Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 28 November 2024 (HL2549), how many individual claims were included in the £4,682,122 compensation paid out in the past five years to families of victims of the Troubles.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
My written Answer on 28 November 2024 referenced £4,682,122 of compensation paid to 'relatives of those shot and killed by soldiers in Northern Ireland during the Troubles'. That cohort included 20 individual claims.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many outstanding claims for compensation they have received and are processing from relatives of those shot or killed by soldiers in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is processing 107 claims relating to individuals shot or killed by soldiers in Northern Ireland, during the Troubles.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the negative impact of charging VAT for renovations of buildings on brownfield sites compared with greenfield sites where building of homes is zero rated for VAT.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
To stimulate the construction of new homes, the Government maintains a zero rate of VAT on new-build residential buildings. Additionally, residential renovations are subject to a reduced rate of VAT of five per cent if they meet certain conditions. These include conversions of buildings from one residential use to another, conversions from commercial to residential use, and the renovation of properties that have been empty for two or more years.
VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.
Introducing further construction-related VAT reliefs would come at a significant cost to the Exchequer. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances. In July 2024, the Government published an audit of public spending, which set out £22 billion of in-year pressures. These pressures were not limited to 2024/25, with the vast majority recurring in future years.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote import substitution to assist with the balance of payment deficit.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has an open and trade intensive economy.
The government is delivering its growth mission by prioritising stability, investment and reform to drive prosperity across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.