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Written Question
Cost of Living: Northern Ireland
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to tackling the increased cost of living.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Steve Baker MP, recently met the former Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons. They discussed a range of topics and it was made clear that a restored Northern Ireland Executive will allow decisions to be taken by locally elected politicians, including on crucial issues such as the cost of living.

The UK Government is committed to helping households this winter and that is why, despite the absence of an Executive, Northern Ireland households will receive a package of support including the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Energy Price Guarantee, Energy Bill Relief Scheme and funding for off-grid households.

These measures are once again clear evidence of the benefits that Northern Ireland gains from being an integral part of a strong United Kingdom


Written Question
Economic Growth: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 2nd November 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on economic growth and development.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Northern Ireland benefits enormously from the strength and security provided by being an integral part of the UK - the world’s sixth largest economy.

The UK Government has regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive ministers on a range of topics, including economic growth and development.

The UK Government continues to work to boost economic growth in Northern Ireland, including through the allocation of £400 million funding under the New Deal for Northern Ireland, in the ongoing £617 million City and Growth Deal programme, and through allocations of the Levelling Up Fund and the upcoming UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

However, as economic development is a devolved matter, it is vital that a restored Northern Ireland Executive and locally accountable ministers are in place to take the decisions that will drive economic growth in Northern Ireland.


Written Question
Foreign Investment in UK: Northern Ireland
Monday 18th July 2022

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to date to attract inward investment into Northern Ireland in 2022.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to promoting investment into Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Office Minister of State, Conor Burns attended Northern Ireland Day at the Dubai Expo earlier this year where he promoted Northern Ireland businesses already exporting globally, including White’s Oats, Kiverco and Greenfields, as well as meeting Sovereign Wealth Funds to promote the fantastic investment opportunities in Northern Ireland. Representatives of these Funds have been invited to visit and explore investment opportunities in areas of mutual interest.

Northern Ireland Office Ministers and the Special Envoy to the United States on Northern Ireland also undertake frequent visits to the United States to promote the benefits of business in Northern Ireland and attract investment. Northern Ireland is already the number one international investment location for US Cyber Security firms, and the UK Government aims to build on this great potential.

Also, through the New Deal for Northern Ireland we have invested £8 million into expanding Invest NI’s presence overseas, with posts in Tokyo, Singapore and Guangzhou already underway, enhancing Northern Ireland’s investment opportunities. In addition, the Department for International Trade has opened a Northern Ireland hub in Belfast, offering bespoke support for Northern Ireland businesses, including looking to attract investment.


Written Question
Economic Situation: Northern Ireland
Thursday 29th April 2021

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps they are taking to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to encourage the recovery of the Northern Ireland economy.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK Government is committed to levelling up and promoting economic growth across the whole of the UK to ensure that no community is left behind, particularly as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government has already taken steps to support individuals and businesses in Northern Ireland by providing £3.8bn funding to the Executive to help fight coronavirus.

In addition, Northern Ireland businesses and individuals have benefited from UK-wide support measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme which have both been extended to September 2021. The UK Government has also provided over £1.3bn in government-backed loan schemes to businesses in Northern Ireland, protecting jobs across the region.

The Government is also driving forward investment in Northern Ireland. We are delivering a comprehensive and ambitious set of City and Growth Deals across Northern Ireland, which will help key sectors to flourish, committing more than £600m to this program. In February, the UK Government signed the Heads of Terms on the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Deal, which will support a range of projects in the North West region. We are also investing £400m to support the NI economy through the New Deal for Northern Ireland and have committed over £500m to the PEACE PLUS programme, which will carry out vital work that promotes peace and reconciliation and contributes to the cross-border economic and territorial development of the region.

The Government has also recently announced the creation of several new funds, which will create opportunities for further investment in people, communities and infrastructure. This includes the UK Community Renewal Fund, the Levelling Up Fund and the Community Ownership Fund, each of which, organisations in Northern Ireland will be able to bid into specific funding.

