Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what local revenue raising conditions were attached to the recent financial package awarded to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government remains determined to support the Executive to maximise the opportunities presented by the financial package.
To help stabilise the Executive’s financial position, the UK Government has agreed to pause its debt repayments from 2022-23 and 2023-24 of up to £559 million and will no longer require these funds to be repaid, subject to the Executive publishing a plan, which outlines how it will deliver sustainable public finances and services, and demonstrating implementation of that plan by May 2025.
This sustainability plan must include the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024-25 by raising a minimum of £113 million through locally generated income. It will be for the Executive to determine if it will consider a different course of action to deliver the public services that Northern Ireland needs as part of its plan for financial sustainability.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce legislation to clarify the constitutional position of Northern Ireland within the UK.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The constitutional position of Northern Ireland within the UK is clearly set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which declares, consistent with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, that Northern Ireland in its entirety remains part of the United Kingdom and shall not cease to be so without the consent of a majority of its people.
This Government’s steadfast commitment to the Union, and Northern Ireland’s position within it, has been stated many times. In our view, Northern Ireland’s place in the Union is strong and protected by the Windsor Framework.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many claims have been made under the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme since it was launched in 2021.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government passed the Victims Payments Regulations in January 2020 as required by Parliament in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10 and 11 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019(1). The Troubles Permanent Disablement Scheme opened in August 2021. It is now making payments and providing much-needed acknowledgement and support to those victims and their families who have suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of being injured in the Troubles.
This scheme is being delivered by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Victims Payments Board is responsible for all operational matters, including recording and publishing data about applications to the scheme.
However, we have contacted the Victims Payments Board and they have assured us that they will arrange for a response to be issued to you that answers this query.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact the absence of the Northern Ireland Health Minister will have on the delivery of health and social care services in Northern Ireland this winter; and what steps they intend to take to ensure the safe delivery of critical services.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is acutely aware of the pressures facing the health service in Northern Ireland. The absence of a functioning Executive is exacerbating the severe challenges that the healthcare system in Northern Ireland is facing.
People in Northern Ireland deserve locally-elected decision-makers who are working for them to address these important issues. That is the best way to progress the necessary long term solutions to healthcare and make best use of the substantial UK Government funds announced in the Autumn Statement which will see the budget to the Northern Ireland Executive increase by £650m over two years.
In the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland outlined to Parliament on Wednesday 9 November, and which I shared with the House on 14 November, his intention to introduce legislation to enable Northern Ireland Departments to maintain delivery of all vital public services including health and social care.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what areas of discretion are available to Northern Ireland civil servants in the absence of Ministers.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
People in Northern Ireland deserve locally-elected decision-makers who are working for them, to address the issues that matter most to people who live there. As such, I am particularly disappointed at the serious situation that the lack of an Executive has left the people of Northern Ireland facing.
The Government recognises that the Court of Appeal ruling in Buick in July 2018 made clear that Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) Departments cannot take decisions that would normally require the control and direction of a Minister and/or the approval of the NI Executive.
Civil servants do not have the legal authority to tackle these issues and in the absence of an Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to introduce legislation which will clarify the powers Northern Ireland Departments have to support public service delivery, make a small number of vital public appointments and set a Budget for Northern Ireland for this financial year.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency plans they are putting in place to provide UK ministerial oversight and accountability for the delivery of health services in Northern Ireland this winter, in the event that there are no ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
People in Northern Ireland deserve locally-elected decision-makers who are working for them, to address the issues that matter most to people who live there. As such, I am particularly disappointed at the serious situation that the lack of an Executive has left the people of Northern Ireland facing, including the growing pressure on health services and a concerning financial overspend situation with no clear strategy for balancing the budget.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has already met the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Jayne Brady, to discuss this and will continue to meet a range of Northern Ireland stakeholders over the coming weeks to understand the pressures facing health and all public services. The extent of the financial pressures alongside the limitations on Northern Ireland departments to take action to bring spending under control will have serious consequences for public services. The Secretary of State outlined to Parliament on Wednesday 9 November that he will introduce legislation to enable Northern Ireland departments to support the delivery of health and other public services.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect on the delivery of public services in Northern Ireland of the absence of Departmental Ministers.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
People in Northern Ireland deserve locally-elected decision-makers who are working for them, to address the issues that matter most to people who live there. The failure of the parties to form an Executive is particularly disappointing given the serious situation the people of Northern Ireland are facing, particularly the £660 million black hole left in Northern Ireland’s finances.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has already met the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Jayne Brady, to discuss this and will continue to meet a range of Northern Ireland stakeholders over the coming weeks to understand the pressures facing public services. The extent of the financial pressures alongside the limitations on Northern Ireland departments to take action to bring spending under control will have serious consequences for public services. As such, the Secretary of State outlined to Parliament on Wednesday 9 November that he will introduce legislation to enable Northern Ireland departments to support public service delivery and address the serious budgetary issues.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the return of Ministers to Northern Ireland Departments.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland set out in his Parliamentary Statement on 9 November, he will be introducing legislation to provide a short, straightforward extension to the period for Executive formation, as set out in the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petition of Concern) Act 2022.
This will extend the current period by 6 weeks to 8 December - with the potential for a further six-week extension if necessary. This creates the time and space needed for talks between the UK and EU to develop and for the Northern Ireland parties to work together to restore the devolved institutions as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how public safety in Northern Ireland will be secured in the absence of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) continues to work to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe. The Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board remain in place and provide independent oversight of the PSNI.
Ongoing work by the PSNI and security partners means that most people in Northern Ireland are not directly affected by the SUBSTANTIAL terrorist threat. Where terrorism and paramilitary style attacks endure, so too will our efforts to tackle them.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will be introducing legislation to provide a short, straightforward extension to the period for Executive formation. This creates the time and space needed for talks between the UK and EU to develop and for the Northern Ireland parties to work together to restore the devolved institutions as soon as possible. The legislation will also enable Northern Ireland Departments to support public service delivery in the absence of Ministers.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for the establishment of joint authority over Northern Ireland by the UK and the government of the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Joint authority is not and will not be considered by this Government. As we set out clearly in our Northern Ireland manifesto at the 2019 General Election, the consent principle in the 1998 Belfast Agreement governs the constitutional position of Northern Ireland. On that basis, Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom. The manifesto said: “A Conservative Government will always defend and uphold the consent principle as set out in the Belfast Agreement and we will never agree to any arrangements that are inconsistent with it”. Our manifesto also set out our commitment to the long-established three-stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs, under which internal, Strand One, matters are for the Northern Ireland parties and the United Kingdom government ultimately to decide. We will continue to stand by these manifesto commitments.