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Written Question
EU Law: Northern Ireland
Friday 30th May 2025

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of EU laws that apply to Northern Ireland; and whether they have any plans to address their continued application to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The legal texts of the Windsor Framework are available online and set out the rules that are applicable. The Government submits Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament and the NI Assembly about proposed changes to those regulations to facilitate scrutiny, which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/explanatory-memoranda-on-eu-documents

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


Written Question
Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the work of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery on delivering truth and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

A growing number of families are taking cases to ICRIR, and the Government has confidence in its ability to start delivering investigations, accountability, and information for them.

In its judgment, the Court of Appeal recognised ICRIR’s powers to access information and its independence from government. However, the confidence of families in its work is paramount.

That is why the Government has already begun the process of repealing and replacing the previous Government's Legacy Act and is committed to fundamentally reforming the ICRIR to further strengthen its powers and independence.

The Government will continue to work with all parties in a spirit of openness as we seek a resolution to legacy that can see us move forward together.


Written Question
Social Rented Housing: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on increasing the rate of construction of social housing.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Construction of Social Housing is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of Communities.

The UK Government has provided the Executive with a record £18.2bn for 2025-26. This includes an additional £1.5bn for 2025/26 and represents the largest settlement in the history of devolution. It is for the Executive to allocate money to the Department of Communities for social housing construction.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and I have met with the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA, to discuss a range of issues, including social housing.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

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 14 May 2025 to Question 51251 on Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland, on how many of those visits the hon. Member for that constituency received prior notification.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Honourable Gentleman will be aware it is a requirement to notify Members of Parliament before a visit to their constituency. For the recent occasion when he was not notified, I have apologised to him.


Written Question
Business: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU reset deal on businesses in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government's new strategic partnership with the EU will deliver greater prosperity and security for Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. In particular, the new SPS Agreement with the EU will facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, protecting the UK’s internal market, reducing costs for businesses and improving consumer choice.

The Summit also marked the establishment of a new security and defence partnership that will help us work together with the EU on threats to national security and will support our defence industry, which has more than 9,000 aerospace, defence, space, and security jobs in Northern Ireland. In addition, we announced a closer law enforcement relationship with the EU that will help prevent crime and bring perpetrators to justice.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Irish Language
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which Irish language groups he has met; when those meetings took place; which Irish language centres he has visited; and when he visited them.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Since my appointment, I have met with a number of Irish language groups in Northern Ireland, including Foras na Gaeilge.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Ulster Scots Language
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which Ulster-Scots groups he has met; when those meetings took place; which Ulster-Scots groups he has visited; and when he visited them.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Since my appointment, I have met with a range of language groups in Northern Ireland, including the Ulster-Scots Agency.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a government representative will visit Northern Ireland for the Orange Order parades on 12 July 2025.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

For security reasons we do not share details of Northern Ireland Office Ministers’ itineraries in advance.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the 18 parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland has he visited since his appointment.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have visited 16 parliamentary constituencies across Northern Ireland since my appointment.


Written Question
UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Thursday 22nd May 2025

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 InterTrade UK on the potential impact of the trade agreement with the EU on internal trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government's new strategic partnership with the EU will deliver greater prosperity and security for Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. In particular, the new SPS Agreement with the EU will facilitate the smooth flow of agrifood and plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, protecting the UK’s internal market, reducing costs for businesses and improving consumer choice.

Intertrade UK is focused on promoting all internal UK trade including work to support businesses across the UK realise the full benefits of the new SPS Agreement.