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 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.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 November (HL1933), why they do not intend to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, despite the commitment set in 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.

Section 10(1)(b) refers to the Joint Report between the UK and EU negotiators of October 2017, which makes reference, among other things, to the all-island economy. The all-island economy is a fact and greatly to the benefit of businesses and people in Northern Ireland, as is Northern Ireland’s trade within the UK internal market.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how it is envisaged that the new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will work with the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will have a role in relation to non-devolved UK government infrastructure responsibilities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. NISTA will engage closely with Devolved Administrations and bodies under their jurisdictions as appropriate, particularly on matters where the respective infrastructure policy responsibilities of the UK government and devolved administrations interact.

As announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 10 October NISTA will combine the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission and Infrastructure and Projects Authority. NISTA will drive effective delivery of infrastructure across the country.

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

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 6 November (HL Deb col 1487) which indicated that the Windsor Framework (agreed in February 2023) negates the need to remove the legal duties on Ministers to promote an all-Ireland economy, why a commitment to remove those duties was therefore included in paragraphs 114–16 of the Command Paper Safeguarding the Union (CP 1021), published in January 2024.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to QWA HL2354 tabled by Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee and published on 15 November 2024.