Lord Kilclooney Portrait

Lord Kilclooney

Crossbench - Life peer

Became Member: 17th July 2001



Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Kilclooney has voted in 279 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative)
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(14 debate interactions)
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative)
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
(10 debate interactions)
Lord Frost (Conservative)
(8 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(8 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(6 debate contributions)
Northern Ireland Office
(5 debate contributions)
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Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Kilclooney, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Kilclooney has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Kilclooney has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
7th Dec 2020
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the total estimated cost of the report The conduct of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, published on 3 December, including (1) any payments to all members of the Conduct Committee, (2) any payments to the Commissioner for Standards and all members of her staff, and (3) the cost of the publication of the report.

It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of the report The conduct of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass as most costs cannot be disaggregated from time spent by members or staff on other work.

1. Member costs

The report into Lord Maginnis was considered at two separate meetings of the Conduct Committee, at the first there were other items on the agenda so claims for attendance were not solely related to consideration of this case. At the second meeting Lord Maginnis’ appeal was the only item on the agenda. All members of the Committee attended for that meeting. HL members can claim attendance allowance for participating in a virtual select committee but those claims may also cover other parliamentary work undertaken that day so it is not possible to say how much they claimed for their work on this case that day. Lay members have so far claimed £1,200 to prepare for and attend that meeting.

2. Payments to the Commissioner and her staff

The costs of the time of the Commissioner for Standards and her office in relation to her investigation in to the complaints against Lord Maginnis cannot be disaggregated from her work on other cases. £5,760 was spent in payment to the external investigator who supported the Commissioner in her investigations into the four complaints.

3. Publication

The report was printed in-house on the same paper used for other parliamentary publications by a permanent staff team therefore the small costs of printing this report cannot be disaggregated from other work.

28th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many marriages took place in England for the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of those were secular.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the noble Lord/Baroness’ Parliamentary Question of 28 February is attached.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Kilclooney

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

7 March 2023

Dear Lord Kilclooney,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many marriages took place in England for the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of those were secular (HL6000) and what percentage of religious marriages in England were solemnised in (1) Anglican churches, (2) Reformed Evangelical churches, and (3) Roman Catholic churches, in the most recent year for which figures are available. (HL6001).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes ‘Marriages data for England and Wales’[1] with the most recent being for 2019. The total number of marriages in England in 2019 (including both civil and religious marriages) was 208,151 [2] . Of these, the total number of civil marriages in England was 170,634.[3,4]

The total number of religious marriages in England in 2019 was 37,517. 72.5 per cent of these were Church of England. Marriages in Reformed Evangelical churches are included in ‘Other Christian denominations’ which accounted for 11.4 per cent of religious marriages [5] . 10.4 per cent of religious marriages in England in 2019 were Roman Catholic.

If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/bulletins/marriagesinenglandandwalesprovisional/2019

[2]Figures include marriages to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

[3]Civil marriages are those which are carried out at either a register office or approved premises by or in the presence of a registrar, and do not include any religious content.

[4]Marriage statistics by manner of solemnisation (either civil or religious) can be misleading as some religious marriages (such as Muslim and Sikh) can take place at unregistered premises. To be registered as a legal marriage the couple have a further marriage ceremony in a register office or approved building. Such weddings are coded as civil marriages because only the civil marriage certificate is received.

[5] 'Evangelical Reformed churches’ are included in ‘Other Christian denominations' which also include Methodist, Calvinistic Methodist, United Reformed Church, Congregationalist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends (Quakers), Salvation Army, Brethren, Mormon, Unitarian and Jehovah's Witnesses'.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
28th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, what percentage of religious marriages in England were solemnised in (1) Anglican churches, (2) Reformed Evangelical churches, and (3) Roman Catholic churches, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the noble Lord/Baroness’ Parliamentary Question of 28 February is attached.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Kilclooney

