Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his Department's policy is on (a) what, (b) how and (c) for how long biometric data that is relevant to (i) ongoing and (ii) concluded Northern Ireland legacy cases is stored.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill contains provisions which will ensure that biometrics are available for use in future investigations by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) into Troubles-related deaths or serious injuries.
These biometrics will only be retained for a finite period to allow the investigations to be completed, and must be destroyed by no later than the end of a reasonable period after the conclusion of the work of the ICRIR.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to improve his Department's response times to correspondence from members of the public.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government recognises the importance of responding to members of the public in an effective and timely manner, and the Cabinet Office published an updated Guide to Handling Correspondence for government departments and agencies in July 2021.
The guidance reasserts the standards for handling correspondence, including a 20 working day deadline for departments to respond to members of the public, criteria outlining when a response to a member of the public is required, and when a piece of correspondence from a member of the public should be transferred to another department. Following publication of the updated guidance, all departments have been reminded that they must follow the processes outlined in the guidance.
The Northern Ireland Office receives a significant amount of correspondence across the Department’s wide and varied portfolio. The Department has a robust process in place to manage and respond to queries in line with our obligations.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential contribution to easing trade flows between Northern Ireland and Great Britain of the UK securing veterinary and phytosanitary agreements with the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK is working hard and in good faith to ensure the Protocol operates in a sustainable way that works for the people of Northern Ireland. We have proposed an ambitious veterinary agreement, based on our respective high standards, to reduce checks and controls. We need the EU to meaningfully engage with these proposals to ease burdens in Northern Ireland and provide a sustainable basis for the Protocol.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government holds information on the number of times the (a) Police Service of Northern Ireland, (b) Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and (b) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service have crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland to assist with the response to an emergency in the last 12 months.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Policing and Fire and Rescue in Northern Ireland are devolved matters. The Northern Ireland Office does not therefore hold this information.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many non-UK citizens are employed by his Department.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
I refer the Rt hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Southport on 14 October 2016.
Asked by: Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 and the potential effect of such a repeal on the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The Government was elected with a manifesto pledge to replace the Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights.
Discussions with all of the devolved administrations have been held and that engagement will continue.
Our reform proposals will be consistent with our obligations under the Belfast Agreement.