Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office’s expenditure on (a) advertising and (b) marketing for the last three complete financial years, and the current financial year to date, is set out below:
Financial Year | Area | (a) Advertising | (b) Marketing |
2022-23 | NIO Core | £5,709.84 | £0.00 |
| ALBs | £10,865.04 | £0.00 |
2022-23 Total | £16,574.88 | £0.00 | |
2023-24 | NIO Core | £65,800.19 | £100,000.00 |
| ALBs | £6,120.32 | £0.00 |
2023-24 Total | £71,920.51 | £100,000.00 | |
2024-25 | NIO Core | £4,290.60 | £529,817.27 |
| ALBs | £14,697.57 | £0.00 |
2024-25 Total | £18,988.17 | £529,817.27 | |
2025-26 (to 31 Dec 2025) | NIO Core | £13,774.40 | £144,510.94 |
| ALBs | £9,644.08 |
|
2025-26 end of December Total | £23,418.48 | £144,510.94 | |
* Please note that the figures for NIO Core include expenditure related to public inquiries within the NIO group, including the Omagh Bombing Public Inquiry.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
(a) As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future. Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition. Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio- economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers. People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career.
The Northern Ireland Office has not run a GFiE accredited scheme in the last year.
(b) The Northern Ireland Office has not recruited for any internship schemes in the last year.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what purposes their Department has used artificial intelligence in the last year.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office has used artificial intelligence in recent months to help us all work more efficiently by assisting with tasks like drafting emails, summarising documents and taking notes in meetings. The use of artificial intelligence aligns with our focus on using data and digital methods to deliver results and support the Prime Minister’s vision for the Civil Service.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information they hold on the number of workdays that were completed remotely in their Department in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office follows the cross Civil Service expectation that everyone spend at least 60% of their time at a Government building or on official business, such as visiting stakeholders, unless they have an agreed adjustment or exception. Deputy Directors monitor records of team office attendance and therefore data is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to strengthen the Union.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government is committed to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland's place in the union. We are supporting all communities working with the Executive on improving public services and encouraging investment in Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work, and do business.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans and help tackle the legacy of the Troubles.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will establish a process that focuses on information recovery, delivering for victims and survivors, providing certainty for veterans and helping Northern Ireland to move forward.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory public inquiries being undertaken by his Department.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department is not currently undertaking any statutory or non-statutory public inquiries.