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

7 March 2023

Dear Lord Kilclooney,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many marriages took place in England for the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of those were secular (HL6000) and what percentage of religious marriages in England were solemnised in (1) Anglican churches, (2) Reformed Evangelical churches, and (3) Roman Catholic churches, in the most recent year for which figures are available. (HL6001).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes ‘Marriages data for England and Wales’[1] with the most recent being for 2019. The total number of marriages in England in 2019 (including both civil and religious marriages) was 208,151 [2] . Of these, the total number of civil marriages in England was 170,634.[3,4]

The total number of religious marriages in England in 2019 was 37,517. 72.5 per cent of these were Church of England. Marriages in Reformed Evangelical churches are included in ‘Other Christian denominations’ which accounted for 11.4 per cent of religious marriages [5] . 10.4 per cent of religious marriages in England in 2019 were Roman Catholic.

If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/bulletins/marriagesinenglandandwalesprovisional/2019

[2]Figures include marriages to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

[3]Civil marriages are those which are carried out at either a register office or approved premises by or in the presence of a registrar, and do not include any religious content.

[4]Marriage statistics by manner of solemnisation (either civil or religious) can be misleading as some religious marriages (such as Muslim and Sikh) can take place at unregistered premises. To be registered as a legal marriage the couple have a further marriage ceremony in a register office or approved building. Such weddings are coded as civil marriages because only the civil marriage certificate is received.

[5] 'Evangelical Reformed churches’ are included in ‘Other Christian denominations' which also include Methodist, Calvinistic Methodist, United Reformed Church, Congregationalist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends (Quakers), Salvation Army, Brethren, Mormon, Unitarian and Jehovah's Witnesses'.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
25th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Common Travel Area, what is the estimated number of (1) UK citizens in the Republic of Ireland, and (2) Irish citizens in Great Britain.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 25 January is attached.

The Rt Hon the Lord of Kilclooney
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW

1 February 2023

Dear Lord Kilclooney,


As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking further to the Common Travel Area, what is the estimated number of (1) UK citizens in the Republic of Ireland, and (2) Irish citizens in Great Britain (HL5084).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not produce estimates of the number of UK citizens living in Ireland. That country’s Central Statistics Office estimated that 103,113 UK citizens were living in Ireland in April 2016 (1). Population by nationality estimates based on the Annual Population Survey (APS) show that there were an estimated 330,000 Irish nationals resident in Great Britain in June 2021 (2).

The 2021 Census for England and Wales and the corresponding Census for Scotland, which due to the Covid pandemic was delayed until 2022, asked respondents about passports held which can be used as some proxy for citizenship. The relevant Census figures have not yet been published, though the first release of data on this topic for England and Wales showed that an estimated 364,726 residents of these countries held an Irish passport but not a UK passport (3).

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

1 https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpnin/cpnin/uk/


2 Table 2.4, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/populationoftheunitedkingdombycountryofbirthandnationality
Note that data from this source below UK, EU and non-EU level should be treated with caution and not be compared with previous years due to the introduction of a new weighting methodology to reflect the change in survey operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These statistics were discontinued in October 2022

3 Table TS005, https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_ts

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
9th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on the territorial integrity of the UK; and whether they consider that any such impact arising from the Protocol was justified in order to secure a wider agreement on the terms of the UK's departure from the EU.

The Protocol itself is clear that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom, its internal market and customs territory.

12th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in England died in the first three months of 2021 due to (1) flu and (2) COVID-19.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

The Rt Hon. the Lord Kilclooney

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

19 April 2021

Dear Lord Kilclooney,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people in England died in the first three months of 2021 due to (1) Flu and (2) COVID-19 (HL14771).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration.

Cause of death is defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10). Deaths where the underlying cause was Influenza and Pneumonia are defined by the ICD-10 codes J09 to J18, deaths. Where the underlying cause of deaths was COVID-19, these are defined by the ICD codes U07.1, U07.2 and U10.9.

Table 1 below provides the number of deaths, in England, where the underlying cause of death was (1) Influenza and Pneumonia or (2) COVID-19 for the first two months of 2021. Data for March 2021 has not yet been compiled but will be released within our Monthly Mortality Analysis[1] dataset, scheduled for release on 22 April.

