Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many investigations are being carried out by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery; and how many of those investigations relate to the deaths of (a) members of the Armed Forces and (b) police officers.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

We understand that there are currently 113 live investigations under the remit of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Within those 113 investigations, there were 35 victims who were military personnel and 16 police officers. This accounts for 44 of the 113 cases as some of these relate to multi-fatality incidents.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the (a) Northern Ireland Executive and (b) US Semiquincentennial Commission on how Northern Ireland’s status in the America250 programme will be used to promote economic opportunities in areas beyond the Greater Belfast area.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The British Embassy in Washington DC is working with the Northern Ireland Bureau (the Northern Ireland Executive’s diplomatic mission to the US) regarding plans to celebrate the America250 commemoration and the economic opportunities for Northern Ireland within that.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with Londonderry and Strabane Council on potential support for programming at the Londonderry North Atlantic (DNA) Maritime Museum.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Responsibility for museums is a devolved matter and support for Northern Ireland’s museums is a matter for the Northern Ireland Communities Minister. I would therefore encourage Derry City and Strabane District Council to discuss support for the programming of the North Atlantic Maritime Museum in Derry/Londonderry with the Minister for Communities.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applications have been (a) received, (b) awarded and (c) refused under the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme; and in how many refused cases the applicant was in receipt of an occupational injury award, including (i) Civil Service Injury Benefit and (ii) an equivalent injury pension.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is a devolved matter and is run by the Victims’ Payments Board on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Statistics on applications are publicly available on the Victims’ Payments Board’s website.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of a) the findings and b) recommendations of the Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies paper produced by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, on 16 December 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I commend the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for their continued, important work in upholding human rights protections in Northern Ireland. This includes in their role as part of the Dedicated Mechanism, along with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, in monitoring the implementation of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, for which they receive dedicated funding. The Government welcomes this report and is considering its findings.

The interpretation and application of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework is currently being considered by the Supreme Court in Dillon and others. The Government awaits the court’s judgment.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 8th January 2026 to Question 103096, who is responsible for requesting the national security vetting for the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Responsibility for recruitment (including requesting national security vetting) for the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland lies with The Executive Office.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on Northern Ireland's place in the EU Custom’s Union in relation to charges incurred when sending parcels from NI, to Europe, via GB postal services.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom’s internal market and customs territory. Ministers and officials speak regularly with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Windsor Framework, including arrangements for parcels. Dual market access ensures that goods can move between Northern Ireland and the EU without the need for customs declarations or duty, including goods moving through Great Britain.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 92954 on Connect Fund: Northern Ireland, whether the unsuccessful applicants to the Connect Fund were offered a meeting to discuss their applications.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Unsuccessful Connect Fund applicants can request feedback on their applications, with the aim of supporting them to re-submit a successful application in a future round of the Connect Fund.

The Northern Ireland Office is running roadshows across Northern Ireland, starting on 12 January and running until 19 January, to promote Year 2 of the Fund, which opened on 7 January and will close on 12 February. The roadshows offer guidance on applications and budget preparation, and provide an opportunity to receive advice on potential application ideas. Roadshow materials will be available on the Connect Fund's webpage in due course.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to provide additional funding to address regional disparities the availability and quality of in social housing in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Social Housing policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department for Communities.

This Government has provided the Executive with a record £19.3 billion per year on average over the Spending Review period. It is for the Executive to allocate this money in line with its priorities.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office’s expenditure on (a) advertising and (b) marketing for the last three complete financial years, and the current financial year to date, is set out below:

* Please note that the figures for NIO Core include expenditure related to public inquiries within the NIO group, including the Omagh Bombing Public Inquiry.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the Windsor Framework on businesses in Northern Ireland trading with Great Britain.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is committed to the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market.

Over 15,000 businesses are now registered to take advantage of facilitations for freight and parcels under the Windsor Framework, and the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel reported last year that 96% of goods moved by freight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the first half of 2025 did so within the UK internal market system.

The frequency of identity checks on agri-food products was recently reduced from 10% to 8% of consignments. We are also negotiating an SPS agreement with the EU that will smooth flows of trade still further, protect the UK’s internal market, reduce costs for businesses and improve consumer choice in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mitigate the effects in Northern Ireland of a potential EU ban on the sale of antimicrobial drugs without prescription.

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

The EU has not yet formally approved or published a final legal text, I am however aware of the potential impacts of restrictions on the sale of antimicrobial medicines without prescription on Northern Ireland's health services, particularly demand for GP appointments. The Government has raised this issue and we will, as ever, always advocate for the interests of Northern Ireland.

The Government will publish an explanatory memorandum in due course in accordance with the usual processes.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.

Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements.

We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what actions his Department have taken to enhance public education on the extent of protections EU Law continues to provide in Northern Ireland, under the Windsor framework.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is firmly committed to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, which ensures no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity protections set out in the relevant chapter of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Dedicated Mechanism monitors, advises and reports on this commitment, receiving funding from the UK Government for this purpose. It also has a duty to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. The UK Government acknowledges the vital role of the Dedicated Mechanism in upholding equalities and human rights protections in Northern Ireland and continues to work with it to ensure these protections are enforced.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many visits has each Secretary of State made to Northern Ireland since taking office.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office holds the following information:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has travelled to Northern Ireland on 54 occasions since taking office.

The Prime Minister has visited Northern Ireland twice since taking office.

The Chancellor has visited once.

The Foreign Secretary has visited once.

The Secretary of State for Education has visited once.

The former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, visited once.

The former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, visited twice.

The former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, visited twice.

In addition, there have been 37 visits by other members of the Government to Northern Ireland since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he had had with the PSNI on the time taken to process FAC renewals and applications.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

While I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team regarding national security, and a range of issues, I have a limited role in relation to certain appeals against the decision of the Chief Constable not to issue firearms licences. The issuing of firearms licences is a devolved matter.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) manages its projects in accordance with the principles of HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money to ensure the effective and efficient use of public funds.

Following a review of departmental records for the last five years, the Northern Ireland Office has no such costs to report.

Found: Available at: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4022. 3 Northern Ireland Office, Published 19 September

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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question, 90238, on Government Communications Service: Staff, if he will publish the number of (a) headcount and (b) FTE Government Communication Service staff in each government department, central public body and Arm’s Length Body, including NHS, according to information collated in the most recent Government Communications Service audit; and what are the aggregate figures.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Please see the table below that contains the full-time equivalent figures for departments. These figures incorporate the ALBs, which are grouped under their respective sponsoring organisations.

Found: Cymreig ei gymhwyso’n gywir, lle y byddai’r cod treth wedi bod yn gywir fel arall. 3 Mae CThEF yn diffi nio

Found: Those outstanding are three Ministerial Departments (Defra, DHSC and NIO), three non-Ministerial Departments

Found: Northern Ireland Office: 27.1.

Found: sourced from ONS, Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland - Office

Found: ; NC3Rs, National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research; NIO