Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) Harland and Wolff, and (2) Navantia, regarding the contract to build three fleet solid support ships for the Royal Navy.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The successful delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme remains a priority. Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials have regular meetings with Navantia UK as prime contractor, on a range of matters, including extensive engagement to understand what steps the company is taking to ensure delivery of the FSS contract and management of its supply chain.
Harland and Wolff is a subcontractor to Navantia UK and following a review of their financial situation, the Government is clear that the market is best placed to address the challenges the company is facing. We continue to work extensively with all parties to find an outcome for the company that continues to deliver shipbuilding and manufacturing in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are holding with (1) the Irish Football Association, and (2) UEFA, to ensure that Belarusian players are granted visas to enable them to play against Northern Ireland at the National Stadium in Belfast.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
HMG continue to engage with the Irish Football Authority (IFA) through the normal channels and as required.
Where a member of the Belarusian National Football team requires a visa to enter the UK they will be required to submit an online application, pay a fee and then submit their biometrics at a UKVI Visa Application Centre as is the standard approach for all UK visa customers.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the regeneration funds of £20 million each for Londonderry and Coleraine, announced on 6 March, will be released.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government has inherited an extremely difficult fiscal environment and has a responsibility to fix the foundations of our economy, to ensure economic stability.
The department will set out further details on next steps and confirmation of the revised timelines in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Armed Forces personnel engaged in military operations in Northern Ireland will be eligible to receive the Wider Service Medal; and if not, why.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A small number of operations have already been considered and confirmed as eligible for the Wider Service Medal. Work is ongoing to consider the eligibility of a large number of other operations, which is likely to include operational activity in Northern Ireland. This is expected to be completed by autumn 2024 when the details of all operations that have been approved for the medal will be published.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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 - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
I am unable to comment on ongoing transactions for reasons of commercial sensitivity.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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 - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
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.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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 - Shadow Minister (Business and Trade)
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.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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 - Shadow Minister (Defence)
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.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on defence as a share of gross domestic product in each year since 2010.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
NATO’s published figures for UK defence spending as a percentage of GDP spend since 2010 are below.
Year | Share of gdp |
2010 | 2.47 |
2011 | 2.38 |
2012 | 2.16 |
2013 | 2.24 |
2014 | 2.14 |
2015 | 2.03 |
2016 | 2.09 |
2017 | 2.08 |
2018 | 2.10 |
2019 | 2.08 |
2020 | 2.35 |
2021 | 2.29 |
2022 | 2.29 |
2023 | 2.28 |