Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Royal Pardons have been issued to people in Northern Ireland in the last 25 years.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) was used 16 times in relation to persons convicted and sentenced for terrorist offences in Northern Ireland between 2000 and 2002; seven times in 2000, six times in 2001, and three times in 2002. It was used to shorten (that is not waive or remove) sentences in relation to individuals who, for technical reasons, were not eligible for the early release scheme established under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.
The RPM was used once in 1998 and once in 1999 in non-terrorism related cases in Northern Ireland. In one case, an individual was granted the RPM following assistance that person gave to the authorities (reduction in sentence for such assistance is now provided for on a statutory basis under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005). In the other, the RPM was used to commute a portion of a sentence for a soldier who spent time under close military arrest for an offence prior to conviction. Had this person been a civilian, such time (equivalent to being on remand) would have been deducted from the sentence, but there was no statutory provision for this at the time in relation to close military arrest.
Whilst the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for recommending the exercising of the RPM for terrorism-related cases in Northern Ireland, since the devolution of policing and justice in 2010, responsibility for making recommendations for the RPM in all other cases lies with the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Office does not hold complete records for 1996 or 1997 due to record retention policies.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a list of names of all those who received a Royal Pardon in Northern Ireland in the last 25 years.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are no statutory requirements relating to the publication of pardons granted under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM).
When it is used to shorten, rather than to waive or remove sentences, it is the convention of successive governments not to publish the use of the Royal Prerogative. Its use in Northern Ireland between 2000 and 2002 was in line with the early release scheme established under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998: the names of those who benefited from the early release scheme were also not published. The names of those who received the RPM in relation to terrorist convictions in Northern Ireland were made public in the judgement issued in the case of Rodgers [2014] NIQB 79.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Supreme Court judgment on 13 May 2020 in the case of R vs Adams (Appellant) (Northern Ireland) which related to the validity of an interim custody order made in 1973, (1) whether compensation has been paid to Gerard Adams, and if so how much; (2) how many claims have been made by others to have their convictions overturned; (3) how many claims for compensation have been lodged with the Northern Ireland Office; and (4) how many of these have been settled and paid, and for what total amount.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There has been no compensation paid to Gerard Adams relating to litigation against the Northern Ireland Office.
There have been two other appeals to have convictions overturned that have been allowed. There are a further two who have filed applications for leave to appeal, which have not yet been dealt with.
There are a number of internment-related civil claims against the Northern Ireland Office. The claims are asking for compensation on the basis of the claimants’ view that they were unlawfully detained on a similar basis to Mr Adams.
None of these have been settled and the vast majority have not progressed far beyond the pre-action stage.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date officials from the British Embassy in the USA last met Martin Galvin.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government continues to speak to a wide range of stakeholders as part of its commitment to engage all parties and groups on issues relating to Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland undertakes regular wide engagement with civic society and politicians in the USA. As part of this, he and officials met with the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Sunday 10 October. Martin Galvin was part of their delegation. Officials from the UK Consulate in New York were also in attendance.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many ministers have met Martin Galvin in the USA in the past month.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government continues to speak to a wide range of stakeholders as part of its commitment to engage all parties and groups on issues relating to Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland undertakes regular wide engagement with civic society and politicians in the USA. As part of this, he and officials met with the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Sunday 10 October. Martin Galvin was part of their delegation. Officials from the UK Consulate in New York were also in attendance.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to establish a common understanding of the provisions of the Belfast Agreement with the government of the United States.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland are grateful for the deep interest in Northern Ireland shown by President Biden and the new United States Government. The steadfast US support for the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement and the gains of the peace process is undoubtedly one of the key reasons behind its enduring success.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland engages regularly with stakeholders from across the political spectrum in the United States on matters of importance to the Irish American diaspora, which includes a number of meetings over the past week. That is also the case for a number of colleagues across Cabinet and the British Embassy in Washington.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that citizens of Northern Ireland have the same rights as citizens of other nations in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is firmly committed to ensuring the ongoing recognition and protection of rights for all people across the UK.
Guarantees of equality and rights, which recognise the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland, are a fundamental part of the Belfast Agreement.
The Government remains firmly committed to upholding the Belfast Agreement in all its parts, including the important rights it protects, the constitutional principles it upholds, and the institutions it established.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a body similar to InterTradeIreland to promote (1) free trade, and (2) business links, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory is assured and unfettered access for Northern Ireland goods to the rest of the UK market has been protected. We have also protected tariff-free trade within the UK and Northern Ireland’s place in the UK VAT area.
The Government has put over £200m into the Trader Support Service, supporting businesses engaged in new processes under the Protocol. Further, the Movement Assistance Scheme provides assistance for traders moving agricultural products, meaning traders will not need to pay certification costs, and the UK Trader Scheme ensures there are no new tariffs for businesses and consumers on internal UK trade. This means that trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is as streamlined as possible.
The UK Board of Trade champions exports, inward investment and outward direct investment to deliver economic growth and prosperity across the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK Government committed to hosting the Board of Trade in Northern Ireland annually in the New Decade, New Approach agreement and it will be held in Northern Ireland later this year.
We have also underlined our ongoing support for peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and we will provide £400m for a New Deal for Northern Ireland - supporting businesses and communities to prosper and thrive from the end of the transition period and beyond.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Specialised Committee on Ireland and Northern Ireland Protocol has met since 1 January; and when the minutes of any such meetings will be published.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee last met on 17 December 2020.
Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, it is for the co-chairs of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee to decide to make a summary of the minutes public. Statements following the meetings of the Specialised Committee are published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who constitutes the full membership of the Specialised Committee on Ireland and Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Officials from the UK and EU attend the Specialised Committee, as set out in Article 165 of the Withdrawal Agreement.
As the Government committed to in the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Northern Ireland Executive attends the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee whenever the Irish Government forms part of the EU delegation.