Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many written meeting requests relating to his ministerial responsibilities the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland received in 2023; how many were granted; and how many are yet to receive a reply.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All meetings that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland undertakes as part of his ministerial responsibilities can be found in transparency reports. Links for January to March 2023, April to June 2023, and July to September 2023 are available. The transparency report for October to December 2023 is due to be published in due course. The exact number of meeting requests granted and yet to receive a reply are not centrally collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Northern Ireland Office processes all ministerial meeting requests in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term impact of the redevelopment of Casement Park in preparation for hosting the UEFA Euro 2028 competition on domestic football in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Regional Stadia Programme, including the redevelopment of Casement Park, is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.
Matters such as the assessment of the long-term impacts of the completion of stadiums in Northern Ireland rests with the Department for Communities and the Regional Stadia Development Programme Board. My department has no role in the Regional Stadium Development Board.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will reimburse the Police Service of Northern Ireland the £6.2 million in additional policing costs incurred as a result of (1) recent visits to Northern Ireland by (a) the President of the United States, and (b) His Majesty King Charles, and (2) the Agreement 25 conference at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Office has received correspondence from the Police Service of Northern Ireland seeking assistance with £6.2 million policing costs for the visit by President Biden and for events linked with the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Northern Ireland Office is currently in discussions with other Government Departments about this matter. A response will be issued to the Police Service of Northern Ireland once discussions have concluded.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will publish in full the initial revenue raising options he has requested by 30 June 2023 from the permanent secretaries of the devolved Northern Ireland departments.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will treat all advice and information received in a manner consistent with the legal obligations and protections applying to advice given to Ministers. It would be inappropriate to disclose the information, which will be used to support policy development, at this time.
It is the Government’s expectation that a returning Executive will consider the same information and use this to make the necessary decisions to put Northern Ireland’s public finances on a sustainable footing. If this does not happen in a timely manner, it is the Government’s intention then to direct a series of public consultations which will give the public and all interested parties an opportunity to consider the range of options being examined and to feed in their views.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Caine in Grand Committee on 26 April (HL Deb col 442GC), what progress has been made towards having the Union flag fly in Erskine House on designated days.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Office is not the lead tenant in Erskine House and it is not responsible for decisions around flag flying for the building. Erskine House has several tenants, including UK Government departments, and does not currently have a flagpole installed. Unfortunately, as a tenant, we do not currently have permission to install one.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing the Community Pharmacy Commissioning Plan for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is acutely aware of the broader pressures facing health services in Northern Ireland and remains committed to supporting the restoration of the Executive in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.
As such, a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government is, and will remain, the right way to address this issue. The Government stands ready to work with a restored Executive, but we have a responsibility to ensure public services and management of public funds can continue in its absence.
As such, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has introduced the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill to ensure continued clarity on the powers for Northern Ireland Departments to maintain delivery of public services. This will mean that decisions in crucial areas - such as to ensure the maintenance of public services - can continue to be taken in the absence of an Executive.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform the Northern Ireland Drug Tariff.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is acutely aware of the broader pressures facing health services in Northern Ireland and remains committed to supporting the restoration of the Executive in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.
As such, a locally elected, accountable and effective devolved government is, and will remain, the right way to address this issue. The Government stands ready to work with a restored Executive, but we have a responsibility to ensure public services and management of public funds can continue in its absence.
As such, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has introduced the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill to ensure continued clarity on the powers for Northern Ireland Departments to maintain delivery of public services. This will mean that decisions in crucial areas - such as to ensure the maintenance of public services - can continue to be taken in the absence of an Executive.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the Police Service of Northern Ireland about providing financial support to increase officer numbers.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland's main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant. It is for the devolved administration to determine the allocation of funding to the Police Service of Northern Ireland from the Block Grant.
The recent Budget that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set for Northern Ireland, in the absence of a functioning Executive, provides the Northern Ireland Department of Justice with a total allocation of £1.2 billion.
In addition to the block grant, the UK Government provides the Police Service of Northern Ireland with additional security funding to tackle the SEVERE threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. In the financial year 2022/3, this was £32 million and is confirmed through to 2024/5.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate to regulate the use of electric scooters in Northern Ireland in the absence of a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In the absence of Northern Ireland Executive ministers, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act provides Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public services and operate in the public interest. The Act does not however give the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland direction powers on specific policies, other than in relation to pressing public appointments and the requirement to set the regional rate.
The swiftest way for legislation on Northern Ireland affairs such as this is for the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive to be restored. It remains the Government’s priority to work towards the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in the absence of a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive, they plan to legislate to regulate the use of electric scooters in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In the absence of Northern Ireland Executive ministers, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act provides Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public services and operate in the public interest. The Act does not give the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland direction powers on specific policies, other than in relation to pressing public appointments and the requirement to set the regional rate.
Legislation on Northern Ireland affairs should rightly be considered and passed by a local and accountable Northern Ireland Assembly and it remains the Government’s priority to work towards the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.