To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Terrorism: Northern Ireland
Thursday 12th January 2017

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many former non-state actors who were formerly paramilitaries have been charged following a referral by the Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team to the Police Service of Northern Ireland or Public Prosecution Service.

Answered by James Brokenshire

The Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information.

Operational matters relating to the Historical Enquiries Team and the Legacy Investigations Branch are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.


Written Question
Terrorism: Northern Ireland
Thursday 12th January 2017

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) current and (b) former members of the Armed Forces currently under investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Legacy Investigations Branch were previously informed by the Northern Ireland Historical Enquiries Team that there would be no further action against them.

Answered by James Brokenshire

The Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information.

Operational matters relating to the Historical Enquiries Team and the Legacy Investigations Branch are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.


Written Question
Police Service of Northern Ireland: Finance
Thursday 17th November 2016

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the potential effect on funding for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to 2023 of the Northern Ireland Executive's plan to remove all peace walls in Northern Ireland by that date.

Answered by James Brokenshire

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is funded by the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland. Allocation of the PSNI’s budget is a matter for the Chief Constable.

As the Government’s Northern Ireland manifesto at the General Election set out, we will always give our fullest possible backing to the men and women of the PSNI who do such a superb job. That is partly why this Government has provided specific Additional Security Funding totalling £230 million in the last parliament and £160 million in the current parliament.

The UK Government has also provided specific funding to the NI Executive to contribute to conditions that will allow the removal of peace walls.

In addition, I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to question UIN 52739 today.


Written Question
Peace Lines
Thursday 17th November 2016

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

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 its plans to remove all peace walls in Northern Ireland by 2023.

Answered by James Brokenshire

The Northern Ireland Executive’s plan to remove peace walls in Northern Ireland by 2023 formed part of its wider ‘Together: Building a United Community’ Strategy which set out proposals for tackling the entrenched sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland and for building a shared society.

In 2013, the UK Government announced an economic pact ‘Building a Prosperous and United Community’ which specifically provided for a £100m extension of Executive borrowing powers to help rebalance the economy and to assist in the delivery of their plans to build a shared future. Subsequent to this, as part of the Fresh Start Agreement, the UK Government provided additional funding of £60m over five years to ensure the Executive expedited its commitments under the ‘Together: Building a United Community’ Strategy, including those relating to peace walls.

I have had a number of discussions with members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the implementation of both the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, and I will continue to do so.


Written Question
Belfast Agreement: Bill of Rights
Monday 14th November 2016

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the proposal for a British Bill of Rights and its potential implications for the Good Friday Agreement.

Answered by James Brokenshire

I am aware of the importance of human rights in the Belfast Agreement and the Government remains committed to that Agreement.

My officials continue to work closely with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice on these issues and we will engage fully with the devolved administrations in advance of any reforms.


Written Question
Politics and Government: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Monday 14th November 2016

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with (a) the government of the Republic of Ireland and (b) Northern Irish political parties since the All Island Civic Dialogue meeting in Dublin on 2 November 2016 on the outcomes of that meeting.

Answered by James Brokenshire

I have met and will continue to meet both the Northern Ireland political parties and counterparts in the Irish Government to discuss a range of issues related to EU Exit.

Since 2 November, I have spoken to the First and deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, and with the Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald.