Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice on public confidence in sentencing decisions in Northern Ireland; and whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
It is important that there is confidence in the justice system. I regularly meet with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice to discuss areas of mutual interest and concern.
Policing and justice, with the exception of national security, are devolved matters. As such, I understand that the Minister of Justice has introduced the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which aims to create more stringent sentences for a range of offences.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 118513 on Identity Cards: Northern Ireland, why it is detrimental to have the electoral ID used as a form of secondary identification by citizens in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The intended purpose of the Northern Ireland electoral ID card is for an elector to be able to prove their identity when voting. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) produces the cards. It is not the responsibility of EONI to provide a secondary identification service; nor are they resourced to do so.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received following the decision of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy to exempt businesses employing fewer than 10 workers from the provisions on trade union recognition in the 'Good Jobs' Employment Rights Bill; and what is their assessment of the impact of that decision on Northern Ireland adherence to the principles set out for trade union members across the UK.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Under Section 4, Paragraph 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, employment law and trade union matters are transferred to the Northern Ireland Executive. Any decisions regarding employment law are therefore the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions a) Ministers and b) officials in his Department have had with the Soft Power Council.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Since the Soft Power Council was established in January 2025, it has met four times. Information about the Soft Power Council and its meetings is available on GOV.UK, including meeting dates, terms of reference, and abridged minutes of discussions.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Treasury on the potential merits of providing additional funding for the Connect Fund for the 2027-2029 period
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Connect Fund has achieved significant success, as evidenced by its oversubscription in every funding round held to date. Consequently, a total of 46 projects were supported through Rounds 1 and 2.
To address this sustained demand, the Northern Ireland Office has approved two additional funding rounds: Round 3 (FY 27/28) with an allocation of £500,000, and Round 4 (FY 28/29) with an increased allocation of £1,000,000.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet colleagues on the potential role of the Royal Navy in ensuring the safe passage of British-registered vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on the conflict in Iran, and its impact..
The Government is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensuring the safety of British vessels, and the UK is playing a leading role jointly with France to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz through a multinational military mission. Further planning for the UK’s contribution to the multinational mission is ongoing in coordination with international partners.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Connect Fund on assessing the (a) application and (b) success rates for those applying to that fund from beyond the Greater Belfast area.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office Connect Fund welcomes applications from the voluntary and community sector, civic society and national representative bodies across Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Geographical application and success rates are reviewed as part of the ongoing monitoring process, and awareness of the Fund has been promoted via seven informational Roadshow Events; five events have been delivered in-person, outside of the Greater Belfast area.
Of the 127 unique applicants to the Connect Fund, 41 represent Northern-Ireland based organisations located outside the Greater Belfast area (32%). A further 33 represent GB-based organisations (26%). Of the 40 unique organisations which have been successful in securing funding, 14 represent Northern Ireland based organisations located outside of the Greater Belfast area (35%). A further 5 represent GB-based organisations (13%). The Connect Fund has been confirmed for two further rounds; Round 3 will open for applications ahead of the 27/28 Financial Year, and Round 4 will open ahead of the 28/29 Financial Year. All eligible organisations seeking to deliver programming to strengthen East-West civic relationships are welcomed and encouraged to apply.
Asked by: Alison Hume (Labour - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential merits of introducing bespoke fishing visas for seasonal scampi fishers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to the long-term prosperity and sustainability of UK fishing, and the Northern Ireland fishing industry is a vital part of this. Earlier this year I visited Kilkeel with Minister Andrew Muir, where I discussed with representatives from the fishing industry a number of issues including the current visa regime. In light of the representations I have received around labour shortages, I have raised this matter with the Home Secretary, and Minister Tapp met with relevant stakeholders on Monday 20 April.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government policies on the economy in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s economy is one of the strongest in the UK and is a growing leader in Fintech, Cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.
This Government is providing support through a record funding settlement, and significant investment in the four City and Growth Deals, £150 million for a new Enhanced Investment Zone, and new trade agreements that will create jobs and opportunities, including with the European Union.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of asylum seekers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Immigration and asylum policy are reserved matters for the Home Office. I would encourage the Honourable Member to write to the Home Secretary on this matter.