Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they made of the impact on jobs and profitability in the Northern Ireland hospitality sector of the announcements in the Budget of (1) the increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions, and (2) the rise in the national minimum wage.

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

Northern Ireland has a thriving hospitality sector, and this Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to support sustainable economic growth. The settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget is the biggest real terms settlement since devolution.

To repair the £22bn black hole inherited by the Government and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. We recognise the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

The Government is adopting recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, and increasing the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year olds by 16.3%. There are estimated to be almost 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.

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 23 October 2024 (HL1707), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, what progress they have made in establishing the Castlereagh Foundation provided for in section 8 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.

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

The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the commenced provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 which contains provisions for the establishment of the Castlereagh Foundation. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation. The Government wants to see devolved institutions in Northern Ireland consider the provisions set out under the legislation themselves before any consideration of using or commencing the powers provided for in section 8.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing each of the following bodies and offices provided for by the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022: (1) the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, (2) an Irish Language Commissioner, (3) a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition; and when they expect all of these bodies and offices be fully functioning.

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

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill 2022 makes provision for the establishment of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, an Irish Language Commissioner, and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the provisions of the Identity and Language Act 2022 and the Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 21 October (HL1373), whether Sue Gray agreed the terms of reference for her role as envoy to the nations and regions with the Prime Minister prior to accepting the post and, if so, why these terms have yet to be published; whether her new role is part-time or full-time; and what is the salary and pension of this new role.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There is no further update following the answer given in HL1373.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date Sue Gray formally took up her role as the Prime Minister’s envoy for the nations and regions.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There is no further update following the answer given in HL1373.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions took place between Ministers and representatives of the devolved administrations about the potential impact of changes to agricultural property relief on family-owned farms in the devolved nations prior to the announcements made in the Budget.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded.

The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to agricultural property relief announced in the Budget on family-owned and run farms in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded.

The Government takes into account all representations made ahead of the Budget, and meets with stakeholders on a regular basis.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of farms in Northern Ireland that will be adversely affected by the changes to agricultural property relief announced in the Budget.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief on gov.uk.

It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR. Up to around 520 of these are expected to relate to claims for APR (including those that also claim for BPR), and this number falls to around 430 when claims that include AIM shares are excluded. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) each year are expected to be unaffected by these reforms.

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 13 November (HL2299), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, what assessment they made of the impact on jobs and profitability in the Northern Ireland hospitality sector of the announcements in the Budget of (1) the increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions, and (2) the rise in the national minimum wage.

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

Northern Ireland has a thriving hospitality sector and this Government is committed to working with the NI Executive to support sustainable economic growth. The settlement for Northern Ireland in the Budget is the biggest real terms settlement since devolution.

To repair the £22bn black hole inherited by the Government and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance. We recognise the need to protect the smallest employers which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year.

The Government has also been clear that we need to take difficult decisions to deliver long-term stability and growth. Stabilising the public finances is the only way to create long-term stability in which businesses can thrive.

The Government is adopting recommendations of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, and increasing the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year-olds by 16.3%. There are estimated to be almost 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.

The Government ask the independent and expert Low Pay Commission to monitor the effects of the National Living Wage.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 15 November (HL1853), on what date Sue Gray communicated to the Cabinet Office that she would not be taking up the role of Prime Minister's Envoy to the Nations and Regions.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Sue Gray has decided not to accept the role of Envoy to the Nations and Regions. It would not be appropriate to share details of HR matters.