Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 20 November (HL11754), what study was undertaken to reach the conclusion in their response (HC637) to the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards on the operation of the Recall of MPs Act 2015; and which of the criteria adumbrated in paragraph 40.1 and 40.2 of the "Guide to Making Legislation" apply in the decision not to undertake post-legislative scrutiny of the Act.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government's January 2025 response to the House of Commons Committee on Standards' recommendation regarding the Recall of MPs Act 2015 was based on the operation of the Act and the six recall petitions that have taken place since the Act came into force.

These recall petitions have collectively engaged all three recall conditions, and one did not attain the 10% threshold required to recall the MP in question. Given the variety of circumstances in which the recall process has been engaged, and given the variety of outcomes, the Government believes that the 2015 Act has been tested sufficiently and proven an effective and proportionate tool in the parliamentary standards regime.

The Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation is clear that post-legislative scrutiny of legislation can take the form of discussion with the relevant parliamentary committee. The Government remains open to dialogue with Parliament, including the House of Commons Committee on Standards and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, about the ongoing operation of the Recall Act.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer given by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 November (HL11229), what advice they have received from the European Court of Human Rights regarding the current status of the Republic of Ireland's interstate case against the United Kingdom; and what plans they have to propose that the government of Ireland withdraw the case at the 1545th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies at the Council of Europe in December.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Ireland v. the United Kingdom (III) at the European Court of Human Rights has not progressed beyond preliminary stages since it was lodged by Ireland in January 2024. On 2 July 2025, the United Kingdom received correspondence from the Court to confirm that it had adjourned its proceedings pending the final outcome of the ongoing domestic proceedings for judicial review in the case Dillon and Others, which is currently awaiting judgment by the United Kingdom Supreme Court.

The withdrawal of the case is a matter for the Irish Government. The UK Government is clear that the implementation of the Troubles Bill, which seeks to fulfil long standing commitments made by this Government, will mean that the basis for any interstate case will fall away.

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Found: Baroness Anderson of Stoke on Trent 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ Erskine

Found: Letter dated 27/11/2025 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke on Trent to Baroness Finn, Baroness Brinton,

Found: Letter dated 17/11/2025 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke on Trent to Baroness Smith of Llanfaes regarding

Found: Letter dated 17/11/2025 from Baroness Anderson of Stoke on Trent to Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle