Baroness Hoey

The legal basis for the “Not for EU” label requirements in Great Britain, confirmed in the Command Paper, will be set out in due course, following consultation with the Scottish and Welsh governments. This requirement will not come into force until October 2024.

We have engaged closely with industry about these arrangements and will continue to do so in advance of changes taking effect in October 2024. We have met with businesses and trade bodies, through weekly forums along with separate bespoke engagements, to discuss these proposals. We will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements.

Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the regulations implementing this labelling regime.

The requirement for a “Not for EU” label will not apply to goods produced in Northern Ireland and sold in either Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

As we put the new Windsor Framework arrangements into practice, we will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure gardeners, farmers and growers can access plants and seeds from a wide variety of sources. Defra will work with industry in the coming months to ensure that plant and seed movement schemes are as beneficial as possible.

A Pet dog travelling from GB-NI will require a free, simple, electronic, life-long ‘pet travel document’, administered by the government. The pet document does not need to be issued by a vet and does away with all health treatments. This can be sorted in a matter of minutes. For people that don’t have digital access, there will be an alternative simple means of providing the same information when you book your and your pets’ travel, for example via the ferry booking system.

Owners will complete a simple tick box as part of their travel booking, acknowledging they accept the scheme rules and that they will not move their pet into the European Union.

Instead of full EU certification, all plants and seeds will move under a similar mechanism to the UK-wide plant passport scheme, in line with traders throughout the UK.

That means rather than paying £150 per movement into Northern Ireland, growers and businesses serving NI consumers can pay £120 a year to be part of the UK scheme, as they did before the Protocol came into force.

Scheme membership allows traders to print official labels for plants moving within GB, and under this new scheme, to NI.

These seeds and plants will be delivered to a registered business to be able to be sold onto NI consumers.

This process will be virtually the same as what is needed for plants moving from Cardiff to Birmingham now.

Instead of full EU certification, all plants and seeds will move under a similar mechanism to the UK-wide plant passport scheme, in line with traders throughout the UK.

That means rather than paying £150 per movement into Northern Ireland, growers and businesses serving NI consumers can pay £120 a year to be part of the UK scheme, as they did before the Protocol came into force.

Scheme membership allows traders to print official labels for plants moving within GB, and under this new scheme, to NI.

These seeds and plants will be delivered to a registered business to be able to be sold onto NI consumers.

This process will be virtually the same as what is needed for plants moving from Cardiff to Birmingham now.

The health and documentary requirements for pet travel to the EU are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU rules also apply to the non-commercial movements of pets into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

We will continue to press the European Commission in relation to securing Part 1 listed status, recognising that achieving this would alleviate some of the new requirements for pet owners and assistance dogs users travelling to the EU and to Northern Ireland. We are clear that we meet all the animal health requirements for this, and we have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity.

The Government is engaging with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to explore means to streamline pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognising the high standards of animal health that we share. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has also written to the European Vice-President seeking to ensure that an agreement can be made to address the barriers imposed on pet travel between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Northern Ireland-based pets and assistance dogs returning to Northern Ireland from Great Britain can continue to use a Northern Ireland-issued EU Pet Passport to re-enter Northern Ireland and will not need an animal health certificate. Current guidance on pet travel to Northern Ireland is available on DAERA’s NIDirect website.

We are proactively engaging with relevant stakeholders on the impacts on pet and assistance dog movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and also the EU.

Now that the transition period has come to an end, GB is treated as a third country by the EU, which means that the movements of plants and plant products from GB to the EU and NI are subject to the EU's plant health import requirements, including the restrictions on soil and growing media. The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements on goods moving from GB to NI were put in place by the UK Government as part of the UK's approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, and will uphold the longstanding status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit.

It is permissible to move plants (potted or otherwise) with growing media attached to them from GB to the EU and NI, as long as that growing media meets the EU's import requirements. Defra has been working closely with trade associations to develop guidance on growing media and how traders can fulfil the EU's requirements. This guidance has been published on the Plant Health Portal.

Provided that plants and growing media meet the EU's import requirements, a phytosanitary certificate will be issued to facilitate movements from GB to NI.

The UK Government is engaged in discussion with the European Commission to seek a lifting of plant health prohibitions, including those on soil and growing media as a commodity. These discussions are ongoing.

After the end of the transition period the UK became a third country in relation to the EU Pet Travel Scheme. The rules of this scheme govern non-commercial movements of pets from Great Britain to the EU and from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

In February 2020 we submitted an application to allow the UK to become a Part 1 listed third country under the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This status would mean similar animal health and documentary requirements (compared to before the end of the transition period) for non-commercial pet movements from Great Britain to the EU. On 3 December 2020 the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed of the EU voted in favour of giving the United Kingdom Part 2 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme after the transition period. This listed status has been formally adopted by the EU.

