Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine which portraits are displayed or removed in (1) the Northern Ireland Office, and (2) the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to issue a formal response following the publication of the final report of the independent public inquiry into the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland awaits the publication of the final report of the independent public inquiry into the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme. She will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an estimate of the total value to the Northern Ireland economy of the 2019 Open Championship being hosted at Royal Portrush Golf Club in July.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Tourism in Northern Ireland is going from strength to strength, with more visitors who stayed longer and spend more than ever before. Tourism Northern Ireland expects up to 190,000 spectators will attend the 2019 Open Championship and estimate the benefit to the Northern Ireland economy from hosting this highly prestigious event will be £80m.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the additional financial support allocated to Northern Ireland as a direct result of the confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (1) has been spent, and (2) remains to be spent.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Alongside the Confidence & Supply Agreement, the UK Government has committed to providing £1 billion of additional funding to Northern Ireland departments. A total of £430 million from the financial annex to the Confidence and Supply Agreement has been allocated to the Northern Ireland block grant. The remaining £570 million has not yet been allocated and would be subject to Parliament’s approval through the usual Estimates process.
Further details on funding allocations are set out in the financial annex to the Confidence and Supply Agreement at:
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they plan to have, and with whom, about the release of £36.2 million of funding to develop regional football grounds in Northern Ireland which was previously approved by the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act provides for the increased clarity and assurance to enable Northern Ireland departments to continue to exercise their functions to take decisions where these are in the public interest.
The funding to develop regional football grounds in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, and Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department for Communities. The department remains committed to delivering this programme and will seek decisions from incoming Ministers.
These decisions should be taken by a fully functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland, and it remains the Government’s priority to work towards achieving that.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last met with representatives of local teachers' unions in Northern Ireland; and whether they plan to hold further such meetings.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and her advisers meet representatives from trade unions on a regular basis and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what future discussions are planned with the political parties in Northern Ireland to restore the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is focused on rebuilding political dialogue and encouraging the parties to come together to work towards restoring devolved government. She continues to speak regularly with Northern Ireland political leaders to achieve this aim.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are properly remunerated for their service.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The UK Government will always give its fullest possible backing to the men and women of the PSNI who do such a superb job. Policing is a devolved matter. The PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant, through the Policing Board. Operational policing costs are a matter for the Chief Constable.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times over the past 12 months helicopters have flown from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland to provide assistance to injured persons.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
Helicopters from the Republic of Ireland have been tasked to Northern Ireland 31 times from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2016.
These taskings included assistance for both maritime and inland incidents.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which peers and MPs were invited to attend a briefing with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill on 23 November.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
An invitation to the briefing on the Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill held on Monday 23 November was circulated electronically to all Peers via the Usual Channels.