Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission an update to the assessment of the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland published on 19 October 2015.

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

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.

The then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Theresa Villiers) made clear at the time that this assessment was commissioned due to specific concerns, and was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks.

The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the continuing validity of the assessment of the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland published on 19 October 2015.

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

The 2015 assessment was commissioned due to specific concerns. It was a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland and was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks.

The PSNI and security partners continue to work to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe, including continually monitoring the threat from paramilitary and terrorist groups to inform their operational response to these harms.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it remains the assessment of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 that the Provisional IRA (PIRA) continues to exist, including the Provisional Army Council (PAC) and, if so, whether the relationship between the PAC, PIRA and Sinn Féin remains as was set out in the assessment of the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland published on 19 October 2015.

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

The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.

Although it is acknowledged that some individuals engaged in serious criminality may also have ties to former paramilitary Republican organisations, such activity does not present a threat to national security.

The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), after MI5 passed over responsibility earlier this year. JTAC keeps the Threat Level in from NIRT under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year. However, the threat is wholly driven by violent Dissident Republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and not by Groups that support the GFA.

Where any criminality exists, the Government is clear that it should be dealt with fully by the police.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets on 10 September (HC5121), whether the Plan to Make Work Pay's policies of (1) the right to switch off, (2) 'day one' rights, and (3) ending fire and rehire, will apply to Government special adviser contracts.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Qualification for inclusion under each of these employment rights will depend on whether individuals meet the eligibility criteria for each right. If a special adviser meets the eligibility criteria, then a right will apply to them.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 4 October (HL1104), what role Sue Gray will have in her new Envoy position in liaising with political parties and politicians in (1) Northern Ireland, and (2) Ireland, including Sinn Fein.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The terms of reference for the Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Nations and Regions will be published online in the normal way, setting out the purpose, scope and remit of the role, including how the Envoy will work with Cabinet Ministers and devolved counterparts to support the Government’s efforts to reset relations across the UK.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they carried out an impact assessment prior to the decision not to proceed with UK-wide implementation of “Not for EU” labelling with regard to the availability of goods in Northern Ireland; and if so, whether they plan to publish that assessment.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has carefully reviewed the evidence from the consultation carried out earlier this year and has conducted comprehensive engagement with businesses. This has informed our planned approach which will safeguard the supply of goods into Northern Ireland.

We will work intensively with industry to monitor those supplies and to be assured that they will be maintained as the implementation of the Windsor Framework continues. At the same time, we will take the powers necessary to apply ‘not for EU’ labelling in the future, if that is required to secure those supplies across the UK internal market.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government 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 Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 recognises Northern Ireland's rich diversity of identity and language, and benefits both Irish language speakers and those from the Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition. The Government continues to work with the Executive on the implementation of the Act.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Prime Minister had with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively before appointing Sue Gray as his envoy to the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

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

The Prime Minister began immediate work to reset relationships with leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional mayors in England. The Prime Minister travelled to meet with the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland within the first week of being in office. He also hosted the regional mayors for a meeting in Downing Street. He has since had further correspondence and conversations with leaders across the nations and regions, including at the first Council of the Nations and Regions. He speaks regularly to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including at Cabinet meetings.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Prime Minister had with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, the First and deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, and combined authority mayors prior to appointing Sue Gray as his envoy to the nations and regions.

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

The Prime Minister began immediate work to reset relationships with leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional mayors in England. The Prime Minister travelled to meet with the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland within the first week of being in office. He also hosted the regional mayors for a meeting in Downing Street. He has since had further correspondence and conversations with leaders across the nations and regions, including at the first Council of the Nations and Regions. He speaks regularly to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including at Cabinet meetings.

Found: LORD CAINE 103_ After Clause 12, insert the following new Clause— “Report on differences between

Found: LORD CAINE 103_ After Clause 12, insert the following new Clause— “Report on differences between

Found: After Clause 12 LORD CAINE 103★_ After Clause 12, insert the following new Clause— “Report