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 special severance payments in each of the last three years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The total value of severance payments is set out in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, which are available for the last three years at: GOV.UK
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
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 EU-Mercosur trade agreement on farmers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I understand that the EU-Mercosur interim Trade Agreement will apply provisionally from May 2026, and we will monitor its effects on trade and our imports closely.
While Northern Ireland has access to the EU Single Market in agricultural goods alongside the UK internal market, it is UK trade agreements that Northern Ireland exporters benefit from. This includes farmers and those in the food and drink sector.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to support the resumption of inquests that were discontinued by previous legislation.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Troubles Bill will restore the small number of Troubles-related inquests that were already in progress but then halted by the previous government’s Legacy Act.
Inquests that had not started will be subject to an assessment by the Solicitor General to independently consider whether each case is most appropriately dealt with by the reformed Legacy Commission or the coronial system.
Asked by: Matt Turmaine (Labour - Watford)
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 support for the film industry in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Matthew Patrick - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
This Government knows how important the film industry is, and that is why it is at the heart of our Industrial Strategy.
Northern Ireland has world class creative talent - I got to see that up close at the recent Netflix premiere of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. That premiere was held at the Queens Film Theatre, recognised just this month as one of the top one hundred cinemas in the world.
Asked by: Sam Rushworth (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
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 Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 on Northern Ireland.
Answered by Matthew Patrick - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
This month has shown just how volatile the world is and the importance of the investment this Government is making in our defences.
My assessment is that the Defence Growth Deal’s potential is transformative for businesses small and large across Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
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 Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 on Northern Ireland.
Answered by Matthew Patrick - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
This month has shown just how volatile the world is and the importance of the investment this Government is making in our defences.
My assessment is that the Defence Growth Deal’s potential is transformative for businesses small and large across Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues in response to reports of suppliers in Great Britain ceasing trade with businesses based in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government continues to take practical action to protect and facilitate trade across the UK internal market. At Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market, including funding for an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service and a dedicated budget for Intertrade UK, the non-statutory advisory body established under Safeguarding the Union to help boost trade across the UK. On a wide range of regulatory areas, the Government has been taking action to account for the views of industry and smooth flows of trade within the UK market, including in pharmaceuticals, toy safety, and the labelling of chemicals.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance he has provided to businesses in Great Britain on the Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland's access to the UK internal market.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK for businesses moving goods under the Windsor Framework, alongside support from the Trader Support Service.
At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced £16.6 million to strengthen the UK internal market and help boost trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This will include a comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ regulatory support service that will provide additional guidance beyond what is currently available on GOV.UK, supporting businesses in Great Britain to trade with Northern Ireland and take advantage of the facilitations made available under the Windsor Framework.
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 18 March 2026 to Question 120605 on Northern Ireland Executive, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about funding of Ulster University campus locations at (i) Coleraine and (ii) Belfast following the E-DATA project announcement.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
While the funding and strategic oversight of the higher education sector are devolved matters for the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government remains committed to the delivery of the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Region City Deal.
Through this City Deal, the UK Government is investing £105 million to support regional growth, which includes funding for the School of Medicine at Ulster University’s Magee Campus. We will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive and other partners on the progression of this City Deal and the PEACEPLUS programme to ensure these investments benefit the wider region.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to proceed with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On 22 January, the House of Commons approved the Remedial Order, which will remove the conditional immunity provided to terrorists by the previous Government’s immunity scheme.
The scheduling of the debate in the House of Lords will be announced in the usual way.