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 discuss with the government of the Republic of Ireland the reported remarks made by Senator Michael McDowell about the decision not to investigate crimes by the Provisional Irish Republican Army that occurred before April 1998.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The UK Government engages regularly with the Irish Government, on a range of matters that require or benefit from the partnership between our two countries, including legacy matters. Legacy issues are due to be discussed during the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) on 2 December.
The UK and Irish Governments have also been undertaking a period of engagement regarding legacy issues, as announced following the BIIGC in June. During this engagement, the recent public intervention by former Attorney General and Justice Minister in Ireland, Michael McDowell, who stated that a de facto moratorium on the investigation and prosecution of IRA members exists in Ireland, has been discussed.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of On The Run letters of assurance; and what plans they have, if any, (1) to withdraw such letters, and (2) to declare them ineffective.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
In July 2014, Lady Justice Hallett published a report following her review of the “on the run” administrative scheme. The review found that while the scheme contained a number of flaws, it was not unlawful.
In September 2014, the Government set out fully its position in relation to the scheme in statements to the House of Commons. In doing so, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made clear that the scheme was at an end and that there was no basis, legal or otherwise, for any reliance on letters received by so-called “on the runs” under the scheme.
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 with the Electoral Commission for Northern Ireland on a funding package for the next three years; and if so, what sums have been allocated.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The UK Electoral Commission was established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and is independent of Government. It is accountable to Parliament via the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (save for where its finances and Five Year Plan relate to the Commission's devolved Scottish and Welsh functions). Each financial year, the Commission is required to submit to the Speaker’s Committee an Estimate of its income and expenditure in relation to non-devolved elections. After its examination, the Speaker’s Committee lay the Estimate before the House of Commons. The Commission reports on outturn against the Estimate in the Annual Report and Accounts, which is certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Where the Commission's Annual Report and Accounts relate to Welsh and Scottish devolved functions, the Comptroller and Auditor General certifies those for the devolved Parliaments, not the UK Parliament.
The internal allocation of funding between the four national offices of the Electoral Commission is an internal matter for them.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their agreement New Decade, New Approach, published on 8 January 2020, what funding related to the armed forces has been provided under that agreement; over what period each funding stream will be delivered; and what terms and conditions apply to each funding stream.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
This Government is committed to an ambitious programme of Armed Forces modernisation.
Under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, the Government is supporting our Armed Forces and veterans in Northern Ireland through a range of measures, including UK-wide legislation to further incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law and the appointment of the Veterans Commissioner to act as an independent point of contact for veterans in Northern Ireland.
Up to £200,000 has already been provided for veterans’ support services from the New Decade, New Approach funding. Further details on funding allocations for veterans’ services will be set out in due course.
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 - Shadow Minister (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 - Shadow Minister (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 - Shadow Minister (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 - Shadow Minister (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 - Shadow Minister (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 - Shadow Minister (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.