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 take steps with Intertrade UK to help (a) consumers and (b) businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government established Intertrade UK in February 2025, with a clear purpose to provide advice on and promote trade and investment across the UK.
This is why Intertrade UK’s recently published Work Programme sets out how the body will advise on ways to support intra-UK trade by removing barriers to trade, promoting UK internal market opportunities, and enhancing infrastructure and connectivity. This includes, but will not be limited to, advice on ways to help consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland trade with businesses in Great Britain.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will legislate to reverse the effect of the judgment of the Supreme Court in R v Adams [2020] UKSC 19 to ensure that Gerry Adams is not entitled to receive public money due to his detention in the 1970s and to restore the doctrine created as a result of the judgment in Carltona v Commissioners of Works [1943] 2 All ER 560 under which a duly authorised official is able to take executive decisions on a Secretary of State's behalf.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of Interim Custody Orders. 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 incompatible with our international obligations and we need to find a better way of reaffirming this principle.
The Government is carefully exploring how to address this complex issue alongside our clear commitment to implement legacy mechanisms that are fully compliant with human rights, and will do so in upcoming Primary Legislation.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Northern Ireland Troubles legacy inquests have taken place into (1) killings of security force members, (2) killings of known terrorists, and (3) killings of civilians; and what are the names of each of those inquests.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Legacy Inquests are a matter of public record and are available on the Judiciary NI website.
The conduct of inquests in Northern Ireland is devolved and, as records of any pre-devolution inquests would have been transferred to the Northern Ireland Department of Justice (DOJ), requests for information on these matters should be directed to the DOJ.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what involvement or role is planned for the government of Ireland within any Troubles legacy institutions in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government considers the Irish Government to be an essential partner in addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past. On Friday 19 September 2025, the two governments published a high-level framework document outlining all key areas on which they have reached agreement, which includes meaningful and tangible commitments by the Irish Government and UK Government respectively.
The Framework is enclosed.
Asked by: Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further legacy inquests they plan to instigate as part of the Northern Ireland Troubles legacy.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 19 September 2025, the UK and Irish governments have published a framework document outlining the main areas on which the two governments have reached agreement on Legacy. The Government will fulfil its commitment to restore those inquests that were halted by the Legacy Act. The remainder will be considered in a sifting process by the Solicitor General. Our approach reflects the importance of inquests to many families, but also the significant role that a fully reformed Commission with more powers will play in achieving outcomes for families, particularly in cases containing sensitive information.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - 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 12 September (HL10086), why voters with photographic identification cannot receive an Electoral Identity Card.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the response given on 12 September 2025 to UIN HL10086.
The sole purpose of the Electoral Identity Card is for voting at a polling station. If an individual holds another accepted form of photographic voter identification, they may use it to vote and there is no need to apply for an Electoral Identity Card.
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 many days the Union Flag was flown on his Department's main buildings in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office is a tenant within two UK Government Hubs, one is located at Erskine House in Belfast, and the other at 1 Horse Guards Road London. Our Belfast office is managed by HM Revenue & Customs and our London office is managed by the Government Property Agency. As a tenant, the Northern Ireland Office does not hold information regarding flag flying in respect of these offices.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will announce the independent expert who will scope out the viability of a transition process within the remit of the Independent Reporting Commission.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland expects to be in a position to make an announcement on this appointment in the near future.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to enable voters in Northern Ireland who already have a form of identification to obtain electoral identity cards.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland is responsible for the supply of electoral identity cards in Northern Ireland.
There has been a requirement to show photographic voter ID in Northern Ireland since 2003 and there is a comprehensive list of accepted documents to bring to the polling station. If an individual does not have any of these forms of photographic ID, they may apply for an electoral identity card.
Asked by: Lord Frost (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 21 July (HC68604) on the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, whether a date has yet been set for the publication of the Review.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland laid a copy of the report in Parliament and transmitted a copy to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 4 September 2025, which was confirmed to this House on the same day in Written Ministerial Statement HLWS907. The report has also been made available online.