Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to lay the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On 4 December 2024, the Government laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
The Government has been carefully considering responses received including from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and other stakeholders and will respond to their report as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent former IRA members from claiming damages from the Government, in the context of the document entitled A proposal for a Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023, published on 4 December 2024.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I refer to the answer given last week to the Honourable Member for Stockton North (UIN 63126). The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of ICOs. The previous Government’s attempt to address this following the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Adams has been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be unlawful and we need to find a better way of reaffirming this principle.
The Government will therefore legislate to address this issue in forthcoming primary legislation.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff in his Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office does not have any employees working remotely from outside the UK. All staff are based within the UK.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to help ensure the independence of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework during the review process.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I would refer the Hon Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Paymaster General of 22 January 2025 (UIN 24053).
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office has spent the following on the provision of equipment for use at home in order to facilitate workplace adjustments:
Year | Expenditure |
2022 | £2,103.23 |
2023 | £27.98 |
2024 | £22.09 |
The Northern Ireland Office has adopted the Civil Service Smarter Working model, with the majority of our staff designated as hybrid workers. As set out by the Cabinet Office, staff are expected to spend a minimum of 3 days a week, or 60% of their time in the office, or on official visits.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62540 on Journalism: Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive on the number and proportion of cases that resulted in files being forwarded to the Prosecution Service for consideration.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Responsibility for policing and justice in Northern Ireland, excluding national security matters, was devolved in 2010. Nevertheless, I hold regular meetings with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice to discuss areas of mutual interest and concern.
The UK Government is committed to media freedom and ensuring the safety of journalists, and to bringing to justice those responsible for crimes against journalists.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will extend the timeframe for the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to include the Omagh bombing to enable the ICRIR to consider issues within the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not intend to expand the temporal scope of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. Criminal matters relating to conduct which took place in Northern Ireland after 10 April 1998 remain the responsibility of the PSNI.
The Omagh bombing is the subject of an independent inquiry established by the UK Government, chaired by Lord Turnbull. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Irish Government and the Inquiry on cross-jurisdictional information sharing, and the Irish Government’s commitment to facilitate the giving of oral evidence, are important steps.
The Government continues to work intensively with the Irish Government to reach an agreement on a joint-approach to legacy and information sharing, which is vital if we are to achieve better outcomes for victims and survivors.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide funding for association football in Northern Ireland, following the decision to contribute £50 million for the redevelopment of Casement Park.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government wants to see infrastructure in Northern Ireland for all sports. That is why we have invested, between 2021-2025, over £12 million of UK Government funding through the Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund, the Levelling Up Fund, and the Community Ownership Fund to improve and refurbish grassroots football facilities. The Government has also provided £5.1 million to Ulster Rugby for its Club Capital Improvement Project, to upgrade thirty rugby clubs under Ulster Rugby’s remit. And, between 2022-2025, the Government has invested over £30 million through the Levelling Up Fund and the Community Ownership Fund into a range of other sports and leisure facilities, including the redevelopment of Dundonald Ice Bowl in Belfast, the construction of Ballycastle Leisure Centre, and the construction of Canal Boxing Academy Sports Hub in Lisburn.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently met with Gerard Lawlor, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Football League, and Patrick Nelson, the Chief Executive of the Irish Football Association, to discuss football funding and other related matters.
The Culture Secretary confirmed on 19 June that work is continuing with the Home Nation football associations and devolved administrations to develop a bid for the UK to host the Women’s FIFA World Cup in 2035.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, as part of the £50 million committed for Casement Park, the Gaelic Athletic Association has been asked to change any of its rules or aims, such as those relating to flying the Irish National Flag, playing the Irish National Anthem, or strengthening national identity, in order to make it more inclusive of the Northern Ireland community.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
No such request has been made. The UK Government has committed £50 million of Capital Financial Transactions funding to redevelop Casement Park. We will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to provide support. However, it is up to the Executive to design and implement the Financial Transaction in developing the stadium in partnership with the GAA
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
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 the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal on Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In May, the UK concluded a landmark economic deal with the US. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.
For the first time ever, this deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef to the US market. This is a major opportunity for NI farmers to sell their high quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.
The Government remains focused on making sure businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. We are continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.