We will continue to press the EU Commission in relation to securing Part 1 listed status, recognising that achieving this would alleviate some of the new requirements for pet owners and assistance dog users travelling to the EU and to Northern Ireland. We are clear that we meet all the animal health requirements for this and we have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity.

The Government is also working with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on a long-term solution which respects the rights of assistance dog users and pet owners to travel with the minimum of friction. Guidance on pet travel to Northern Ireland is available on the DAERA’s NIDirect website.

Commercial movements of live animals, including dogs, cats and ferrets, which are being moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland for the transference of ownership or sale, are not subject to the EU Pet Travel Scheme but to the ‘Balai Directive’. This requires that traders or organisations moving pets in this way must pre-notify and use a specific export health certificate. We are listening to the concerns of stakeholders on this issue and welcome any evidence of disruption that might be caused by these new requirements.

There have been no changes to the rules governing non-commercial pet movements, or the commercial movement of dogs, cats or ferrets, from Northern Ireland into Great Britain.

In December we successfully agreed with the EU a 6-month grace period in which chilled meat products could continue to be sent into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. We are currently seeking long-term solutions to continue this trade. We also note that the two specific examples given are not prohibited from being moved into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

In December we successfully agreed with the EU a 6-month grace period in which chilled meat products could continue to be sent into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. We are currently seeking long-term solutions to continue this trade. We also note that the two specific examples given are not prohibited from being moved into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The Department for Work and Pensions’ has communicated with external organisations including Pension Organisations to update on contract end arrangements and we will continue to use external communication routes to provide updates on the timings and customer communication arrangements surrounding closure of the Post Office card account.

The Departments preferred method of payment for all benefits and pensions is mainstream account, such as a bank, building society or credit union account. This provides individuals access to useful products and services that better meets their needs, for example, the ability to send and receive payments. We will continue to encourage customers to convert to mainstream accounts ahead of contract end.

As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa on 5 May, it is important that Zimbabwe's upcoming elections are peaceful and credible. The UK regularly calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure that political opposition and civil society are able to operate freely. On 3 May, the UK's Ambassador to Zimbabwe publicly underlined that the fundamental rights of assembly and expression are enshrined in Zimbabwe's constitution.

The UK is aware of an attack on human rights lawyer, Obey Shava, on 5 July. We note the ongoing police investigation into the attack. As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa on 5 May, the UK would like to see the Government of Zimbabwe meet its international and domestic obligations by safeguarding human rights and allowing space for political opposition and civil society organisations to operate, particularly in the run up to elections on 23 August.

As the Minister for Development and Africa said to President Mnangagwa during their meeting on 5 May, it is important that the people of Zimbabwe can choose their government through peaceful and credible elections. Independent observation by international and domestic missions, including Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), will play an important role in assessing electoral conduct against regional and international standards. The UK welcomes Zimbabwe's announcement that invitations have been sent to observer missions.

The Windsor Framework significantly expands the range of businesses, including manufacturers, who can benefit from the Green Lane.

We are increasing the threshold for processing companies - quadrupling the current £500,000 limit up to £2 million, meaning four-fifths of manufacturing and processing companies in Northern Ireland who trade with Great Britain will automatically be in scope.

For traders unable to use the Green Lane, we will establish a new, comprehensive tariff reimbursement scheme for those who can show the goods were ultimately not destined for the EU, which will be available from 30 June.

We will continue to provide a free-to-use support service for movements in the Green Lane.

We will set out the details of new arrangements in the usual way, including to Parliament and further guidance on the green lane will be provided in due course.

Under the Windsor Framework, many manufacturers will be able to benefit from the new Green Lane, meaning that goods sold in Northern Ireland will be freed of unnecessary paperwork, using only ordinary commercial information rather than customs processes or complex certification requirements for agrifood.

For traders unable to use the Green Lane, we will establish a new, comprehensive tariff reimbursement scheme for those who can show the goods were ultimately not destined for the EU which will be available from 30 June.

For information on the historical cost of the Trader Support Service and other support schemes implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol, I refer the hon. Member to the answer gave by the Minister for Europe on 22 February 2023 to Question 146816.

Invitations were issued to the Heads of State of all nations with whom the UK has full diplomatic relations, with a small number of exceptions. Realms and Overseas Territories also received invitations in line with their constitutional arrangements. Invitations were not issued to Afghanistan, Belarus, Myanmar, Russia, Syria, Iran and Venezuela. Invitations were issued at London Head of Mission level to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Nicaragua.

