Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to take steps with the Northern Ireland Executive to support the use of Ulster-Scots.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. In May 2023, the Government commenced the provisions in the Act required for the Executive Office to begin to progress work in relation to these appointments. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.
This week, the Government commenced Section 5 of the Act which places a duty on the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to encourage and facilitate the use and understanding of Ulster Scots in the education system
My officials continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on this, and I look forward to implementation of the Act which will enshrine respect and tolerance for Northern Ireland’s traditions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has taken steps to promote the use of the Ulster-Scots dialect.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. In May 2023, the Government commenced the provisions in the Act required for the Executive Office to begin to progress work in relation to these appointments. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.
This week, the Government commenced Section 5 of the Act which places a duty on the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to encourage and facilitate the use and understanding of Ulster Scots in the education system
My officials continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on this, and I look forward to implementation of the Act which will enshrine respect and tolerance for Northern Ireland’s traditions.
Asked by: Alex Easton (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a comparative assessment of the cost to the public purse for (a) inquiries and (b) legal proceedings relating to (i) the deaths of four men following the use of lethal force in County Tyrone in February 1992 and (ii) other lethal incidents involving the IRA from the same period.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The cost of public inquiries will differ according to the scope of each Inquiry. The cost of legal proceedings will also differ substantially according to the scope of each case. It is not therefore possible to provide an accurate comparative assessment of the cost to the public purse of those respective undertakings.
The Northern Ireland Office’s spend on legal costs is included within our Annual Report and Accounts, although we do not differentiate between legal costs we incur and costs we pay to claimants’ lawyers. Costs for public inquiries are published by the Inquiries themselves.
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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2533 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2534 on (a) businesses selling tumble dryers in Northern Ireland, (b) consumers buying tumble dryers in Northern Ireland and (c) Northern Ireland after 1 July 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to increasing the environmental performance of energy-related products. In support of that, the Government will be consulting on adopting measures equivalent to Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2533 and Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2534 in domestic law. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, such measures would ensure a consistent regime across the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Ministers and Departments the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland consulted before withdrawing on 29 July 2024 the appeal against the section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 declarations of incompatibility made by the Northern Ireland High Court in the Dillon case.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All relevant Ministers have been consulted on the Governments approach to addressing the legacy of the Troubles, including the decision taken in July 2024 to abandon the Government's appeal to the Court of Appeal on all European Convention on Human Rights grounds. This followed the ruling of the Northern Ireland High Court in February 2024.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Ministers and Departments were consulted before the Government laid the Northern Ireland Troubles (Reconciliation and Information Recovery) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2024.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All relevant Ministers have been consulted on the Government's approach to addressing the legacy of the Troubles, including the proposal for a Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023, which was laid on 4 December 2024.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 firearms licenses.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The issuing of firearms licences in Northern Ireland is a largely devolved matter, overseen by the Department of Justice, aside from where it touches on excepted matters. I meet regularly with the Justice Minister to discuss a range of issues. Similarly Northern Ireland Office officials meet with their counterparts at the NI Department of Justice to discuss firearms licencing on a regular basis.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
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 pages 142 and 143 of the Irish government's publication entitled Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future, published on 23 January 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I welcome the Irish Government’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and upholding the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. We have made great progress in resetting UK-Ireland relations since the UK General Election and this will be reaffirmed by the first UK-Ireland Summit between the Prime Minister and Taoiseach, underlining our renewed and close relations.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has received representations on the feasibility of proposals for the Dáil to sit in Northern Ireland; and whether he has made an assessment of the compatibility of those proposals with the Belfast Agreement.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I have received no such representations.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to help support recovery efforts following Storm Éowyn in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Hundreds of thousands of homes were affected by Storm Éowyn and I know the House would wish to express its thanks to all those who worked so hard to restore services.
The Government worked closely with the NI Executive to ensure that all the help needed for Northern Ireland to recover was provided.