Lord Empey

In its manifesto, the Government set out its commitment to implementing the Windsor Framework and protecting the UK internal market – as well as improving the UK’s trade relationship with the EU. The Government will continue to have regular and constructive dialogue with the EU on a wide variety of matters, including the Windsor Framework.

A commitment to produce a report on safeguarding veterinary medicines into NI was made by the Veterinary Medicines Working Group (VMWG) established under the previous government; the group was paused due to the election before the report could be published. The VMWG has since been reestablished to provide advice to the new UK Government on an ongoing basis but will no longer produce a final report. Maintaining availability of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland after the end of 2025 is a priority and this Government will progress work on this issue as quickly as possible.

No assessment has been made of the number of cyclists who cycle on roads in the dark without lights on their bicycles. Rule 60 of The Highway Code states that cycles must be fitted with a red rear reflector and have white front and red rear lights lit at night. Cycling without proper lights at night is an offence, and enforcement of this is entirely a matter for the police.

It is not appropriate for the Government to comment on unverified reports. The UK continues to work closely with our partners to identify opportunities to disrupt Hamas financial networks, including cutting off access to funding being used to carry out atrocities. Counter Terrorist Financing remains one of the UK's priorities under the National Security objectives set out in the UK's National Security Strategy. This work is ongoing alongside UK efforts to reach a long-term political solution so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace.

The Government is not discussing amendments to the Refugee Convention with other countries.

The Government has already begun work to reset the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties, secure a broad-based security pact and tackle barriers to trade. We want to look forwards by improving our trade and investment relationship with the EU, while recognising there will be no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement.

The rate of employer contributions paid to the main unfunded public service pension schemes is assessed as part of scheme valuations every four years. The most recent employer contribution rates were implemented in April 2024.

The Independent Public Service Pension Commission led by Lord Hutton recommended in March 2011 that projected public service pension benefit payments as a percentage of estimated future GDP is the most relevant measure of their future affordability. This is because most public service pensions are financed through taxation, which is closely related to GDP.

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in 2022 that spending on public service pensions will fall from 2 per cent of GDP at present to 1.7 per cent by 2071-72. An updated forecast is expected to be published in the near future.

Remuneration in the main public sector workforces tends to be weighted towards pension relative to pay compared to packages typically available in the private sector. The total remuneration package needs to be considered when making any comparisons. The recommendations by the independent Pay Review Bodies for the main public service workforces take account of the total reward for each workforce, including the relevant pension scheme.

From January 2022 to 23 October 2024 Home Office Immigration Enforcement convicted 188 individuals identified as small boat pilots and four individuals for their involvement in an organised crime gangs linked to small boat criminality.

So far this year, the UK’s joint work with France has prevented over 20,000 of these dangerous and unnecessary crossing attempts of the Channel by migrants in small boats. The UK has been working with France over a number of years to stop these crossings, and we have provided funding to enable French Authorities to field more law enforcement officers than ever before against the criminal gangs who organise these crossings and who profit from the jeopardy into which they place others.

Around half of all crossing attempts are stopped, but we know that more is required. That is why we have set up the Border Security Command, to smash the gangs responsible for this trade. We have recently announced investment of up to £75 million into border security, which includes funding new technology to support specialist operations being run across Europe and beyond.

The information requested is not regularly published.

The Home Office publishes a quarterly paper on statistics on foreign national offenders (FNOs) subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published in the Immigration Enforcement Data, Year Ending June 2024, which are available at: Immigration Enforcement data: Q2 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office also publishes quarterly statistics on the returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs) by nationality and year. These returns are published in the Returns Detailed Datasets, Year Ending June 2024, which are available at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The published statistics refer to all enforced returns of FNO’s which include deportations, as well as cases where an FNO has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

The information requested is not regularly published.

The Home Office publishes a quarterly paper on statistics on foreign national offenders (FNOs) subject to deportation action, living in the community. These are published in the Immigration Enforcement Data, Year Ending June 2024, which are available at: Immigration Enforcement data: Q2 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office also publishes quarterly statistics on the returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs) by nationality and year. These returns are published in the Returns Detailed Datasets, Year Ending June 2024, which are available at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The published statistics refer to all enforced returns of FNO’s which include deportations, as well as cases where an FNO has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

The overall mission of the Border Security Command (BSC) is to work with our domestic and international partners to tackle organised immigration crime, and wider border security threats. The small boat crisis, fuelled by dangerous criminal smuggler gangs, is undermining our security, and costing lives.

Martin Hewitt CBE QPM has now been appointed as Border Security Commander to lead the co-ordinated response to enhance our border protection. The Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and will tackle the root of the problem by going after these dangerous criminals and bring them to justice.

The Home Secretary has also announced up to £75 million in new investment for the Border Security Command. This will deliver cutting edge new technology, extra officers and further covert capabilities across the border security system.

Spending 2.5% of GDP on defence balances the need to invest in defence capabilities to respond to growing threats and ensure the UK remains secure at home and strong abroad with the wider demands on Government spending. It also represents an ambitious increase on the NATO Defence Investment Pledge, and would be the highest level of Defence spending since 2010 (under the last Labour Government).

In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has paid £4,682,122 in compensation to relatives of individuals fatally shot by members of the British Army in Northern Ireland between 1969 to 2007.

The Government is committed to make progress on the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. This includes taking steps to convene the second meeting of the East-West Council shortly, which had its inaugural meeting in March 2024.

The East-West Council will focus on trade promotion, connectivity, culture and skills, bringing together key representatives from government, business, education, trade, transport, and culture sectors - encouraging collaboration between ministers and industry experts - and membership will remain flexible.

Intertrade UK has not met as yet.

Following the appointment of Baroness Foster as the chair of Intertrade UK, the next steps will be to appoint the other members of the group and we will announce these appointments in due course.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland confirmed the appointment of Baroness Foster as the chair of Intertrade UK on 19 September.

The Government will be providing further details on how the work of the group will be taken forward in due course.

The Government will follow due process under the Inquiries Act 2005 in establishing the inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane. This will include consulting the Inquiry Chair, once appointed, on the Terms of Reference. As set out to Parliament on 11 September, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland supports the assessment from the High Court that the Inquiry should ‘build on the significant investigative foundations which are already in place’. The Secretary of State has informed Mrs Finucane and her family that he will keep them updated on progress on establishing the Inquiry.

We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland and we will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.