President Biden visited the UK as a Guest of Government. It is long-standing policy not to comment on protective security arrangements. To do so could compromise the integrity of those arrangements and affect the security of the individuals involved.

Plants and seeds will be able to once again move easily within the UK. Plants will now move within the same plant passport regime as applies throughout the UK. As we put these arrangements into practice we will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure gardeners, farmers and growers can access plants and seeds from a wide variety of sources.

We have removed bans on previously prohibited goods like chilled meats and seed potatoes, and paved the way to remove bans on 11 native British and other commercially important plant species by the next planting season, as industry has called for - including those trees that were prevented from moving to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

There have always been goods subject to prohibition or that are heavily restricted when moving within the UK. As is the case elsewhere for movements within the UK, some goods remain banned by operators, such as flick knives banned under UK law, firearms, furs and ivory.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Office Minister Lord Caine, accompanied by departmental officials and members from the British Embassy in Washington D.C., will be travelling to the United States to attend St Patrick's Day festivities.

The Windsor Framework will set out a sustainable basis for arrangements into the future. In the meantime, the existing operation of the arrangements in Northern Ireland will continue.

The legal instruments including within the Windsor Framework set out the EU rules that have been disapplied in order to support the changes agreed as part of the deal. This includes the more than 60 specific food safety rules disapplied to support the functioning of the agrifood green lane for retail trade; the provisions in Annex 3 specifically set aside by the changes agreed on VAT and excise; and the rules disapplied to enable the UK-wide licensing of medicines by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In all, as we have set out more than 1,700 pages of EU rules are disapplied under the Windsor Framework.

The Windsor Framework maintains the full, unfettered access for Northern Ireland firms to the whole United Kingdom market. As we make clear in the Command Paper, that trade with Great Britain is by far Northern Ireland's largest market and East-West trade is the principal arterial route of Northern Ireland's economy. That is why the Windsor Framework locks in unfettered access to that market for NI firms on a permanent and ongoing basis, and smoothes the flow of internal UK trade from Great Britain. At the same time, it secures maximum free trade and market access for NI firms by ensuring full access to the EU market as well.

Just as is the case now, fishing boats leaving harbours in Northern Ireland can land their catches back in those harbours.

The Windsor Framework restores the balance needed to uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions. It puts in place a new legal and constitutional framework, changing the text of the treaty and scrapping more than 1,700 pages of EU rules on internal UK trade.

While we have been upfront that this does not remove EU rules entirely in Northern Ireland, the less than 3 percent of EU rules which remain are the minimum necessary to maintain maximum market access and free trade for NI businesses.

The changes we have made include the Stormont Brake, which enables amended or replaced EU rules to be vetoed where they would have significant and lasting effects on everyday lives. This is in addition to the existing veto the UK has for new EU rules. This ends the automatic presumption of dynamic alignment of EU rules.

The draft legal instruments underpinning the package are set out in full on the Government's website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-windsor-framework

The Government does not currently have plans to renegotiate the Convention and its Protocol.

There is ongoing contact between officials in the UK and EU. Both the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have discussed the protocol with their counterparts in the Commission in recent weeks. We have and continue to make clear our determination to address all outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol and to find durable solutions as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

There is ongoing contact between officials in the UK and EU. Both the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have discussed the protocol with their counterparts in the Commission in recent weeks. We have and continue to make clear our determination to address all outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol and to find durable solutions as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

There is ongoing contact between officials in the UK and EU. Both the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have discussed the protocol with their counterparts in the Commission in recent weeks. We have and continue to make clear our determination to address all outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol and to find durable solutions as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

The UK Government is still in discussions with the EU regarding the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including on the issues detailed in paragraphs 43 and 62. So far we have not seen the flexibility necessary to address the issues we are seeing. However, as the Command Paper notes, we stand ready to put in place necessary arrangements to support a durable and sustainable outcome on the Protocol if agreement is reached as a result of those discussions.

The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but we do have a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. The Taiwan issue is one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, through constructive dialogue.

Ministers and senior officials, including Her Majesty's Ambassador to Libya, continue to impress upon senior Libyan interlocutors the importance of engaging constructively with the UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, in pursuit of justice. Libya is currently represented in the UK by a Charge d'Affaires.

