Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the recent ceasefire in the war in Gaza has changed the decision of the Royal College of Defence Studies to ban Israeli soldiers next year.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal College of Defence Studies is a constituent part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), responsible for the implementation of UK Government policy.
The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy, and compliance with international humanitarian law.
The MOD decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses until the situation in Gaza and the West Bank had been satisfactorily addressed. Since the ceasefire we have continued to monitor the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and we will keep this decision under review.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Troubles-related civil suits against government departments were stopped by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; what legal categories they fall under; and whether they will all be permitted to continue after the enactment of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act. The Government is, by way of a Remedial Order, repealing the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which was found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations.
It is right that citizens in all parts of the UK have the right to bring a civil case, and these are not necessarily cases against government departments. For example, four individuals were found responsible for the Omagh bombing in the civil courts in 2009.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which of the six protections, rights and safeguards announced by the Ministry of Defence on 19 September for veterans who served in Northern Ireland are featured in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill; which will not feature in the legislation; which will be exclusive to soldiers and police officers; and which will have universal application.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.
Measures set out in the legislation, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.
Some other non-legislative measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans do not have to give unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of legal fees for Troubles-related civil suits stopped by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; what is the likely compensation; and whether new troubles civil suits will be permitted after the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act.
In terms of future cases, the Remedial Order will repeal the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which has been found to be incompatible with our legal obligations. It is not possible to predict potential future proceedings.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their reasons for making the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025 instead of using primary legislation; and why the changes proposed in the Remedial Order cannot be incorporated in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Remedial order will provide clarity as quickly as possible, and correct incompatibilities identified by the Northern Ireland courts, especially on two issues of significant public interest i.e. the removal of the immunity provisions and the removal of the bar on Troubles-related civil cases.
Providing clarity on these matters via the Remedial Order allows us to increase trust in the Commission.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to remarks by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 14 October (HC Deb cols 246–7), why the Advocate General is specified in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as the individual responsible for stopped inquests.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The reference in the Bill to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland reflects their specific role in relation to Northern Ireland. However, we have made clear this is a function that may be exercised by the Solicitor General for England and Wales in accordance with section 2 of the Law Officers Act 1997.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to prevent illegal migrants who arrive in the Republic of Ireland from travelling into Northern Ireland and then to Great Britain.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. That collaboration includes a joint commitment to protect the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.
The UK operates intelligence-led operational activity across the CTA and everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK’s immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the Royal College of Defence Studies about its decision to ban Israeli soldiers next year.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK military educational courses have long been open to personnel from a wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasising compliance with international humanitarian law.
However, the Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong. There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanisation aid to the people of Gaza. We have therefore paused future Israeli participation in UK-run courses.
The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is a constituent part of the Ministry of Defence, and as such implements Government policy and decisions. All relevant teams across the Department, including RCDS, were informed of the decision to pause the future allocation of places on UK training and education courses to Israel.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support The National Archives to establish an economic operator within the European Union under the terms of the Windsor Framework to ensure it can sell merchandise to people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Archives shop operates on a self-funding commercial basis and aims to resume sales to Northern Ireland in the future.
Some GB based businesses have faced changes due to the updated EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We have issued guidance, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely within the UK and with the EU. DBT signposts businesses to verified external service providers specialising in GPSR.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the acquittal of Jamie Bryson on 3 July by the Belfast Magistrates Court, what assessment they have made of the conduct of the Security Industry Authority in that prosecution, and of the value for money for taxpayers of that prosecution.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The SIA is an operationally independent arm’s length body, responsible for the service it provides, including how it manages its private prosecutions.
The organisation is already accountable to Parliament for its activities, including its financial accounts, which are audited by the National Audit Office and laid in Parliament on an annual basis.
The SIA did not bring these proceedings against Mr Bryson and was therefore not involved.