Lord Empey Portrait

Lord Empey

Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer

Became Member: 15th January 2011


Lord Empey is not a member of any APPGs
4 Former APPG memberships
Aerospace, Ireland and the Irish in Britain, Race Equality in Education, Transatlantic Trade
Windsor Framework Sub-Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 30th May 2024
Youth Unemployment Committee
28th Jan 2021 - 16th Nov 2021
Food, Poverty, Health and Environment Committee
13th Jun 2019 - 23rd Jun 2020
Bribery Act 2010 Committee
17th May 2018 - 4th Mar 2019
Financial Exclusion Committee
25th May 2016 - 25th Mar 2017
Information Committee (Lords)
8th Jun 2015 - 31st Aug 2016
Extradition Law
12th Jun 2014 - 25th Feb 2015
Personal Service Companies
12th Nov 2013 - 31st Mar 2014
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Committee
29th May 2012 - 28th Feb 2013


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Empey has voted in 2 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Empey Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(1 debate interactions)
Baroness Verma (Conservative)
(1 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Defence
(1 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Lord Empey has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Lord Empey's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Empey, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


4 Bills introduced by Lord Empey


A Bill to amend the Airports Act 1986.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - Order Of Commitment Discharged : House Of Lords
Friday 29th January 2016

A Bill to amend the Airports Act 1986.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Lords
Friday 9th November 2012

A bill to amend the Airports Act 1986.

Lords - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading: House Of Lords
Friday 16th March 2012

A bill to provide for the functions exercised by the Northern Ireland Department of Health to be exercised by the Secretary of State in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 27th January 2020
(Read Debate)

Lord Empey has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 12 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
2nd Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise issues pertaining to the terms and operation of the Windsor Framework in their discussions with the European Union as part of the upcoming review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

In its manifesto, the Government set out its commitment to implementing the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market – as well as improving the UK’s trade relationship with the EU. The Government will continue to have regular and constructive dialogue with the EU on a wide variety of matters, including the Windsor Framework.

Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
30th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are discussing with other countries amendments to the 1951 Refugee Convention to take into account the changed world circumstances.

The Government is not discussing amendments to the Refugee Convention with other countries.

Lord Collins of Highbury
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
17th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what preparations they are making for the review of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The Government has already begun work to reset the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties, secure a broad-based security pact and tackle barriers to trade. We want to look forwards by improving our trade and investment relationship with the EU, while recognising there will be no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to review the level of state contributions to public sector pensions.

The rate of employer contributions paid to the main unfunded public service pension schemes is assessed as part of scheme valuations every four years. The most recent employer contribution rates were implemented in April 2024.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
4th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term (1) cost, and (2) sustainability, of public sector pensions; and what assessment they have made of how such pensions compare to those paid in the private sector.

The Independent Public Service Pension Commission led by Lord Hutton recommended in March 2011 that projected public service pension benefit payments as a percentage of estimated future GDP is the most relevant measure of their future affordability. This is because most public service pensions are financed through taxation, which is closely related to GDP.

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in 2022 that spending on public service pensions will fall from 2 per cent of GDP at present to 1.7 per cent by 2071-72. An updated forecast is expected to be published in the near future.

Remuneration in the main public sector workforces tends to be weighted towards pension relative to pay compared to packages typically available in the private sector. The total remuneration package needs to be considered when making any comparisons. The recommendations by the independent Pay Review Bodies for the main public service workforces take account of the total reward for each workforce, including the relevant pension scheme.

Lord Livermore
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of housing asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.

The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates asylum accommodation costs by type. The total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes our accommodation sites, as we continue to identify a range of options to reduce the use of hotels. Additionally, the Government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and delivering value for money.

The number of asylum seekers in receipt of Section 95 support is published quarterly. At the end of quarter four 2003 published statistics indicate that there were 47,148 people housed in Dispersal Accommodation and a further 30,362 in receipt of subsistence only support. The geographical location of these supported asylum seekers was not published at that time. Since 2019 data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation has been published at Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering alternatives to the current forms of asylum seeker accommodation and, if so, what they are.

The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates asylum accommodation costs by type. The total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly. This includes our accommodation sites, as we continue to identify a range of options to reduce the use of hotels. Additionally, the Government will be reviewing current Home Office arrangements to ensure efficiency and delivering value for money.

The number of asylum seekers in receipt of Section 95 support is published quarterly. At the end of quarter four 2003 published statistics indicate that there were 47,148 people housed in Dispersal Accommodation and a further 30,362 in receipt of subsistence only support. The geographical location of these supported asylum seekers was not published at that time. Since 2019 data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation has been published at Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whose responsibility it is to determine where asylum seekers are temporarily housed while their cases are being considered, and what criteria are applied in order to reach such decisions.

The Home Office has a statutory obligation to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. The criteria for accommodation allocation can be found in the following link: Allocation of asylum accommodation policy (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
6th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons behind, and (2) the consequences of, the resignation of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner: and whether they intend to seek a successor.

Over the last four years, Northern Ireland’s first Veterans Commissioner, Danny Kinahan, worked on a range of important issues that affect veterans in everyday life, including health, housing, and welfare. The Government would like to thank Danny for his dedicated work on behalf of veterans and families living in Northern Ireland. On 5 September, he resigned from the role. A statement setting out his position has been published on the Veterans Commissioner’s website.

The Government is committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland, and will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.

Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
6th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend (1) the terms of reference, and (2) the remit, of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner.

We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland and we will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.

Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
17th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper (CP 1021), published on 31 January; and whether they will be implementing all of the measures outlined in it.

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework in good faith and to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market.

Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
17th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to hold further public inquiries into Troubles-related terrorist activity in Northern Ireland; and if so, what criteria they use to determine which incidents should be prioritised.

The decision to establish a public inquiry must always be taken with full consideration of the particular factors of each case. The Government will continue to consider the merits of establishing a public inquiry on a case-by-case basis, noting that it is for the Government to determine how to effectively discharge its procedural obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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