The number of deaths for 2021 are provisional.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond


Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was Influenza and pneumonia or COVID-19, in England, 2021[2][3][4][5][6]

Influenza and pneumonia

COVID-19

Month

Number of deaths

Age standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population

Number of deaths

Age standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population

January

1,291

27.4

25,716

545.9

February

1,118

26.3

16,682

392.3

Source: ONS

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/monthlymortalityanalysisenglandandwales

[2]Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring, in each calendar year.

[3]Deaths for England exclude non-residents.

[4] Figures for England are based on geographical boundaries as of February 2021.

[5] The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) definitions are as follows: Influenza and pneumonia (J09-J18), COVID-19 (U07.1, U07.2 and U10.9).

[6] Figures for 2021 are provisional.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
12th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, whether EU officials will check trade arriving by air from Great Britain to Northern Ireland at (1) Belfast City Airport, (2) Belfast International Airport, or (3) Derry City Airport.

There will be no port or airport at which EU officials will be conducting checks on goods moved between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Under Article 12(2) of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the role of EU officials’ is limited to the right to be present during the activity of UK authorities relating to the implementation and application of EU law under the Protocol, and activities relating to the implementation and application of Article 5 of the Protocol, relating to the movement of goods. All procedures under the Protocol will be carried out by UK authorities. The 17 December 2020 Joint Committee Decision on Article 12 reflects these arrangements.

In practice, this could include EU officials being present at any ports or airports in Northern Ireland where UK authorities are undertaking activities within the scope of Article 12. This would include, for example, Belfast Port, Larne Harbour, Warrenpoint Port, Foyle Port and Belfast International Airport, all of which have been designated as Points of Entry for SPS goods. However, it will be for the EU to decide upon how they propose to allocate those officials present in Northern Ireland, in line with the relevant requirements of the December Joint Committee Decision.

12th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, whether EU officials at Derry City Airport will check (1) goods arriving from Great Britain, and (2) goods arriving from the Republic of Ireland.

There will be no port or airport at which EU officials will be conducting checks on goods moved between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Under Article 12(2) of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the role of EU officials’ is limited to the right to be present during the activity of UK authorities relating to the implementation and application of EU law under the Protocol, and activities relating to the implementation and application of Article 5 of the Protocol, relating to the movement of goods. All procedures under the Protocol will be carried out by UK authorities. The 17 December 2020 Joint Committee Decision on Article 12 reflects these arrangements.

In practice, this could include EU officials being present at any ports or airports in Northern Ireland where UK authorities are undertaking activities within the scope of Article 12. This would include, for example, Belfast Port, Larne Harbour, Warrenpoint Port, Foyle Port and Belfast International Airport, all of which have been designated as Points of Entry for SPS goods. However, it will be for the EU to decide upon how they propose to allocate those officials present in Northern Ireland, in line with the relevant requirements of the December Joint Committee Decision.

8th Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the percentage of the contribution of wind energy to the electric power produced in Great Britain in each of the past 10 years.

The latest data is shown in the table below:

Wind’s share of electricity generation in Great Britain, 2012 - 2021[1]

Electricity generation (GWh)

Wind

Total GB generation

Wind’s share of GB generation (%)

2012

18,805

356,492

5.3%

2013

27,052

350,502

7.7%

2014

30,501

330,216

9.2%

2015

38,414

330,115

11.6%

2016

35,426

329,971

10.7%

2017

47,136

328,490

14.3%

2018

53,974

323,413

16.7%

2019

60,835

314,607

19.3%

2020

72,350

302,615

23.9%

2021

61,955

299,068

20.7%

Provisional 2022 data for the UK will be published on Thursday March 30th 2023 in Energy Trends. 2022 data for Great Britain will be published in December in Energy Trends.

[1] Taken from data published by BEIS in Energy Trends: December 2022, special feature article - Electricity generation and supply in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd Jul 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to encourage more manufacturing of electronic chips in the UK.

