Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (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 the risks posed by coronavirus.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK wide response to coronavirus has been a collaboration between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. The Northern Ireland Executive has been involved in both official and ministerial level planning meetings. This approach will continue as the UK response to coronavirus continues.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the financial package to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is providing the restored Executive with a £2 billion financial package that delivers for the people of Northern Ireland and supports the delivery of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
This financial commitment represents the biggest injection of new money in a Northern Ireland talks deal in well over a decade.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (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.
Vigilance against this continuing threat is essential and we remain determined to ensure that terrorism never succeeds.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the results of the general election held in the Republic of Ireland on 8 February; and in particular, of any impact of those results on Northern Ireland's relationship with the rest of the UK.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Irish General Election results are of course a matter for the people of Ireland. The UK and Ireland are the nearest of neighbours and we look forward to continuing to work closely together with the future Government. Our commitment to Northern Ireland, and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement remains steadfast, including the principle of consent and the East/West institutions set out in the Agreement which will support our wider cooperation and bilateral engagement with Ireland.
It remains the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's view that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue to support Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. The circumstances set out in the Belfast Agreement that require the Secretary of State to hold a referendum on Irish unification are therefore not satisfied.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any ongoing existence of the IRA Army Council.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
In 2015, the UK Government commissioned the Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Parades Commission on allowing the Orange Brethren parade from Twaddell Avenue, North Belfast.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I have had no discussions with the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland about the Orange Order parade from Twaddell Avenue or any other individual parades. Decisions regarding individual parades are strictly an operational matter for the Commission acting independently of the Government.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on operating the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The Northern Ireland Assembly recently agreed to the making of an Order which will enable the National Crime Agency (NCA) to be fully operational in Northern Ireland. That Order has been considered by Committees in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords on 10th March and will be made before dissolution, subject to the approval of both Houses.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I have regular discussions with the Chief Constable about a wide range of topics, including PSNI resources and tackling the terrorist threat. The security of UK citizens remains this Government’s highest priority.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on securing adequate resources for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
This Government has provided additional security funding of £231m to support PSNI in their efforts to tackle the threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism. This funding is not affected by the budget reductions imposed by the Northern Ireland Executive
I am in regular contact with the Chief Constable and the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland to ensure that we understand the impact of funding reductions imposed by the Northern Ireland Executive on the PSNI’s ability to police the terrorist threat. The recent Stormont House Agreement includes an undertaking by the Northern Ireland Executive to seek to ensure that the PSNI budget (and community policing in particular) is protected from significant reductions.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Transport before the decision of that Department to display the Union flag on driving licences only in England, Scotland and Wales.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of matters concerning Northern Ireland, and have discussed the issue of proposals for the Union Flag to appear in Great Britain driving licences. However, driving licences are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and it is for the devolved authorities to decide whether to adopt changes made elsewhere in the United Kingdom.