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 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled, Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England, which closed on 4 July 2021.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Burton, on 7 June 2023, PQ UIN 188380.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the availability of appointments for priority services at the Passport Office before 6 May 2023.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Appointments continue to be offered throughout this period of industrial action, and new appointments are released every day. As is always the case, for anyone that requires a passport on compassionate grounds for urgent travel, our services are available.
HM Passport Office has processed almost 2.6 million applications up to the end of March 2023, with 99.6% of standard UK applications being processed within ten weeks and over 94.6% being processed within three weeks.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British citizens unable to leave Khartoum during the current period of unrest.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The safety of all British nationals in Sudan continues to be our utmost priority.
From 25 April, we have coordinated the supported departure of British nationals from Sudan. Our Travel Advice is for British national to travel to Wadi Saeedna airfield north of Khartoum, where they will be processed for evacuation. We will evacuate British passport holders and immediate family members (spouse / partner and children under 18 years old) with existing UK entry clearance.
A peaceful political transition to democracy and civilian governance is still possible in Sudan, and all factions must uphold their responsibility to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian assistance can continue to be delivered safely and allow the transition to civilian leadership immediately. We will continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues to end the violence and de-escalate tensions.
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 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there have been changes to the Government's legal position on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, published on the 13 June 2022.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
It is a longstanding convention for governments of all parties not to comment on the facts or contents of government legal advice. Proceeding with this Bill is consistent with our obligations in international law - and in support of our prior obligations to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. This legislation is lawful under international law. Our position is set out in the statement of the Government's legal position we have published.
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.