The semiconductor industry is strategically important with its technology used by many UK industries. We are engaging with businesses as well as key international partners to ensure we continue to have a trustworthy and reliable supply.

The Government is committed to growing the UK manufacturing supply chain, including microelectronics, especially in those areas where there will be significant growth potential, such as Electric Vehicles. The Government continues to encourage appropriate inward investment and trade agreements to allow us to access global expertise and technologies.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
17th May 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the event of an erroneous trademarking of a trade name by the Intellectual Property Office, they may reverse the trademarking without the need for further legal action by any aggrieved party.

The IPO’s examiners undertake a stringent examination of any trade mark application before it is accepted for registration, which includes a search of current trade marks. Once accepted, all applications are published for a 2-month window where anyone can lodge observations or launch a legal opposition.

Anyone can submit observations to the IPO and outline reasons why they believe a trade mark should not be registered from the date the application is made until it is registered. This IPO does not charge for this service. The IPO will then consider whether the mark has been accepted in error and can reopen the examination phase if there are grounds to do so.

There are more formal legal routes to oppose a trade mark application or invalidate an existing trade mark registration. Whilst these are formal legal processes, the IPO’s Tribunal service is set up to be a low cost and accessible service.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Apr 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the event of an erroneous trademarking of a trade name by the Intellectual Property Office, they may reverse the trademarking without the need for further legal action by any aggrieved party.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the noble Lord.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications have been submitted to the Clean Growth Fund; and how many of those applications were from Northern Ireland.

The Clean Growth Fund considers applications from right across the UK, including Northern Ireland. It will invest in UK companies and create a diverse portfolio spanning the breadth of the Clean Growth sector.

This is a commercially run Fund, managed by Clean Growth Investment Management. Her Majesty’s Government is not involved in investment decisions.

Since the Fund was launched in May 2020, the Fund Manager has received 449 enquiries to date. Of these, there have been a minimum of three expressions of interest from companies based in Northern Ireland. This is a minimum as not all expressions of interest include geographical data.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Sep 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding was received by Northern Ireland under the EU Erasmus programme in (1) 2014, (2) 2015, and (3) 2016.

Funding data has been published for the 2014-20 Erasmus+ programme by the British Council and Ecorys, who were acting as the UK National Agency. This data indicates that the amount of funding received by institutions in Northern Ireland for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 was €6,336,885, €6,108,410 and €7,414,597 respectively.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
6th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether students in Northern Ireland will have access to the Turing scheme.

Yes. The Turing scheme will be UK-wide. Universities, colleges, and schools in Northern Ireland will be eligible to bid for funding under the scheme, so that students in Northern Ireland can benefit from the opportunities of study and work placements abroad.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
29th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any problems concerning the recognition of A-level qualifications by universities in the EU.

Recognition of a range of academic qualifications, including qualifications for access to higher education, is covered by the Council of Europe/UNESCO Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, to which most countries in the European Region, including the UK, are signatories.

The UK National Recognition Advice Centre (UK NARIC) provides, on behalf of the government, advice on the comparability of international qualifications with those of the UK. UK NARIC is a member of the European network of national information centres that act as a primary contact point for the recognition of international academic qualifications.

18th May 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland has affected the sale of horticultural autumn bulbs from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Following the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021, EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules continue to apply in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol. This upholds the longstanding status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit, and means that all regulated plants and plant products moving from GB to NI are required to meet the EU’s third country import requirements, including the requirement for regulated goods to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

As announced in the updated operational guidance for the movement of horticultural goods from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI), bulbs or vegetables that have been grown in soil can be sent from GB to NI even if they still have soil attached, while respecting any pest free area requirements.

Under the Government’s successful Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS), businesses moving plants and plant products from GB to NI do not need to pay for the fees associated with inspections and issuance of phytosanitary certificates (PC). The Government announced on 6 April 2021 that MAS will continue to provide traders with advice and guidance via the dedicated MAS helpline and financial support for certain certification costs. The Government will continue to monitor the performance of the scheme and will review it again in three months’ time, to determine how best to provide ongoing support to traders.

