Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government in what circumstances the arrangements for the movement from Great Britain to Northern Ireland of medicinal products and medical devices set out in EU Regulation 2023/1182 can be revoked.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
1 January marked the start of the new arrangements for medicines under the Windsor Framework, ensuring that all medicines can be supplied UK-wide in the same packaging under a single UK licence. The new arrangements have resolved the supply risks created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government has worked intensively with industry to ensure a smooth transition.
The UK supplied a Written Guarantee to the EU in accordance with Regulation 2023/1182, following receipt of which, the measures came into force on 1 January 2025.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultations they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about its negotiations with the European Union on trade.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the other devolved administrations to ensure that every part of the UK benefits from an improved trading relationship with the EU, as part of our wider reset
The Paymaster General and Minister for EU Relations most recently chaired a meeting of the Interministeral Group on UK-EU Relations in December 2024, which was attended by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. The Government will seek to continue this cooperation as the UK-EU reset progresses.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 6 February (HL4532), what are the names of the representatives of (1) the Ulster Farmers’ Union, (2) the National Farmers’ Union, (3) the Horticulture Trades Association, and (4) the businesses, who are members of the Horticultural Working Group.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to question HL4532 on 6th February 2025. To protect the identities of individuals which are not in the public domain, it is not possible to disclose the names of individual members of bodies which are part of the Group.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government which specific provisions in (1) the free trade agreement between the UK and Australia, (2) the free trade agreement between the UK and New Zealand, and (3) the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, relate to the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Specific provisions relating to the Windsor Framework are included in Chapter 1 of the Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreements, and in the Accession Protocol of the United Kingdom for CPTPP. The Windsor Framework applies to goods imports, and businesses in Northern Ireland can export goods under our Free Trade Agreements, including those with Australia, New Zealand, and CPTPP parties, in the same way that businesses anywhere in the United Kingdom can.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the government of China on the arrest and disappearance of Yao Aichan; and what response they received.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor all raised human rights recently with their counterparts (President Xi, Foreign Minister Wang and Vice Premier He respectively). More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to showcase the opportunities for investment in Northern Ireland's defence and shipbuilding industries.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises the vital and unique contribution made by Northern Ireland's defence and shipbuilding industries to UK national security. We are committed, as set out in Safeguarding the Union, to further including Northern Ireland companies in the UK defence network.
The Government recently announced a successful outcome in the negotiations over the future of Harland and Wolff. The commercial deal by Navantia is a significant investment in the UK's industrial base and will ensure delivery of the Ministry of Defence’s Fleet Solid Support programme.
We intend to showcase Northern Ireland’s thriving defence sector’s skills, industry, expertise and infrastructure through the ongoing Industrial Defence Strategy led by the Ministry of Defence. This will include sending signals that enhance the incentives for long-term investment in the UK in order to encourage private investment alongside public money.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the digitisation and exhibition of "media and historical archives that reflect the richness and diversity of traditions in Northern Ireland", as described in Annex B of Strengthening the Union (CP1021).
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has made good progress towards supporting the digitisation and exhibition of media and historical archives that reflect the richness and diversity of traditions in Northern Ireland, as set out in Annex B of the Safeguarding the Union command paper, and intends to provide a further update on this work in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the East–West Council has met since its formation.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The East-West Council has met once since its formation on 26 March 2024. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland hopes to announce the next meeting shortly.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to be a global leader in protecting freedom of religion or belief around the world.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, and our programme funding, including the FCDO John Bunyan Fund, a designated programme for FoRB-focused overseas projects. The appointment of David Smith MP as the Special Envoy for FoRB is a clear signal of the UK's ongoing commitment to these efforts.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 28 January (HL4030), what are the (1) names or (2) job titles of the members of the Veterinary Medicines Working Group set up in relation to the implementation of the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The names and affiliations of members of the Veterinary Medicines Working Group are included in the Terms of Reference, which have been deposited in the House of Commons and House of Lords libraries.