The UK is committed to rapid, equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, treatments and tests globally as demonstrated by our strong support for the Access for COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, to which the UK has contributed up to £813 million of new funds. This includes up to £23 million committed to the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to drive innovation in the development and delivery of tests to combat major diseases affecting the poorest populations. Our contribution also includes the UK's commitment of up to £500 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) - the international initiative to support global equitable access to vaccines. On top of our existing contribution of £48 million re-programmed from existing Gavi programming, this makes the UK the COVAX AMC's largest bilateral donor. Our commitment will support access to COVID-19 vaccines for up to 92 developing countries, including in the Commonwealth, by contributing to the supply of 1 billion doses in 2021, and vaccinations for up to 500 million people (subject to vaccines successfully securing stringent regulatory approvals).

The implementation of the green and red lane approach for the movement of goods outlined under the Windsor Framework represents a very significant improvement for traders in Northern Ireland compared to the old Northern Ireland Protocol.

In respect of the Windsor Framework specifically, Government will continue to provide the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS) for movements into Northern Ireland via both the red lane and the green lane, mitigating any potential administrative impact on smaller companies who will still move some goods via the red lane.

The Windsor Framework safeguards parcel movements and maintains business as usual for Northern Ireland consumers, removing any need for international customs processes. That means parcels can be sent to friends and family in Northern Ireland, as smoothly as today. People in Northern Ireland ordering from businesses in the rest of the UK will continue to order and receive goods as they do now; and parcels sent between businesses will be able to use the same internal market scheme as applies for freight movements.

As of March 2023, no airlines offered scheduled services from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

On the issue of passengers flying from Belfast to the European Union not having access to duty-free, Northern Ireland enjoys frictionless trade with both the rest of the United Kingdom and the EU. The government is committed to ensuring that remains the case.

Enabling duty-free shopping between the EU – which includes Ireland - and Northern Ireland without also introducing border controls would lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland as well as a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK market duty-free.

The government is committed to preserving the frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which is important to communities across Northern Ireland and would otherwise undermine the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

Enabling duty-free shopping between Ireland, which is a member of the EU, and Northern Ireland without also introducing border controls would lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland. It would also cause a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK market duty-free.

The government is committed to preserving frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which is important to communities across Northern Ireland and would otherwise undermine the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

Enabling duty-free shopping between Ireland, which is a member of the EU, and Northern Ireland without also introducing border controls would lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland as well as a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK market duty-free.

The government is committed to preserving frictionless movement of people and goods between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which is important to communities across Northern Ireland and would otherwise undermine the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

Enabling duty-free shopping between Ireland, which is a member of the EU, and Northern Ireland without also introducing border controls would lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland as well as a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK market duty-free.

The Windsor Framework does not impact the government’s duty-free policy. The government has always been committed to maintaining frictionless trade between Northern Ireland and Ireland and between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Enabling duty-free shopping between Ireland and Northern Ireland or between Northern Ireland and Great Britain would lead to significant distortions of trade on the island of Ireland as well as a significant revenue loss for both UK and Ireland by creating a legal route for unlimited amounts of alcohol and tobacco to flow into the UK market duty-free.

While it would not be appropriate for me to comment on a hypothetical issue, I can reaffirm that the Government remains committed to maintaining frictionless trade on the island of Ireland. Introducing duty-free shopping for goods moving between Northern Ireland and the EU would undermine that commitment.

Duty-free shopping is available to individuals buying excise goods when leaving the UK, depending on their destination. It is available when leaving Great Britain to go to any destination outside the UK, although duty may be liable upon arrival, subject to allowances applied by that country. Individuals who leave Northern Ireland to go to any destination outside the UK or the EU may also benefit from duty free, subject to the same controls.

In the case of EU destinations and trips to Ireland, individuals who leave Northern Ireland are able to carry unlimited duty paid products to take to the destination or on return from that destination, and no further duty is due on arrival or return.

Introducing duty-free shopping for individuals moving between Northern Ireland and the EU or Ireland would require the introduction of allowances and controls to ensure duty is paid where those allowances are exceeded.

Otherwise, unlimited amounts of duty-free tobacco and alcohol could flow between Ireland and Northern Ireland, undermining domestic suppliers who must charge excise on these goods, and the UK’s ability to collect tax revenues to fund public services.

Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom’s tax territory and as such applying duty free arrangements would not be appropriate and would risk undermining business in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the government remains committed to maintaining frictionless trade on the island of Ireland. Introducing duty-free shopping for goods bought in Northern Ireland and moving into the EU would undermine that commitment.

The Government does not currently have plans to change the amount of money which individuals can hold in Premium Bonds. However, the Government keeps this under review to ensure that the limit continues to reflect the interests of savers, taxpayers and the wider financial sector.

All customs duty and VAT paid on goods entering Northern Ireland remains UK revenue and is not passed on to the EU.