Prior to 1 January, data was not collected on the movement of horticultural autumnal bulbs from GB to NI. Although the Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate (PHSI) collect data on the number of bulb phytosanitary applications, comparisons with exports prior to the Northern Ireland Protocol’s implementation cannot be drawn, as consignments of bulbs were not inspected before 1 January 2021.

The Government recognises the importance of this issue and is recording data on the number of PCs issued for regulated plants and plant products, including bulbs, exported to all third countries and for those moved from GB to NI. This enables us to monitor the trade in these goods over time.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
18th May 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether fishing boats based in Northern Ireland have received licences to fish in Irish waters since January 2021; and whether the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland has caused any delay to such licences being issued.

The Marine Management Organisation have shared data with the Commission on Northern Ireland vessels wishing to fish in Republic of Ireland waters and is currently waiting for their response. As yet, no Northern Ireland vessels have received licences to fish in the Irish 0-6nm zone.

We do not have any reason to believe that the Northern Ireland Protocol has had an effect on the issuing of licences.

Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of changes to the sale of Northern Ireland dairy milk products in (1) Great Britain, (2) the EU, (3) nations with which the UK has a trade agreement, and (4) nations with which the EU but not the UK has a trade agreement, that will take effect after 31 December.

The UK Government has guaranteed in legislation, via the Internal Market Bill, unfettered access for Northern Ireland's businesses to the rest of the UK internal market from 1 January 2021, ensuring that trade from Northern Ireland to Great Britain continues as it does now. That will mean no declarations, tariffs, new regulatory checks or customs checks, or additional approvals for goods from Northern Ireland businesses to be placed on the UK market. The UK Government has also laid a Statutory Instrument, ensuring a continuity of arrangements for goods from Northern Ireland moving directly into Great Britain from 1 January 2021. This will be available only to Northern Ireland businesses.

There will be no change to the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and EU Member States, including Ireland. The EU is obliged under Article 5 of the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) to guarantee tariff free, frictionless access to the Single Market in any scenario from 31 December 2020.

The NIP ensures that Northern Ireland remains in the UK's customs territory. We will negotiate and deliver trade deals on behalf of the whole United Kingdom. Northern Ireland exporters will therefore enjoy the preferential access we negotiate with trading partners around the world.

As part of the UK's customs territory, after 31 December 2020, Northern Irish producers will no longer be able to access preferential trading arrangements under the EU's free trade agreements. As part of the UK's ability to pursue an independent trade policy, the UK Government has, in under two years, agreed trade agreements with 51 countries that have agreements with the EU. Total UK trade with these countries was worth £144 billion in 2019.

25th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the annual budget for the NHS; and what proportion of the NHS budget is estimated to be allocated as a result of Irish citizens within Great Britain as part of the Common Travel Area.

National Health Service funding in the United Kingdom is devolved so figures have been given for England, Wales and Scotland separately. The categories within these budgets may not align perfectly in terms of what is considered NHS spending and what is considered wider health and social care spending.

The official NHS England website confirms the budget for 2022/23 is £152.6 billion. Figures from the 2022/23 Supplementary Welsh Government Budget show that the budget for NHS Wales is £10.3 billion. The 2022/23 budget published on 9 December 2021 for NHS Scotland is £12.9 billion.

We do not hold data on and are unable to provide estimated figures on the budgetary impact of any given nationality in the UK, as healthcare spending is allocated based on residency rather than the nationality of the individual receiving healthcare.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
6th Dec 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what pre-departure COVID tests are required by (1) persons travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK, and (2) persons travelling from the UK to the Republic of Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland is within the common travel area. People travelling to England from the Republic of Ireland who have not been outside the common travel area in the period 10 days before arrival in England are not required to take a pre-departure test.

As of 14 January 2022, the Irish Government’s advice for travellers states that “With effect from Thursday 6 January 2022, passengers to Ireland with: An accepted proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior 6 months do not have to show an additional pre-departure COVID-19 test result. Passengers without proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the prior 6 months, must show evidence of a negative ('not detected') RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.”

