Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2026 to Question 23047 on Veterans: Northern Ireland, if he will publish the full list of veterans’ organisations he and his ministers have met with, and the dates on which they met, since their appointment.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Since being appointed, NIO Ministers, and officials, have undertaken a programme of engagement with various veterans organisations and representatives. This includes meetings alongside the Ministry of Defence with the three Veterans Commissioners, the Royal British Legion, the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, and various Forces associations and regiments. Full details of engagements will be published as part of the quarterly transparency return.
As a result of this engagement, the Government has tabled a significant package of amendments ahead of Committee Stage that will strengthen the already considerable package of protections for veterans included in the Troubles Bill.
The Government will continue to engage closely with all stakeholders as we make progress on the Troubles Bill to ensure that it delivers effective legacy mechanisms that everybody can have confidence in.
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 the value is of deductions made from Troubles Permanent Disablement Payments under Regulation 19 in respect of payments made to former members of (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, (b) the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) the Royal Irish Regiment and (d) other branches of the Armed Forces.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is administered by the Victims’ Payments Board, with oversight by The Executive Office. As such, the Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information. I would encourage the Honourable Gentleman to direct his questions to the Victims’ Payments Board directly.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many awards under the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme have been reduced pursuant to Regulation 19 because an applicant receives (a) a War Disablement Pension, (b) an Ministry of Defence Injury on Duty Award and (c) a police Injury on Duty Award.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is administered by the Victims’ Payments Board, with oversight by The Executive Office. As such, the Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information. I would encourage the Honourable Gentleman to direct his questions to the Victims’ Payments Board directly.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many successful applicants to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme have had their monthly payment reduced to (a) less than £10, (b) between £10 and £25 and (c) between £25 and £50 as a consequence of Regulation 19.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is administered by the Victims’ Payments Board, with oversight by The Executive Office. As such, the Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information. I would encourage the Honourable Gentleman to direct his questions to the Victims’ Payments Board directly.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) Departmental Expenditure Limit and (b) Annually Managed Expenditure funding has been spent by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery in each financial year since its establishment.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was formally established in December 2023. The outturn expenditure for the Commission in each financial year to date, including initial setup costs, is provided in the following table, broken down by Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME).
Financial Year | Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) | Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) |
2022-23 | £0.77m | £0.00m |
2023-24 | £7.51m | £0.00m |
2024-25 | £23.34m | £5.16m |
2025-26 | £13.71m* | £12.41m* |
2026-27 | £4.41m** | £6.89m** |
*The full year Figures for 2025-26 remain provisional pending final audit and publication of the Annual Report and Accounts. Finalised, audited expenditure for completed financial years is also published within the ICRIR's and the Northern Ireland Office’s Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available on GOV.UK.
**Figures for 2026-27 represent actual year-to-date expenditure up to August 2026.
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 and what proportion of civil servants in his Department were on permanent home working contracts in 2025.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not hold a central record of which employees are working under remote-working arrangements.
The NIO remains committed to flexible working and the business benefits it offers, including supporting the Civil Service priority of ensuring continued, effective, and productive delivery across the full range of our services.
We differentiate formal, contractual remote-working arrangements from hybrid/informal working from home, which is a non-contractual arrangement. The NIO operates a hybrid approach led by business needs, and as a result, many employees work both from home and in the workplace on an informal basis.
Staff are expected to attend the workplace for a minimum of 60% of their working hours over a rolling 4-week period, with the exception of those with formal contractual remote-working contracts or specific arrangements in place, such as workplace adjustments.
The NIO does not hold central data on employees undertaking informal hybrid working.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide further funding to the Northern Ireland Executive beyond existing budget allocations; and if so, what conditions, reforms or performance measures would be attached.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Following a request for support, the UK Government has made a significant funding offer which takes into account Northern Ireland’s unique needs in return for measures which will promote and facilitate long term financial sustainability.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to engage extensively with the Executive parties to encourage the setting of a sustainable budget which will support public services and deliver certainty for the people of Northern Ireland.
Discussions are ongoing and the Secretary of State will not be providing a running commentary on the detail of these discussions.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what funding has been allocated for renewable energy projects.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Energy policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. To support renewable energy policies, in December 2025 Great British Energy provided £1.66 million to the Northern Ireland Executive. This will support public sector renewable energy projects. For example, the Further Education sector will benefit from clean energy through installation of Solar PV and battery storage technology at four further education colleges including, South West College, South Eastern Regional College, Northern Regional College and Belfast Met College.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to tackle hate crimes and sectarian incidents.
Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Incidences of hate crimes and sectarianism are deplorable and have no justification. Nearly thirty years on from the Good Friday Agreement, there is no place for this kind of intolerance in Northern Ireland.
Issues relating to justice, including sectarianism and hate crime legislation and policy, are devolved matters. The Northern Ireland Office is committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive to building a safer society in which current and future generations feel secure, respected and more reconciled.
Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Minister for Communities in Northern Ireland regarding reform of licensing laws, including the surrender principle, and the creation of a new licensing system to invigorate the brewing and pub sector.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Northern Ireland has a rich and vibrant hospitality sector, with a wide range of pubs and brewing companies. Recent examples such as the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast have demonstrated the vital role this sector plays in the economy and life of Northern Ireland.
This Government has shown its commitment to supporting the brewing and pub sector with Pubs, clubs and live music venues receiving a 20% cut to their business rates bills. This is of course devolved to Northern Ireland, but the Government wants to work with the Executive to support our pubs and brewers amidst the rising cost of living.