Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progess they have made in setting up the Castlereagh Foundation as set out in the New Decade, New Approach Deal of 2020 and subsequent legislation.

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

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 recognises Northern Ireland's rich diversity of identity and language, and benefits both Irish language speakers and those from the Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition. The Government continues to work with the Executive on the implementation of the Act.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their position that British Overseas Territories should be governed by the principle of self-determination; and if so, how they have applied the principle in the case of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The right of self-determination applies to all peoples under international law, including those of the British Overseas Territories. The British Indian Ocean territory has no permanent population and has never been self-governing. The bilateral agreement reached between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago reflects this context and has absolutely no bearing on the wider UK government policy regarding our other Overseas Territories.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the Foreign Secretary will meet members of the Chagossian community who live in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Minister for the Overseas Territories has met with members of the Chagossian community twice since the election, including a number of Chagossians who live in the United Kingdom. Ministers and Officials will continue to regularly engage with members of the Chagossian community in the UK and internationally on a range of issues.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made to establish a Homecoming project to strengthen links and relationships with the Northern Ireland diaspora and alumni across the world, as detailed in the New Decade, New Approach Deal of 2020.

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

As set out in the third written ministerial update on New Decade, New Approach, tabled by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 26 April 2023, the previous Government concluded that there was no viable delivery route for the Homecoming programme that met key requirements of regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timescale for repealing section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, in accordance with the commitment set out in paragraph 116 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP1021).

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

The Government is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market while implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith, including having regard to all aspects of the Northern Ireland economy, and taking forward policies in the Safeguarding the Union Command paper.

The Government has no current plans to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the provisions of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (as amended) around the impact of their decision to impose VAT on school fees.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT is a reserved tax and the VAT changes will apply uniformly across the UK. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not engaged by this policy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much revenue has been generated from charging Irish operators using the red lane through Northern Ireland ports, as set out in paragraph 132 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP1021).

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to ensuring the smooth flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Charging arrangements for Irish operators using the red lane are not currently in place, the new Government are looking into this matter and will provide an update in due course.

Found: Proposal 22: Letter from the Lord Bishop of Manchester 51 Proposal 23: Letter from Baroness Deech, Baroness