progress has been made on two other, non-legislative, historical projects - digitisation and official history - the details of which were announced last month.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

In the central Northern Ireland Office communications team, there are a total of ten full-time equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, six work in the media team which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions if any they had with the government of Ireland about the Omagh Bombing Inquiry at the British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 24 April.

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

The Government has the deepest sympathy for all of those affected by the Omagh bomb in August 1998. It was a terrible atrocity committed by the Real IRA at a time when the people of Northern Ireland were looking to a future without violence, and it caused immeasurable suffering to the families who lost loved ones and to those who were injured.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has welcomed the Irish Government's public commitment to cooperate with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, as outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed directly between the Inquiry and the Irish Government.

At the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 24 April, the Government and the Government of Ireland discussed Legacy issues, including the Omagh Inquiry, and the need for clear reciprocal commitments by the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. Ultimately, securing the confidence of victims, survivors, and families will remain at the heart of the work of both Governments.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to hold a public inquiry into the Enniskillen bomb on 8 November 1987.

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

The Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen was a horrific atrocity carried out by the Provisional IRA. The Government offers sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones or were injured as a result of the attack and recognises that the long search for answers experienced by families has exacerbated their pain.

The Government has committed to reform and strengthen the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), including its powers, independence, and accountability, to ensure that it is human rights compliant and can build public confidence. The Government would therefore encourage those families to make a referral to the Commission to undertake an ECHR compliant investigation into the Remembrance Day bombing.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in taking forward the independent public history project regarding the troubles in Northern Ireland that was first announced on 24 April 2024.

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

The project’s independent expert advisory panel continues to work under the published terms of reference. Further to the announcement made on 9 April 2025, the panel is currently accepting applications from independently-minded historians as part of an open and transparent competition, and has launched a website with further information about the project.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of new (a) policy and (b) legislation on (i) Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland and (ii) Great Britain-Northern Ireland trade and cooperation.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The development of all UK Government policy and legislation will always consider possible impacts, including where required the completion of an impact assessment.

As set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, public authorities must also include an explicit Internal Market Assessment as part of any Regulatory Impact Assessments that they are carrying out, to consider whether measures would have an adverse impact on the UK’s internal market, including in respect of Northern Ireland.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visits he has made to each constituency in Northern Ireland since his appointment.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have carried out over 80 visits to 16 constituencies across Northern Ireland since my appointment. I welcome suggestions for future visits from Parliamentary colleagues.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13304, and the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 14268, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that there is not a reoccurrence.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Members of Parliament should be notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. I have apologised to the Honourable Member for the recent failure to notify him. The Northern Ireland Office is currently reorganising this notification process to ensure there is no reoccurrence.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of adopting aspects of the investigative model used by Operation Kenova to reform the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is committed to repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. As part of that process, we are considering a range of options for ensuring the ICRIR is both fully ECHR compliant and capable of commanding public confidence across all communities in Northern Ireland.

During ongoing policy development, the Government is examining a number of operational models, including the one used by Operation Kenova, which has rightly been praised for its independence, and victim-centred approach.

The Government’s objective in this area is to ensure a reformed Commission is able to win the trust of families, and is underpinned by transparency, rigour and accountability at every level.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussion he has had with Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on the potential impact of regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom on the oversight of post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I speak regularly on a wide range of matters to Northern Ireland Executive Ministers and the Northern Ireland political parties. This includes discussion of the Government's commitment to safeguarding the UK internal market, handling divergence and encouraging economic growth, in line with the Government's manifesto and the five missions.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress his Department has made on repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has already begun the process of repealing and replacing the previous Government's Legacy Act. On 4 December 2024, I laid a proposed draft remedial order before Parliament that, if adopted, will remove from the Act a number of provisions that have been found by the NI courts to be incompatible with the UK’s human rights obligations. These include all those relating to the immunity scheme, and the bar on new civil cases.

While we want to make progress as swiftly as possible, we remain committed to engaging widely with all interested parties to help determine what provisions should be included in new primary legislation. At the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) on 24 April, the Governments discussed Legacy issues, including proposals for legislative reform. As noted at BIIGC, the Government remains committed to introducing primary legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

We think that the Government should not make any changes to legislation that would allow Northern Ireland Veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty in combating terrorism as part of 'Operation Banner'. (1969-2007)

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

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

Found: across several departments (Cabinet Office, FCDO, Department for Business and Trade, and Northern Ireland Office

Found: Commitment to No-diminution of Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity in Northern Ireland’ (NIO

Found: These include TEO, NIO, DBT, HMRC, INI.

Found: relevant committee chairs and secretariats to procure such invitations – a task that the Northern Ireland Office

Found: It would not be coming from the executive office or the NIO, or whatever, so that has to be acknowledged

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland In re Bridie Brown (CA) on 3 April, in which cases since the commencement of the Human Rights Act 1998 have the courts ordered the Northern Ireland Office to hold a public inquiry related to Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights; who is responsible under the Inquiries Act 2005 for deciding to set up statutory inquiries; under what powers the judiciary in Northern Ireland and England and Wales can make a declaratory or mandatory order that a public inquiry be set up; and what are the consequences of refusal to carry out such an order.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Aside from the case of Brown, the Courts have never ordered the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland nor any other Government Minister to establish a public inquiry.

Under section 1 of the Inquiries Act 2005 the power to set up a statutory public inquiry lies with a Minister. A Minister may cause an inquiry to be held under this Act in relation to a case where it appears to them that (a) particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or (b) there is public concern that particular events may have occurred.

There are no statutory powers in the Inquiries Act 2005 for the judiciary in England and Wales or Northern Ireland to set up a public inquiry.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the actual attendance of civil servants in the office as a proportion of assigned workforce to each government building.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Central data on Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) occupancy is collected and published quarterly on GOV.UK for all HQ buildings of Whitehall Departments, Office for Scotland, Office for Wales and Northern Ireland Office. The latest data for the period January to March 2025 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data. No other central information on occupancy data is gathered.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much public funding they have provided to public inquires in each of the last five years; and which are the current and anticipated (beginning in 2025) public inquiries to which they are providing, or are expecting to provide, support or funding.

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

Since 2020, His Majesty’s Government has supported 16 public inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold data on the yearly public funding to inquiries as each Government Department is responsible for the inquiries they sponsor.

Four inquiries have been established so far in 2025. The Independent inquiry into Manston short-term holding facility and the Stockport Inquiry will be sponsored by the Home Office, the Nottingham Inquiry will be sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, and the Patrick Finucane Inquiry by the Northern Ireland Office.

Found: Northern Ireland Office INTRODUCTION 1.

Found: Northern Ireland Office INTRODUCTION 1.

Found: Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) who handle the official information on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office

Found: 2022 FCO, then FCDO, Additional Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia 2016 to 2020 Northern Ireland Office

Found: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Northern Ireland Office

Found: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Northern Ireland Office