Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether armed forces personnel engaged in ongoing counterterrorist operations in Northern Ireland are eligible to receive the new Wider Service Medal; and if not, why.

Answered by Earl of Minto

The Wider Service Medal will be retrospective to 11 December 2018, and a small number of operations have already been considered and confirmed as eligible for the medal. Other operational activity that could be within scope for the medal will be considered over the coming months and this might include operational activity in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many super-injunctions are currently in effect in England and Wales.

Answered by Lord Bellamy

There is currently one super-injunction in force which was made in the Kings Bench Division of the High Court.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers entered Northern Ireland from Great Britain in (1) 2020, (2) 2021, (3) 2022, (4) 2023, and (5) 2024.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not publish data on the number of asylum seekers that have entered Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

The Home Office does publish data on asylum seekers in receipt of support as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on gov.uk. As at 31 December 2023, there were 2,839 people in receipt of asylum support in Northern Ireland. Please note that asylum seekers are accommodated in Northern Ireland only if they apply for asylum there.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they received legal advice from the Attorney General prior to the Illegal Migration Act 2023 receiving Royal Assent which indicated that parts of the legislation would not apply in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Government receives legal advice as appropriate, on all matters related to the passage of new legislation, as part of advice from officials.

Any legal advice received is subject to legal professional privilege and, as such, the Home Office does not comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with Harland and Wolff to provide the company with a UK Export Finance Guarantee; and when they expect a final decision to be made.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel

I am unable to comment on ongoing transactions for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

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