24th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were vaccinated against the common flu in the past 12 months; and how this figure compares with the previous 12 months.

The following table shows the number of people who were vaccinated during the seasonal influenza vaccination programme in 2019/20 and 2020/21. The figures are not directly comparable as the immunisation programme was expanded to more cohorts in 2020/21.

2020/2021

2019/2020

19,158,901

14,468,665

Source:

‘Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in GP patients: winter season 2020 to 2021. Final data for 1 September 2020 to 28 February 2021’ Public Health England

22nd Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is compatible with the identification of a freeport in Northern Ireland.

We are committed to extending the benefits of our Freeports programme across the UK and continue to work with stakeholders from sectors and places across Northern Ireland on how best to do so.

This is another important reason why we need to see a restored Executive.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
22nd Apr 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Armenia regarding its neutrality towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the percentage change since (1) the UK withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020, and (2) the application of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, in trade between Northern Ireland and (a) Great Britain and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

Trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is not considered international trade and is, therefore, not captured in our official trade statistics.

As set out in the July 2021 Command Paper, the UK is clear that significant trade diversion is occurring and the thresholds for A16 safeguards have been met.

The percentage change in trade value since the UK withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020 and the current application of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is devised using the Irish Government's Central Statistics Office (CSO) at the following link: https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/externaltrade/goodsexportsandimports/.

According to the CSO, compared to the similar period from 2018 (February 2018 to October 2019), Irish exports and imports with Northern Ireland have increased by 18 per cent and 38 per cent respectively, since the UK withdrawal from the EU (February 2020 to October 2021).

According to the CSO, compared to the similar period from 2018 (January 2018 to October 2018), Irish exports and imports with Northern Ireland have increased by 44 per cent and 89 per cent respectively, since the application of the Protocol.

18th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recent violence on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, what steps they are taking to secure agreement between the governments of those two countries on (1) the demarcation of their shared border, and (2) a lasting peace agreement.

UK diplomats continue to engage with partners. This includes in Baku, Yerevan and at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna where the UK continues to reinforce our support for the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and their work to facilitate negotiations over all outstanding matters relating to the conflict. The UK Government continues to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage in substantive discussions under the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Minister for Europe and Americas reinforced these messages in her recent meetings with the Armenian Ambassador on 4 November and the Azerbaijani Ambassador on 17 November.

17th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as being part of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and whether they are aware of any Armenian Armed Forces located in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The UK Government supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Azerbaijan whilst recognising the acceptance of a free expression of will on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as laid out in the Minsk Group's Basic Principles. The UK Government has no independently verified evidence that Armenian Armed Forces are currently located in Nagorno-Karabakh. We continue to support the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to secure a peaceful settlement to the conflict through substantive negotiations without preconditions and without the use of military means.

28th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of France about the recognition of proof of vaccine status against COVID-19 issued by the NHS, in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.

We work closely with French partners through the British Embassy in Paris and with the French Embassy in London to ensure that all travel restrictions are communicated to UK nationals, including on the recognition of vaccine status. As of 9 June, travellers from the UK to France who are fully vaccinated do not need to justify an essential reason for travel or self-isolate upon arrival. France accepts proof of vaccination status via the NHS App or an official NHS letter. Full information is available on our FCDO Travel Advice pages, which we update regularly.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the British ambassador to France is appointed to serve the United Kingdom or Great Britain.

Her Majesty's Ambassador to the French Republic is formally approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As an official of Her Majesty's Government, a British Ambassador therefore represents the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
14th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Her Majesty's British ambassador to France has discussed the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland with the foreign minister of France.

Ministers and Senior Officials regularly engage with their French counterparts on a range of priority issues. Her Majesty's Ambassador to France has discussed the Northern Ireland Protocol on a number of occasions with Senior Officials and Ministers in the French Government. The Prime Minister and President Macron also discussed the Protocol in the margins of the G7 Leaders Summit on 12 June, where the Prime Minister made clear his desire for pragmatism and compromise on all sides but underlined that protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions was paramount.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Russia, and (2) Armenia, to have the location of land mines in Azerbaijan sovereign territory made available to the government of Azerbaijan.

