Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many requests have been (a) made by the ICRIR to An Garda Síochána since their establishment and (b) answered.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is an independent body. As such, the Government does not hold this operational information and the Right Honourable Gentleman may wish to request it from the Commission directly.
Asked by: Graham Leadbitter (Scottish National Party - Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 on Question 95787 on the Prime Minister, what is the estimated total departmental spend by his department to supporting the Minister for the Union in their role since the office was established.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office does not provide any direct financial support to the Minister for the Union.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the US ambassador on opportunities to attract increased US investment to Northern Ireland; and what steps his Department is taking to facilitate such investment.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government engages regularly with the US administration to promote investment opportunities in Northern Ireland and I met the US Ambassador in Northern Ireland in July. Recent major investments, like Bank of America’s Belfast expansion, bringing with it over 100 jobs, confirm the significant interest in Northern Ireland from US businesses and investors. The UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal provides an important framework to reduce trade barriers, ensuring Northern Ireland remains an attractive destination for American firms.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost to the public purse was of feasibility studies conducted by their Department for projects that did not proceed in the last five years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) manages its projects in accordance with the principles of HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money to ensure the effective and efficient use of public funds.
Following a review of departmental records for the last five years, the Northern Ireland Office has no such costs to report.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he had had with the PSNI on the time taken to process FAC renewals and applications.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
While I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team regarding national security, and a range of issues, I have a limited role in relation to certain appeals against the decision of the Chief Constable not to issue firearms licences. The issuing of firearms licences is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to provide additional funding to address regional disparities the availability and quality of in social housing in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Social Housing policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department for Communities.
This Government has provided the Executive with a record £19.3 billion per year on average over the Spending Review period. It is for the Executive to allocate this money in line with its priorities.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office’s expenditure on (a) advertising and (b) marketing for the last three complete financial years, and the current financial year to date, is set out below:
Financial Year | Area | (a) Advertising | (b) Marketing |
2022-23 | NIO Core | £5,709.84 | £0.00 |
| ALBs | £10,865.04 | £0.00 |
2022-23 Total | £16,574.88 | £0.00 | |
2023-24 | NIO Core | £65,800.19 | £100,000.00 |
| ALBs | £6,120.32 | £0.00 |
2023-24 Total | £71,920.51 | £100,000.00 | |
2024-25 | NIO Core | £4,290.60 | £529,817.27 |
| ALBs | £14,697.57 | £0.00 |
2024-25 Total | £18,988.17 | £529,817.27 | |
2025-26 (to 31 Dec 2025) | NIO Core | £13,774.40 | £144,510.94 |
| ALBs | £9,644.08 |
|
2025-26 end of December Total | £23,418.48 | £144,510.94 | |
* Please note that the figures for NIO Core include expenditure related to public inquiries within the NIO group, including the Omagh Bombing Public Inquiry.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential economic impact of the Windsor Framework on businesses in Northern Ireland trading with Great Britain.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market.
Over 15,000 businesses are now registered to take advantage of facilitations for freight and parcels under the Windsor Framework, and the Windsor Framework Independent Monitoring Panel reported last year that 96% of goods moved by freight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the first half of 2025 did so within the UK internal market system.
The frequency of identity checks on agri-food products was recently reduced from 10% to 8% of consignments. We are also negotiating an SPS agreement with the EU that will smooth flows of trade still further, protect the UK’s internal market, reduce costs for businesses and improve consumer choice in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mitigate the effects in Northern Ireland of a potential EU ban on the sale of antimicrobial drugs without prescription.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The EU has not yet formally approved or published a final legal text, I am however aware of the potential impacts of restrictions on the sale of antimicrobial medicines without prescription on Northern Ireland's health services, particularly demand for GP appointments. The Government has raised this issue and we will, as ever, always advocate for the interests of Northern Ireland.
The Government will publish an explanatory memorandum in due course in accordance with the usual processes.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by how much they plan to reduce their Department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Digital Identity policy is in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals.
Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlements.
We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and inclusive system for the UK. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.