All of this additional funding comes on top of £2bn of support for the New Decade, New Approach Agreement and measures to help traders navigate new arrangements as part of the Northern Ireland/Ireland Protocol.

The Government welcomes the Executive’s roadmap to recovery and we want to see Northern Ireland realise its economic potential. We will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to maximise opportunities for economic recovery and growth, both now, in Northern Ireland’s Centenary year, and in the long-term.



Written Question
Coronavirus: Christmas
Monday 7th December 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about a UK-wide approach to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic during the Christmas period.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK Government and Devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to ensure a coordinated approach to the pandemic across the United Kingdom. As set out in our joint statement on 25 September, the UK government and devolved administrations hold a shared commitment to suppressing the virus to the lowest possible level and keeping it there.

There have been regular discussions between Ministers and officials from the UK Government and from the Northern Ireland Executive. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has been attending COBR meetings, as have the First Minister and deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland on occasion.

We have been co-ordinating with the NI Executive on our response to Covid throughout this year, seeking alignment in policy and approach wherever it is appropriate to do so. I was pleased we could agree on a shared approach across the UK to Christmas planning last week.


Written Question
Culture: Northern Ireland
Monday 7th December 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the Culture and Community Fund set out in New Decade, New Approach, published on 8 January.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK Government remains committed to delivering what was set out in the New Decade, New Approach agreement published on 8 January.

The UK Government has provided £2 billion of funding to support implementation of the New Decade, New Approach deal. £553 million of this has already been allocated. The £2 billion includes a £1bn Barnett-based investment guarantee from the UK Government, which will include significant new funding to turbocharge infrastructure investment. This guarantee will apply in all circumstances, and allow the Executive to plan new investment over a five year period.

The Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for the establishment and implementation of the Culture and Community Fund. The UK Government’s commitment in relation to the Culture and Community Fund is to provide funding to the Executive once they have agreed to progress plans for its establishment. The Executive will then be responsible for administering the funding provided by the UK Government. We continue to work with the Northern Ireland Executive on this matter.


Written Question
Consumer Goods: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 17th November 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent comments by (1) Marks and Spencer’s, and (2) Sainsbury’s, about the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU on the supply and cost of goods in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK and the EU have committed to an intensified process of engagement to resolve all outstanding issues with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which includes securing the flexibilities we need for trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This is particularly important for supermarkets, where we have been clear specific solutions are required.

We will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive as discussions continue with the EU through the Joint Committee process.


Written Question
Non-domestic Rates: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 13th October 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about business rates relief in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Business rates in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Following the decision to provide rates relief in England as part of the Government’s response to Covid-19, the Executive also introduced rates relief for NI businesses. The measures taken by the Executive include:

  • A four-month rates holiday for all NI business ratepayers between April and July this year;

  • An extended rates holiday for the hospitality, tourism, childcare, leisure and retail sectors (with the exception of certain supermarkets and off-licences). These businesses will pay no rates for the full financial year up until 31 March 2021.

These measures were enabled by the £2.2bn of additional UK Government funding provided to the Executive as part of our response to Covid-19.

We have regular engagement with Executive ministers on a range of issues, including responding to Covid-19. We will continue to work closely with the Executive as we work to see Northern Ireland recover.


Written Question
Coronavirus: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 5th August 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have made available to the Northern lreland Executive to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The UK Government will provide at least £2.2 billion to the Northern Ireland Executive for 2020/21 to allow the Executive to respond to Covid-19.

This is in addition to the UK-wide measures that the people and businesses in Northern Ireland will benefit from, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. This will give people and businesses the best possible opportunities to bounce back and recover.


Written Question
Terrorism: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The threat from dissident republican terrorism continues to be SEVERE in Northern Ireland. This Government’s first priority is to keep people safe and secure right across the United Kingdom. Terrorism, paramilitary violence and criminality have no place in Northern Ireland - they must not hold us back from progress towards a peaceful and prosperous future. The Police Service of Northern Ireland, MI5 and others who work to keep people safe have our full support for the public service they give.