Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether veterans groups were consulted on the six lawful and deliverable protections in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has announced new protections and safeguards designed specifically for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Legacy Act, and that respond directly to the views expressed by veterans during engagements that the Government has undertaken.

All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

The Government continues to engage closely with veterans and their representatives at both ministerial and official level, and to listen to their views. This includes meetings with the UK Veterans Commissioners, the Royal British Legion, and specific regimental associations.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 100839, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who are likely to be eligible for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme in Northern Ireland.

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 Victim's Payment Board on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. Matters of eligibility are for the Board.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of a rail connection to Belfast International Airport on economic growth across the United Kingdom.

Answered by Matthew Patrick - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

Belfast International Airport is vital not just for Northern Ireland’s connectivity but for economic growth across the whole of the UK.

While civil aviation is a reserved matter, the development of airports in Northern Ireland, and the surface transport serving them, is devolved. It is therefore for the Northern Ireland Executive to determine their infrastructure investment priorities, including any potential rail connection, within the record funding settlement for Northern Ireland announced by the Chancellor at the spending review.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential merits of a train connection to Belfast International Airport.

Answered by Matthew Patrick - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

The Government recognises that connectivity is vital for supporting economic growth and opportunity across the United Kingdom.

I note that the Northern Ireland Executive recently received the findings from the Translink feasibility study into the reopening of the Antrim-Lisburn line, which includes options for a connection to Belfast International Airport.

The Executive also recently received the final report of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which considers this project a priority. As transport is a devolved matter, it is for the Executive to determine their infrastructure investment priorities based on these findings and to allocate funding from the record financial settlement of £19.3 billion for 2025-26.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Ulster Farmers’ Union.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

My officials and I regularly meet with the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) to discuss the views of the farming community in Northern Ireland, the Government’s international trade policy and movements of agrifood products within the UK internal market.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I wrote to the UFU on 23 December setting out the Government’s changes to inheritance tax and Agricultural Property Relief. These changes will protect more farms and businesses, while maintaining the core principle that more valuable agricultural and business assets should not receive unlimited relief.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the environmental condition of Lough Neagh.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The blue-green algae which we have seen develop over recent years in Lough Neagh is very worrying and has had a serious impact on the environmental health of the Lough.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State recently met with Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA, and discussed the environmental impact on Lough Neagh, the Lough Neagh Action Plan and where the UK Government can support the Department in tackling the pollution in Lough Neagh.

Whilst the protection and conservation of the Lough is a devolved matter, this Government recognises the vital importance of Lough Neagh and will continue to engage with the Executive on this issue.

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.

Found: , Communities & Local Government 7.6 Minister of Defence 81.9 Ministry of Justice 13.5 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.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, whether the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will prevent former members of paramilitary organisations from sitting on the Legacy Commission.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, at the Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent), on 24 November 2025 to Question HL11718 in the House of Lords.

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