Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December into the actions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Metropolitan Police regarding the investigation of journalists in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has noted the detailed Investigatory Powers Tribunal judgment in this case. The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has already accepted the Tribunal’s judgment that due consideration was not given to whether there was an overriding public interest in interfering with journalistic sources before authorising surveillance. And although officers complied with UK law and procedure at the time, a 2013 authorisation for communications data was a breach of the PSNI’s human rights obligations. The Tribunal dismissed the complaint that the police had unlawfully obtained information and communications data by non-statutory means.
The Chief Constable has stated that he will take time to consider and reflect on the judgment and along with the findings of the McCullough Review, to consider what further steps the PSNI can take. The McCullough Review is an independent review of PSNI use of surveillance against sensitive professions. The Northern Ireland Policing Board has asked for the McCullough Report to be provided by 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the ruling by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal on 17 December, what assessment they have made of the current levels of surveillance by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Metropolitan Police into journalists, politicians and others in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are a number of robust legal protections afforded to sensitive professions. These include Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
There have been significant changes made since the actions investigated by the Tribunal occurred, including the implementation of the Investigatory Powers Act (2016) in 2018. Oversight of the use of investigatory powers is provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office who ensure that their use is necessary and proportionate, and in accordance with the law.
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has asked the Chief Constable for the McCullough Report, an independent review of PSNI use of surveillance against sensitive professions, to be provided by 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the General Consumer Council in Northern Ireland published in July regarding trade flows between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the impact on consumers.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK government continues to monitor internal trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Windsor Framework represents a massive improvement on the arrangements under the old Northern Ireland Protocol, removing unnecessary checks and paperwork, lifting the bans on a range of plants and products, and giving the Northern Ireland Assembly greater democratic powers over new EU legislation through the Stormont Brake.
This Government is committed to implementing the Framework in good faith and taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights would have on the Good Friday Agreement.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Government is firmly committed to upholding the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and to protecting and respecting human rights. We have a longstanding tradition of ensuring that rights and liberties are protected domestically and of fulfilling our international human rights obligations. We do not believe it is necessary to leave the ECHR in order to deliver on our major priorities. The Government remains committed to a human rights framework that is up to date, and works for all the people of the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the lack of public consultation on the Relationships and Sexuality Education (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, given that public consultation was conducted in England prior to equivalent regulations being implemented.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
In line with the Government's statutory obligations under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and in consultation with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Government completed an equality screening, the outcome of which did not indicate a need to consult publicly on the policy. The Department of Education has confirmed it will consult on both the guidance and the provisions for the circumstances in which a pupil may be excused from the education or specified elements of that education.
Consultation with parents on Relationships and Sex Education is already common practice in Northern Ireland. The Department of Education requires each school to have in place its own written policy on how it will address the delivery of Relationships and Sex Education. A school’s Relationships and Sex Education policy should be subject to consultation with parents and endorsed by a school’s Board of Governors.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisations under the Nationality and Borders Act 2021 on tourism in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
As is the case now, under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, the UK will not operate immigration controls on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border. All those travelling to the UK will need to continue to meet UK immigration requirements, which will include obtaining an ETA if they are required to do so.
The Government remains committed to working with a wide range of relevant bodies to ensure the ETA scheme is understood and to mitigate any risks that it is, or is perceived to be, an increased barrier to tourism in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the process of future budgetary allocations to departments of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
In the absence of functioning devolved institutions, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has intervened to set a Northern Ireland budget for the 2023-24 financial year, which he did on 27 April in his statement to Parliament. It will be for the relevant Northern Ireland Executive departments to manage their funding within their budget allocations. The UK Government has introduced the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill to ensure ongoing governance, should Northern Ireland remain without Executive Ministers beyond 5 June.
It remains the UK Government’s firm view that the right people to make these decisions and set a budget are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and (2) permanent secretaries of the Northern Ireland Executive, regarding budgetary allocations to each of the departments in the Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Secretary of State and Northern Ireland Office officials engaged intensively with the Northern Ireland Civil Service to set the Northern Ireland Budget for the 2023-24 financial year, which he set on 27 April in his statement to Parliament. The Secretary of State also met political representatives in Northern Ireland to hear their views.
It remains the UK Government’s firm view that the right people to make these decisions and set a budget are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly. In the absence of these, it will be for each Northern Ireland department to manage its funding within its budget allocation.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the matters discussed at the conference A more confident and inclusive Northern Ireland, hosted by Wilton Park from 22 to 24 June in association with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Northern Ireland Office.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Wilton Park conference provided an opportunity for participants to discuss and explore how to create a more confident and inclusive Northern Ireland.
Participants discussed a range of themes including education, skills, opportunities for young people and how community groups can support opportunity and integration.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what individuals and organisations they invited to the conference A more confident and inclusive Northern Ireland, hosted by Wilton Park from 22 to 24 June; and if this did not include the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools or the Controlled Schools' Support Council, on what grounds they were omitted.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Wilton Park conference considered a broad range of issues, including skills, education, economic opportunity, and social integration, rather than schools or educational matters alone.
Wilton Park conferences are held under the Chatham House Rule and it would not be appropriate for the Government to disclose those who participated.