Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps with Intertrade UK to help (a) consumers and (b) businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government established Intertrade UK in February 2025, with a clear purpose to provide advice on and promote trade and investment across the UK.

This is why Intertrade UK’s recently published Work Programme sets out how the body will advise on ways to support intra-UK trade by removing barriers to trade, promoting UK internal market opportunities, and enhancing infrastructure and connectivity. This includes, but will not be limited to, advice on ways to help consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when information on the operation of the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland will be available.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK Government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across Northern Ireland, once the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends in March 2026.

My department is working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to implement and develop the new Local Growth Fund. The Government is committed to engagement with stakeholders in Northern Ireland to help implement a package of funding that meets local needs and delivers impact. More information on the development of the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland and engagement plans will be set out soon.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2025 to Question 74994 on the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, which hon. Members from Northern Ireland were given an advanced briefing on the reports contents by the Northern Ireland Office.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

As stated previously, the Northern Ireland Office speaks to parties regularly and does not give a running commentary on those discussions.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls.

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

It is our collective shame that Northern Ireland has the highest rate of violence against women and girls in the UK.

This Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade, a commitment I feel very strongly about. I will work with the Executive and groups across Northern Ireland so that women, girls and children are safe.

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 health services in Northern Ireland.

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

With our record settlement for Northern Ireland, and work of the Executive, waiting lists are starting to come down.

Soon, I will meet with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to discuss long-term transformation.

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 health services in Northern Ireland.

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

With our record settlement for Northern Ireland, and work of the Executive, waiting lists are starting to come down.

Soon, I will meet with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to discuss long-term transformation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to help reduce administration for businesses required to complete declarations for goods staying in Northern Ireland under trusted trader schemes.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

On 1 May, the Government introduced important new arrangements for freight and parcel movements to ensure that goods can continue to move smoothly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The new arrangements ensure that parcels sent to or from consumers will not be subject to customs declarations or duty.

We have also introduced a range of schemes to support businesses by removing unnecessary checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; over 15,000 businesses are already signed up to the UK Internal Market Scheme.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many applications were received for the first round of the Connect Fund.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Connect Fund has received a very positive reaction from the civic and voluntary sector and in its inaugural month received a total of 24 applications.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the his Department's press release entitled UK and Irish Governments announce legacy framework to enable truth for families of the Troubles, published on 19 September 2025, whether the proposed (a) right to stay at home, (b) protection from repeated investigations and (c) protection in old age will apply to people who are not veterans that served in the HM Armed Forces.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

On 14 October, the Government introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as part of our commitment to repeal and replace the previous government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The legislation includes strong safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the concerns expressed during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Government is also taking forward some measures on a non-legislative basis. All of the measures 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.

Some measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Other measures, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

The Commission’s duty to avoid duplication unless it is considered essential will apply to all of its investigations. This will ensure that the Commission’s investigations are effective, efficient, and focused on getting answers for families, whilst also protecting veterans from having to unnecessarily provide information previously covered.

Found: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government MoD Ministry of Defence MoJ Ministry of Justice NIO

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the number of civil servants working from home for three days a week or more is increasing or decreasing.

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

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.

Data for the latest period for which data is available is copied below. No other information on occupancy data or workforce attendance is gathered centrally.

Departments manage their own arrangements for monitoring workforce attendance. Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Found: 30,536 32,068 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 28,313 25,559 Northern Ireland Office

Found: 19RDEL (excluding depreciation)Northern Ireland ExecutiveBudget Cover TransferBudget Cover Transfer to NIO

Found: Funding Policy 2025.4 3Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Office

Found: Castelli, Enrico, Beretta, Elena, De Tanti, Anto- nio et al. (2022) Robot-assisted rehabilitation for

Found: Castelli, Enrico, Beretta, Elena, De Tanti, Anto- nio et al. (2022) Robot-assisted rehabilitation for