Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 6 November (HL Deb col 1487) which indicated that the Windsor Framework (agreed in February 2023) negates the need to remove the legal duties on Ministers to promote an all-Ireland economy, why a commitment to remove those duties was therefore included in paragraphs 114–16 of the Command Paper Safeguarding the Union (CP 1021), published in January 2024.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to QWA HL2354 tabled by Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee and published on 15 November 2024.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that businesses in Northern Ireland receive the same rate relief support as their counterparts in other regions of the United Kingdom, including the recent 40% rate relief scheme announced for high street businesses in England.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Business relief support is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. The Northern Ireland Executive’s Spending Review settlement for 2025-26 is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution.
The Northern Ireland Executive is receiving £18.2 billion in 2025-26, including an additional £1.5 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula and £760 million targeted funding, with £670 million resource and £90 million capital, including for the 2024 restoration financial package, historic funding packages, and additional security funding.
It is for the Executive to allocate this record funding in a way that delivers effective public services and provides better outcomes for people.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
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 on Northern Ireland Office: Domestic Visits, what steps he is taking to ensure the process is followed.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Members of Parliament are notified in advance of Ministerial visits to their constituency. On a recent occasion, a typographical error in an email meant that the Honourable Member’s constituency office was not notified correctly. The Northern Ireland Office has since contacted the Honourable Member’s constituency office to convey apologies for this.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to page 90 of the Kings Speech 2024 background briefing notes, published on 17 July 2024, what recent progress he has made on his plans to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 in a way that complies with human rights standards; and what steps he is taking to help ensure the effective conduct of investigations by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government remains committed to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act, in particular, those sections which have been most vehemently opposed by victims and survivors and found deficient by the court. The Government has already committed to bringing forward a remedial order under the Human Rights Act to remove conditional immunity provisions and we are considering the Dillon judgment. We are also consulting widely on a practical way forward that can obtain support and comply with our human rights obligations. I remain committed to retaining and reforming the ICRIR to further strengthen its powers and independence.
Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have recognised the ICRIR’s structural independence and wide powers to conduct effective investigations. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to deliver results for victims and survivors.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to publish the terms of reference for Intertrade UK.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I confirmed the appointment of Baroness Foster as the chair of Intertrade UK on 19 September and work is continuing on other necessary preparatory activity. We will announce further details - including the Terms of Reference - in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 November (HL1933), why they do not intend to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, despite the commitment set in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP1021)
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market while implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, including having regard to all aspects of the Northern Ireland economy.
Section 10(1)(b) refers to the Joint Report between the UK and EU negotiators of October 2017, which makes reference, among other things, to the all-island economy. The all-island economy is a fact and greatly to the benefit of businesses and people in Northern Ireland, as is Northern Ireland’s trade within the UK internal market.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on potential steps to facilitate the provision of records from mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland to affected individuals.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I understand that the Truth Recovery Programme in the Executive Office, working closely with victims and survivors of historical institutions in Northern Ireland, has made progress on the right to information and access to records. The Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has also produced practice guidance and there is work ongoing to progress secondary legislation with the Department for Science, Information and Technology to support this important objective.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the time taken to appoint commissioners under the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. In May 2023, the Government commenced the provisions in the Act required for the Executive Office to begin to progress work in relation to these appointments. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on notifying an hon. Member before visiting their constituency.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The policy is to notify Members of Parliament in advance of visiting their constituency.
Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they made of the impact on jobs and profitability in the Northern Ireland hospitality sector of the announcements in the Budget of (1) the increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions, and (2) the rise in the national minimum wage.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Northern Ireland has a thriving hospitality sector, and this Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to support sustainable economic growth. The settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget is the biggest real terms settlement since devolution.
To repair the £22bn black hole inherited by the Government and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. We recognise the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.
The Government is adopting recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, and increasing the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year olds by 16.3%. There are estimated to be almost 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.