Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government engages in regular discussions with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the EU on matters of mutual interest.
The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway in order to continue trading with the EU. We are providing more guidance to businesses in this area, will keep this under review, and continue to engage with businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government engages in regular discussions with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the EU on matters of mutual interest.
The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway in order to continue trading with the EU. We are providing more guidance to businesses in this area, will keep this under review, and continue to engage with businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the EU on the potential impact of the General Product Safety Regulations on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government engages in regular discussions with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the EU on matters of mutual interest.
The updated General Product Safety Regulations largely formalises the reality of how businesses are already operating in the UK and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact. Where businesses need to make changes, we expect that they will be adapting anyway in order to continue trading with the EU. We are providing more guidance to businesses in this area, will keep this under review, and continue to engage with businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many ministerial advisers are employed in his Department.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As of 24 July 2024, the Northern Ireland Office employs one ministerial Special Advisor.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff are employed in his Department.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As at 30 June 2024, the Northern Ireland Office employs 172 staff.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Irish citizens are employed as ministerial advisers in his Department.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office does not hold data on citizenship held by staff. As per the terms of the 1998 Agreement, this Government recognises the right of all people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, according to preference.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Irish citizens are employed in his Department.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office does not hold data on citizenship held by staff. As per the terms of the 1998 Agreement, this Government recognises the right of all people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, according to preference.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is to bring forward legislation to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Government is working actively to deliver commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, which was published on 31 January (CP 1021). This includes the passing into law on 20 February of two statutory instruments to give effect to legislative assurances contained within the command paper. Any required further legislation will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to bring forward revenue raising proposals.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The UK Government remains determined to support the Executive to unlock the opportunities that the financial package presents.
To help stabilise the Executive’s financial position, the UK Government has agreed to pause its debt repayments from 2022-23 and 2023-24 of up to £559 million and will no longer require these funds to be repaid, subject to the Executive publishing a plan by May 2024 which outlines how it will deliver sustainable public finances and services and demonstrating implementation of that plan by May 2025.
This sustainability plan must include the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024-25 by raising a minimum of £113 million through locally generated income. It will be for the Executive to determine if it will consider a different course of action to deliver the public services that Northern Ireland needs as part of its sustainability plan.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent assessment the Government has made of the effect of implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol on Northern Ireland's economy.
Answered by Robin Walker
Whilst the Northern Ireland economy is facing significant challenges, particularly due to Covid-19, I am confident that Northern Ireland has a promising economic future.
Through the Northern Ireland Protocol, local businesses have unfettered access to the rest of the UK Market whilst also retaining access to the EU Single Market for goods.
The unique opportunities afforded by the Protocol allow Northern Ireland to be promoted as a great place to live and work, strengthening and growing its economy as a competitive and world class base for global businesses.