Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times the New Decade New Approach Joint Board has met since 22 July 2020.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Joint Board has met three times since 22 July 2020.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Answer of 7 November 2022 to Question 77502 on Schools: Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of young people who will be able to access the connected classroom programme.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I am continuing to explore options for facilitating the establishment of a Connected Classroom programme, with the aim of providing young people in Northern Ireland with the opportunity to engage and collaborate with young people across the UK. Therefore, I cannot make an estimate at this time of the number of young people who will be able to access the programme.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Answer of 30 March 2022 to Question 146691 on Schools: Northern Ireland, what options have been identified for the delivery of the Connected Classrooms programme.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government continues to deliver on the commitments we made in Annex A of New Decade, New Approach to support a diverse, prosperous Northern Ireland.
We are exploring delivery options for the Connected Classrooms programme including delivery via UK Government departments or agencies, via the Northern Ireland Executive departments and through the charity and third sectors.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the 2018 Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, what steps he has taken to implement those recommendations in relation to Northern Ireland, since the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 came into force on the 20 May 2022.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is fully committed to ensuring that all of the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, (CEDAW Report) are implemented in Northern Ireland. This includes ensuring that women and girls can access abortion services in Northern Ireland and that CEDAW-compliant Relationship and Sexuality Education is made compulsory for adolescents in Northern Ireland.
On the provision of abortion services, the Regulations laid in May take a dual approach by placing a duty on the Department of Health to act as soon as is reasonably practicable, and taking powers that provide me with the same powers as the Minister of Health for the purpose of implementing these recommendations.
On 20 May, 6 June and 6 September, Northern Ireland Office Ministers wrote to the Minister of Health requesting that he provide a clear and unambiguous commitment that he will comply with the obligations on the Department of Health. The Minister of Health has sought legal advice on this matter which he is considering.
A small team of experts has been established within the Northern Ireland Office, and is working closely and at pace with the Department of Health to prepare a commissioning plan should the Government need to intervene.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights on the Belfast Agreement.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement contains safeguards to protect the rights of all sections of the community. The Agreement also requires domestic incorporation of the ECHR into Northern Ireland law which is enacted through the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to uphold the legal requirement to ensure access to abortion services in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The UK Government remains committed to delivering abortion services in Northern Ireland following inaction from the Northern Ireland Executive and Department of Health. It is unacceptable that fully funded abortion services remain undelivered and women and girls in Northern Ireland cannot access the same level of abortion healthcare as the rest of the UK.
I am taking the necessary steps and am determined to see the delivery of these vital healthcare services in Northern Ireland without further unnecessary delays.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has plans to seek cross community support for the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill before it receives Royal Assent.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government’s preference has always been to move forward on the basis of consensus. That is why we delayed the introduction of this legislation, and why it reflects a number of significant changes from the proposals contained within the Command Paper published last July.
However, it is clear that the people of Northern Ireland have waited too long to see the implementation of effective legacy mechanisms which is why we have brought forward the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. This legislation seeks to deliver effective outcomes for those most impacted by the Troubles and wider society.
We will, of course, continue to engage with key stakeholders as this legislation makes its way through Parliament.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent estimate he has made of the number of companies in Great Britain that no longer service the Northern Ireland market following agreement of the Northern Ireland Protocol in October 2019.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Northern Ireland Protocol as it is currently being implemented is causing real problems for Northern Ireland. An example of this is the decision by at least 200 suppliers in Great Britain to cease delivery to Northern Ireland because of the costs and bureaucracy caused by the Protocol leading to reduced choice on the shelves in Northern Ireland.
The Government has been consistently clear that significant changes are needed if the Protocol is to endure and provide the certainty businesses need and protect the stability of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the establishment of a freeport in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Conor Burns
We have been engaged with the Northern Ireland Executive on plans for Freeports in Northern Ireland and will continue to work with them to bring the benefits of Freeports to Northern Ireland.
Freeports will bring together ports, local authorities, businesses and other key local stakeholders to achieve a common goal of shared prosperity and opportunity for the areas they serve. We remain committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland, alongside other parts of the United Kingdom, benefits from Freeports.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress has been made on the establishment of a connected classroom programme for young people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Conor Burns
We are firmly committed to establishing a Connected Classrooms programme, to provide young people in Northern Ireland with the opportunity to connect, engage and collaborate with their peers across the United Kingdom. We are currently exploring options for the delivery of this programme.