During her visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan in February the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas highlighted UK concern over the large amount of unexploded ordnance across the region. We understand from Azerbaijani government reports that as of 9 June 2021, 27 Azerbaijanis have been killed and over 100 injured by explosive remnants of war. We are deeply concerned by this ongoing loss of civilian life.

The UK Government continues to urge both countries, most recently at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 3 June, to work together to ensure that humanitarian organisations have unimpeded access to the region and that de-mining maps are urgently provided to ensure the safety of civilians.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of civilians who have lost their lives since 1 June as a result of unidentified Armenian land mines in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

During her visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan in February the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas highlighted UK concern over the large amount of unexploded ordnance across the region. We understand from Azerbaijani government reports that as of 9 June 2021, 27 Azerbaijanis have been killed and over 100 injured by explosive remnants of war. We are deeply concerned by this ongoing loss of civilian life.

The UK Government continues to urge both countries, most recently at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 3 June, to work together to ensure that humanitarian organisations have unimpeded access to the region and that de-mining maps are urgently provided to ensure the safety of civilians.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the agreement to end military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and, in particular, what progress has been made with (1) identifying, and (2) removing, land mines in that region.

The UK Government welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas has been in regular contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers since the outbreak of hostilities in September. During recent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan she encouraged both sides to abide by the 10 November trilateral peace deal and settle all outstanding matters through talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. The UK Government is aware of the significant dangers posed by large numbers of unexploded ordnance in the region. We continue to evaluate what support we might provide Armenia and Azerbaijan to take forward their removal.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is being spent by the British Embassy in Dublin on the provision of advice to UK driving licence holders about applying for Irish driving licences before 31 December; which media sources they are paying to advertise this advice; and which other British embassies are expending funds to provide similar advice in other EU nations.

The Cabinet Office regularly publishes expenditure, broken down by supplier, on a monthly rolling basis on GOV.UK, including expenditure on the cross-government Transition public information campaign.

As part of this major campaign, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is running a strand of activity focused on UK nationals who live and work in EU and EFTA countries. The campaign focuses on four key actions UK nationals may need to take around residency applications or registrations, healthcare provision, passport validity and driving licences. The messages are tailored for each country so that UK nationals are aware of the actions that may apply to them. Communications centre on digital channels, radio, print media and a range of outreach events run by embassies locally. All activity signposts UK nationals to GOV.UK with specific information for each country.

29th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) missile attacks on the Azeri town of Barda, and (2) who was responsible for those attacks; and what representations they have made to the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia about such attacks.

The UK Government is aware of reports of attacks on Barda although we have not yet made an assessment on responsibility. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood spoke to the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers on 28 October. She urged both parties to abide by the humanitarian ceasefires and condemned the continued targeting of civilian settlements and infrastructure.

15th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1990.

The UK Government does not have an official figure for the number of displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh since 1990.

15th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the nation of Azerbaijan.

We consider that the Basic Principles for a settlement proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs provide the basis for a reasonable compromise in this regard, taking due account of the relevant OSCE principles governing relations between member-states. This includes the return of territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control and future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will.

15th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the missile attack on 11 October on Ganja was a breach of the agreed ceasefire in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; how many civilians were killed; and to whom they have made representations about this attack.

We are deeply concerned by reported breaches by both sides of the humanitarian ceasefire. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas raised her concerns over the attacks on both Stepanakert and Ganja with the Armenian Charge d'Affaires in London on 13 October and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 October, clearly stating that civilian casualties are unacceptable. Reporting suggests that 10 civilians were killed and 35 injured during the attack on Ganja. We will continue to make representations to both parties regarding the need to urgently cease attacks against civilian settlements.

24th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the most recent annual credit to Northern Ireland as a result of the Barnett Formula.

