Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2022 to Question 156551 on Terrorism: Birmingham, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill on criminal investigations associated with the Troubles.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government is determined, through the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, to deliver better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles.
The Government's view is that the Independent Commission for Information Recovery and Reconciliation (ICRIR) established by the Bill should be the sole body responsible for Troubles-related cases. This will provide a more effective approach and ensure that the Police Service of Northern Ireland and GB police forces are able to focus their capabilities on addressing contemporary policing challenges.
That does not mean that all Troubles-related criminal investigations will cease. The Bill makes clear that the ICRIR will have all the necessary policing powers, with attendant coercive investigative measures, to conduct full, police-equivalent criminal investigations, more than capable of meeting the requirements of the UK’s international obligations.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to clause 37(3) of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, whether he has received notifications from the (a) Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and (b) Chief officer of any police force in Great Britain of any active criminal investigations into Troubles-related offences as of 4 July 2023.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office regularly engages on legacy with a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including the PSNI, OPONI, PPS NI, and other operational partners. As part of this engagement, the Northern Ireland Office regularly receives updates on total caseloads and the status of active investigations into Troubles-related offences.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff in his Department are working in the secretariat for the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As set out at the time of the announcement that Sir Declan Morgan had been identified as Chief Commissioner-designate of the ICRIR, and in line with the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Guidance, a dedicated secretariat, supporting the preparatory work being undertaken by Sir Declan, has been established as a separate business unit of the Northern Ireland Office. It has a separate budget and staffing and does not report to Northern Ireland Office Ministers. At present the secretariat is made up of 19 staff members.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 310 of the Explanatory Notes to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, what funding previously set aside by the Government is to be used for the financial implications of that Bill.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
£250 million has been allocated to the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill and the non-legislative memorialisation measures announced alongside it. This will be drawn from funds set aside for legacy mechanisms under the Stormont House Agreement and the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 31 January to Question 133687 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland, what legislation his Department has identified as in the scope of the sunset of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and required to continue to operate the Government’s international obligations.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government is committed to ensuring the necessary legislation is in place to uphold the UK’s international obligations, including the Withdrawal Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement after the sunset date.
The Brexit Opportunities Unit has established regular intergovernmental meetings intended to support devolved counterparts with identification of which REUL is devolved or reserved, as part of the REUL Reform Programme.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill on the free flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Some retained EU law in the scope of the sunset is required to continue to operate UKG’s international obligations, including the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Government will take the necessary action to safeguard the substance of any retained EU law and legal effects required to operate international obligations within domestic law.
The primary objectives of the Bill are to: end the special status of retained EU law on the UK statute book; and enable the Government to more easily amend, revoke and replace retained EU law.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to respond to the formal communication from the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, reference OL GBR 10/2022, dated 12 July 2022, on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
A response was drafted by the Northern Ireland Office following receipt of the formal communication from the United Nations Special Rapporteurs in July 2022. Following a delay due to an administrative error, this will be issued shortly by the responsible department (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). We will be apologising for this administrative error and delay.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his oral contribution of 9 November 2022, Official Report, column 281, on Northern Ireland Elections, what plans he has to convene all-party talks with Northern Ireland party leaders to discuss (a) restoring the Executive and (b) progress on Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government remains absolutely committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Minister of State and I continue to meet regularly with the Northern Ireland political parties to deliver its vision. All-party talks took place on 15 December.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to uprate benefits in Northern Ireland in line with inflation in the absence of an Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Welfare policy and the provision of benefits is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. The UK Government will protect the most vulnerable in society by increasing benefits in Great Britain in line with inflation from April 2023. I am supportive of benefits being uplifted in Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK.
In the absence of locally accountable leadership in Northern Ireland, my department will work with the Northern Ireland Civil Service on the approach to benefits uprating in Northern Ireland, as has been the case throughout previous periods without a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the success of the New Decade New Approach investment in Health services in (a) implementing the Bengoa, the Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together, and the Power to People reports and (b) delivering more care in the community.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is acutely aware of the pressures facing the health service in Northern Ireland. A programme of reform at the devolved level is needed to tackle long-standing and systemic problems. Consecutive Executive Ministers have failed to adequately address this issue.
Through the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, the Government is providing additional funding of £245m to the Northern Ireland Executive for public sector transformation.
The absence of a functioning Executive is exacerbating severe delays to health reform in Northern Ireland. I outlined to Parliament on Wednesday 9 November, my intention to introduce legislation to enable Northern Ireland Departments to maintain delivery of all vital public services, including health and social care, until an Executive can be restored.
The Government’s immediate priority remains facilitating the restoration of a fully functioning Executive that can progress long-term solutions to transform healthcare in Northern Ireland and maximise value from the UK Government funds announced in the Autumn Statement which will see the budget to the Northern Ireland Executive increase by £650m over the next two financial years.