Consumers in Northern Ireland may be charged VAT in an EU country if they buy goods directly from a small business there. Similarly, consumers in the EU will pay VAT in Northern Ireland (which is due to HMRC) if they purchase from a small Northern Ireland business.

While the EU will also be offering duty-free sales of excise goods for travel to Great Britain, passengers travelling from the EU, including Ireland, will have to pay excise duty on goods they bring into the UK, subject to certain personal allowances. This means passengers will need to go through customs processes and declare goods they are carrying in their luggage where duty is due.

By contrast, the Government has committed to Northern Ireland continuing to have unfettered access to the rest of the UK, including passengers from Northern Ireland being able to carry unlimited amounts of personal goods into Great Britain without having to declare them.

Offering duty-free sales without charging excise duty on entry to Great Britain would compromise the UK internal market by allowing unlimited duty-free goods to enter the UK, undercutting domestic retailers and eroding the tax base.

However, the alternative would be to charge tax and duty on these goods to put Northern Ireland in the same position as Ireland.

In practice, this would mean treating goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain as though there were an international border for passengers. This goes against the Government’s clear policy that Northern Ireland is, and will remain, an integral part of the UK, including for excise purposes.

HMRC has published guidance providing further information relating to the VAT and excise treatment of goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accounting-for-vat-on-goods-moving-between-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-from-1-january-2021 and here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moving-excise-goods-as-freight-under-the-northern-ireland-protocol-from-1-january-2021/moving-excise-goods-as-freight-under-the-northern-ireland-protocol-from-1-january-2021#excise-movements-from-great-britain-to-northern-ireland-via-the-eu.

The decision by NS&I announced on September 17 to pay all Premium Bonds prizes direct to customers’ bank accounts was informed by customer research and changing customer behaviours. It will make managing Premium Bonds prize distribution quicker, more cost-effective and have a much lower environmental impact.

Since 2011, Premium Bonds holders have been able to have their prizes paid directly into a UK bank account in their name. Since March 2020, nearly half a million customers have switched from receiving paper warrants to having their prizes paid directly into their bank account or automatically reinvested. In the October 2020 prize draw, more than three quarters (76%) of the 3,921,323 prizes were paid directly into customers’ bank accounts or reinvested into more Premium Bonds.

Her Majesty’s Government suspended the Council of Europe Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees (“the Agreement”) in 2003 on public order and security grounds. The government of Ireland suspended operation of the Agreement for a period of 12 months on 19 July 2022.

The United Kingdom and Ireland have a regular dialogue relating to the operation of the Common Travel Area where issues such as border security risks and shared immigration challenges are discussed. Those who fear persecution should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – this is the fastest route to safety.

Ireland is a safe country and, as such, it would not be appropriate for individuals to travel to the UK from Ireland to claim asylum.

The Home Office does not hold data on asylum seekers who have previously registered in a Council of Europe Country. However, data is available through the Eurodac system for asylum seekers who have previously made an asylum claim in EU+ (EU, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland) countries and then made a further claim in UK. This data is only available for the period prior to the UK leaving the EU and the Eurodac system. The relevant available data has been extracted and presented in the table below. It is subject to the same caveats as the Eurodac system from which it is derived. As such, it is a count of Eurodac ‘hits’, not individuals or claims. For example, an individual applying once in the UK, who has previously applied once each in Germany, France and Italy, would produce 3 hits, one for each prior application. Data on where journeys began is unfortunately unavailable.

Note: Category 1 data against category 1 data only

The United Kingdom and Ireland have a regular dialogue relating to the operation of the Common Travel Area where issues such as border security risks and shared immigration challenges are discussed.

Those who fear persecution should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – this is the fastest route to safety. Ireland is a safe country and, as such, it would not be appropriate for individuals to travel to the UK from Ireland to claim asylum.

The Government has previously raised with Ireland concerns about individuals exploiting the Common Travel Area generally to reach the United Kingdom to seek asylum, most recently in May of this year.

The Home Office recognises a victim of terrorism as anyone who has suffered harm, including physical, mental and emotional harm, as a consequence of a terrorist attack. This includes those who are injured, bereaved families, and witnesses. We recognise that many people can be affected by terrorist attacks in many ways and are committed to ensuring that all victims receive comprehensive support. To strengthen the support available the Home Secretary publicly committed to conducting an internal review of the support provided to victims of terrorism. Whilst this review will not consider changing the definition of a victim it will consider the support provided to victims of terrorism.

Support for victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and there is separate legislation for the provision of this support under The Victims and Survivors (NI) Order 2006.