As set out recently in the Main Estimates memoranda, the Northern Ireland Executive has received £2.0 billion through the Barnett formula for 2023-24 on top of the Spending Review 2021 baseline. This means the Northern Ireland Executive’s total block grant (Total DEL) funding for 2023-24 is £15.8 billion.

Baroness Penn
Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
18th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the outstanding loan principal due by the Republic of Ireland has been fully repaid; and what were the total interest payments received from the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland received a loan of a total of £3,226,960,000 under the Loans to Ireland Act 2010, which has been repaid in full as of 31 March 2021. The total interest paid was £628,677,551.77.

9th Nov 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government which organisation oversees firms which provide life insurance policies for persons in the UK.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) oversee firms which provide life insurance policies for those in the UK.

The Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA), which is part of the Bank of England, promotes the safety and soundness of insurers, and the protection of policyholders. This includes arrangements for protecting customers in the event of an insurer failing, via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the conduct of insurers, as well as more broadly the integrity of the UK’s financial markets. The FCA also has an objective to secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers.

21st Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Airport Passenger Duty is applied to internal flights from Northern Ireland within the UK; and if so, what plans there are for this to cease.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a per-passenger tax levied on flights departing from UK airports, including those between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

At Budget, the Government announced that, from April 2023, it would introduce a new reduced domestic band of APD, covering flights between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in order to support connectivity across the UK.

23rd Jun 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to identify a freeport within Northern Ireland.

Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK by attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country.

We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit. We remain committed to establishing at least one Freeport in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.

30th Dec 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what interest has been paid by the Republic of Ireland for loans made under the Loans to Ireland Act 2010; and when any such loans are expected to be repaid.

The latest statutory report under section 2 of the Loans to Ireland Act 2010 discloses all interest payments made up to 30 September 2020. Since that date, Ireland has made one further regular interest payment, and one further tranche repayment with associated interest. Ireland is scheduled to repay the final tranche in March 2021. The Government continues to expect the loan to be repaid in full and on time.

25th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the provisions of the Common Travel Area, whether Irish residents in Great Britain can (1) benefit from the NHS, and (2) join the UK armed forces without taking an Oath of Allegiance; and whether UK residents in the Republic of Ireland can (3) benefit from its health service, and (4) join the Irish armed forces without taking an Oath of Allegiance.

As part of the Common Travel (CTA) arrangements, Irish citizens in the UK continue to have access to their CTA rights, including access to healthcare.

Irish citizens who join the UK Armed Forces are not required to swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Sovereign but must make an affirmation to the same effect. This requirement to swear an Oath or make an affirmation applies to all individuals who are eligible to serve in the UK Armed Forces.

Whether UK residents in Ireland can benefit from its health service or join Irish Armed Forces without taking an Oath of Allegiance is a matter for the Irish government.

16th Jul 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a Common Travel Area between the Republic of Ireland and the UK; whether there is freedom of movement between the Republic of Ireland and the EU; whether there are border checks on EU citizens travelling from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain; and whether there are border checks on the movement of EU citizens, not from the Republic of Ireland, travelling through Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK.

The Common Travel Area (CTA) facilitates the free movement of people between the between the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey).

As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from Ireland to the UK, including from Ireland to Great Britain. There are no immigration checks whatsoever on the Northern Ireland-Ireland land border. However, individuals arriving in the UK, regardless of where they enter from, must do so in line with the UK’s immigration framework and we work closely with the Irish Government to prevent abuse of the CTA.

There are no border controls for travel within the UK including from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Whether there is freedom of movement between Ireland and the EU is a matter for the Irish government.

5th Jul 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether students from the EU are required to apply for visas in order to enrol in boarding schools in Northern Ireland.

Since freedom of movement ended on 31 December 2020, EEA nationals travelling to the UK for the first time to enrol on a course of 6 months or longer at an independent school in the UK, including those with boarding facilities in Northern Ireland, are required to apply for a visa under the Student or Child Student routes.

Irish citizens in the UK have the right to reside, work, study, and access healthcare, social security and public services without requiring permission.

Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)