Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much compensation they have paid in the past five years in response to claims made by relatives of those shot and killed by soldiers in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has paid £4,682,122 in compensation to relatives of individuals fatally shot by members of the British Army in Northern Ireland between 1969 to 2007.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to Written Answer from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 November (HL2612), what budget has been allocated to the East–West Council; who was invited to attend its first meeting and who actually attended in March.

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

The inaugural meeting of the East-West Council took place in Dover House, London in March 2024 and was chaired by the then Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.

It was attended by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister of State for Northern Ireland and the Cabinet Office, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up. It was also attended by the Northern Ireland First Minister, deputy First Minister, Minister for the Economy and Communities Minister. As with all intergovernmental bodies, the East-West Council will be resourced appropriately.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the degree of accuracy of the data from the Office for National Statistics on economic inactivity.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Recent data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) is subject to significant uncertainty. LFS response rates fell from 49.3% in Q3 2013 [1] to 12.7% in Q3 2023 [2], which have led to a number of concerns about the quality of data based on the LFS.

As set out in its November 2024 Labour Market Overview [3], despite coherence challenges between LFS estimates and other data sources, the LFS continues to be the sole source of data for unemployment, economic inactivity and the self-employed. There are also a range of breakdowns that are only possible from LFS data.

The ONS is undertaking work to address these quality issues through improvements to its data collection and methodology [4]. The ONS is also continuing to develop the Transformed Labour Force Survey (TLFS) as the long-term solution for collecting labour market data [5].

While planned improvements are underway, LFS estimates remain volatile and will continue to be badged as ‘official statistics in development’ until further review. The ONS advise caution when interpreting changes in headline LFS rates and recommend using them as part of its suite of labour market indicators [6].

[1] Labour Force Survey performance and quality monitoring report: October to December 2023 - Office for National Statistics

[2] Labour Force Survey performance and quality monitoring report: July to September 2024 - Office for National Statistics

[3] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/november2024

[4] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/methodologies/labourforcesurveyplannedimprovementsanditsreintroduction

[5] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/labourmarkettransformationupdateonprogressandplans/july2024

[6] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/november2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether asylum seekers who arrive in the United Kingdom through official channels or illegally are eligible to receive all NHS services; and if so, what is the level of uptake of these services.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

There are varying entitlements to secondary healthcare services across England and the devolved administrations. Specific examples can be found in the NHS entitlements: migrant health guide on the GOV.UK website, in an online only format. We do not hold information on the level of uptake of these services.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the absence of a functioning Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme in Northern Ireland on their plans for net zero.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This policy is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. We will publish an updated plan in due course, with full detail of policies and proposals to meet the UK’s emissions targets on a pathway to net zero. In developing this we will continue to consult and work closely with the devolved governments.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers from Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 26 November and 3 December (HL2612 and HL2976), who was invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the East–West Council held in Dover House on 24 March.

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

Attendance at the council remains flexible to align with themes of discussion and so to ensure its East-West dimension is upheld. The following were invited to the inaugural meeting:

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities & Minister for Intergovernmental Relations;

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;

Minister of State for Northern Ireland;

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up;

First Minister of Northern Ireland;

deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland;

Minister for Communities, Northern Ireland; and

Minister for the Economy, Northern Ireland.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what clothing and other allowances are made available to asylum seekers who arrive in the United Kingdom whether through official channels or illegally.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has a legal obligation to meet the essential living needs of destitute asylum seekers. Details of what is considered essential can be found in the annual asylum support rate review reports, published on gov.uk; www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers.

Asylum seekers are not eligible for mainstream benefits.

Further information about support asylum seekers may be entitled to can be found at Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what benefits asylum seekers are entitled to receive upon their arrival in the United Kingdom, whether they came via official channels or illegally.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has a legal obligation to meet the essential living needs of destitute asylum seekers. Details of what is considered essential can be found in the annual asylum support rate review reports, published on gov.uk; www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers.

Asylum seekers are not eligible for mainstream benefits.

Further information about support asylum seekers may be entitled to can be found at Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those formally associated with the Assad regime, including those responsible for torture and the suppression of human rights in Syria, are not given asylum in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

While all asylum claims are routinely considered on their individual merits, it is standard procedure to deny protection to anyone who has committed crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, other serious crimes abroad or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of the High Court in Northern Ireland that a public inquiry must be established into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.

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

The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.

The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.

The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.

This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the implications of the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must hold a public inquiry into the death of Sean Brown in 1997 for other such inquiries, particularly in light of the Government's decision not to establish an inquiry into the Patrick Finucane case.

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

The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.

The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.

The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.

This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost implications of the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Sean Brown.

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

The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.

The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.

The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.

This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to appeal the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland that the Government must establish a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.

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

The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act, and the Government has enormous sympathy for the Brown family and the wider community, for what they have had to endure. The Government has confidence in the ICRIR’s ability to investigate the killing of Sean Brown which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has encouraged Mrs Brown and her family to meet with Sir Declan Morgan and the ICRIR to hear how the Independent Commission would approach such an investigation.

The recent judgment by the High Court, however, raises a number of important issues, including matters of constitutional significance that go beyond this individual case. The Government has, therefore, lodged a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal and is seeking expedition.

The matter will now be considered by the Court of Appeal and as such it would not be appropriate to further comment on the appeal, or matters related to it.

This will in no way delay our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, including reforming the ICRIR, to strengthen its capacity to find answers for victims and families.

Found: The Chair noted the correspondence received fr om Lord Hain, Lord Lexden, Lord Dodds, Lord Empey and