Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate for language and cultural matters in Northern Ireland which are currently devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government announced on 21 June in a Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS100) that should the Northern Ireland Executive not have progressed the legislation for the identity, language and culture package in the New Decade, New Approach agreement by the end of September, the UK Government will take the legislation through the UK Parliament in October 2021.
It is the Government’s preference that the Executive deliver its commitment on this carefully balanced package of measures, which was agreed to by the parties and helped to end the three-year political impasse in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to modify the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that require the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to be drawn from the largest nationalist and unionist designations in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government remains fully committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and has no plans to amend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that relate to the designation of Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or to modify provisions of that Act in respect of the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that require Members of the Legislative Assembly to designate themselves as nationalist, unionist, or other, upon taking their seats.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government remains fully committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and has no plans to amend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that relate to the designation of Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or to modify provisions of that Act in respect of the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what amount of Annually Managed Expenditure which was earmarked for the payment of Renewable Heat Incentive Schemes was not so used by the Northern Ireland Executive in each of the last three financial years.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme is administered by the Department for the Economy in the NI Executive, while devolved fiscal matters are for the Department of Finance. A consultation document on the future of the RHI scheme has been published by DfE and includes information on the Annually Managed Expenditure budget for the last three years.
It is of course vital that there is accountability for public spending and the Executive is building sustainable public services. That is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has pushed for the establishment of an Independent Fiscal Council, as per the New Decade, New Approach agreement. Such a body would provide an assessment of the Executive’s spending proposals and consider the sustainability of the Executive’s public finances, including the implications of spending policy and the effectiveness of long-term efficiency measures.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much match funding they have given the Northern Ireland Executive to address paramilitary activity up to the end of the current financial year; and how much they will provide (1) in the 2021/22 financial year, and (2) beyond.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive in their work to tackle paramilitarism. Through the Fresh Start Agreement we have, to date, provided £25 million of match funding to the Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme. This funding ends in this financial year and further funding will be confirmed shortly.
In addition to this, the New Decade, New Approach Agreement 2020 also included a further UK Government commitment to provide additional funding for tackling paramilitarism. An announcement on this will also be made shortly.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of EU officials at Northern Ireland ports; and what agreement they reached with the EU about the (1) status, (2) powers, and (3) purpose, of those officials.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
A small number of EU officials are present at Northern Ireland ports, in line with the arrangements provided for under Article 12 of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Union representatives have a right to supervise the enforcement of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as opposed to physically conducting the checks.
Article 12(2) of the Protocol establishes that EU officials have the right to be present during activities of the authorities of the United Kingdom, limited to the implementation and application of provisions of Union law under the terms of the Protocol, and activities related to the implementation and application of Article 5 of the Protocol.
Article 12(2) also includes that the United Kingdom shall provide, upon request, all relevant information relating to such activities, and that Union representatives may request UK authorities to carry out control measures in individual cases for duly stated reasons.
Decision No 6/2020 of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on arrangements under Article 12(2) of the Protocol establishes the details of these arrangements. These arrangements do not provide for the EU to establish a mission or embassy in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial resources are being made available to the Northern Ireland Executive to erect border inspection posts at ports in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The expansion of existing point of entry facilities in Northern Ireland for agrifood goods handled under the Protocol is being led by the Northern Ireland Executive with UK Government support.
In giving effect to these limited new procedures required under the Northern Ireland Protocol, we have been focused on keeping the facilities for checking animals and agrifood products at Belfast Port, Larne, Warrenpoint and Foyle to a minimum, reflecting the proportionate approach adopted. We have provided the funds to support this work, with £50m in support thus far, including £5m for the interim facilities that will operate in some areas from 1 January 2021 while the full builds are completed.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a timetable for introducing their proposals on addressing legacy issues in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of investigations that has failed victims and veterans alike.
Notwithstanding the challenging circumstances presented by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected progress, we are committed to working with all parts of the community in Northern Ireland to move forward on this issue as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources they have made available for the establishment of border control posts in Northern Ireland; where any such posts will be established; and what is their current status of readiness.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is committed to upholding its obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol. That includes, as we have set out previously including in our Command Paper, expanding some existing Northern Ireland points of entry for agrifood goods. The construction of expanded point of entry facilities is being led by the Northern Ireland Executive, with UK Government support.
We are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, port authorities, district councils, and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland to take this work forward, and to take all measures possible in a timely way. We are also continuing discussions with the EU in the Joint Committee at pace, informed by close working with the Executive to secure a pragmatic approach to agrifood checks.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reached an agreement on the future funding of the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland; and if so, what funds they are making available to fund this office (1) in the current financial year, and (2) in subsequent years.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to ensuring that all of its sponsored bodies have the necessary resources to deliver their statutory functions. Budget allocations for the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland are kept under review throughout the year and discussions around funding take place at regular governance meetings.
Funding for subsequent years will be considered as part of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.