Found: The office and functions of the Prime Minister
Found: Northern Ireland ’s House of Commons and two members of its Senate .
Mentions:
1: Gray, Neil (SNP - Airdrie and Shotts) In the words of Labour’s Baroness Bryan of Partick, during the passage of the legislation through the - Speech Link
2: Haughey, Clare (SNP - Rutherglen) Government and the STUC for employment law to be devolved that it would rather leave Scotland at the mercy - Speech Link
3: Kerr, Liam (Con - North East Scotland) That is its prerogative; however, it is odd to see the Scottish Government rail against being given new - Speech Link
4: Marra, Michael (Lab - North East Scotland) see what the appeal of some of those people can be. - Speech Link
5: Todd, Maree (SNP - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) The UK Government has consulted Great Britain-wide—not in Northern Ireland, but in England, Wales and - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) At the moment, the challenge of the number of refugees is not as significant in Northern Ireland as in - Speech Link
2: Sammy Wilson (DUP - East Antrim) Northern Ireland is different. - Speech Link
3: Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South) in recent weeks.I want briefly to address the applicability of the Bill in Northern Ireland. - Speech Link
Nov. 17 2023
Source Page: FOI responses published by MOD: week commencing 13 November 2023Found: {c) Northern Ireland. {d) Wales. (7) Grants of freedom to RAF stations.
Found: The royal prerogative and ministerial advice
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the royal prerogatives of mercy has been exercised in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Royal Prerogative of Mercy has not been exercised in Northern Ireland within the past five years.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Thornton (LAB - Life peer) 1861 at that time, which brought Northern Ireland into compliance with our obligations under CEDAW. - Speech Link
2: Lord Stewart of Dirleton (CON - Life peer) I remind the House that abortion is a matter devolved to Northern Ireland and, indeed, to Scotland. - Speech Link
3: Lord Stewart of Dirleton (CON - Life peer) Ultimately, there is the possibility that the royal prerogative of mercy could be exercised in favour - Speech Link
Asked by: Lord James of Blackheath (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Coronation Oath to be sworn by His Majesty King Charles III will require him to use his power to cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all his judgments.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Coronation Oath Act 1688 requires that the Sovereign take the oath at his or her Coronation, and the text of the oath is set out in the Act. The precise form of words has been varied over successive coronations to reflect changes to the constitutional position. Except for one instance, the changes to the oath have been made without primary legislation - see the statement [1] of Sir Winston Churchill to the House of Commons in February 1953 (HC Deb 25 February 1953 vol 511 cc2091-3).
The text of the Oath will be published in due course and Parliament will be updated on any changes to the wording.
[1] CORONATION OATH CHANGES HC Deb 25 February 1953 vol 511 cc2091-32091
§The Prime MinisterI should now like to make my statement in reply to Question No. 45.
The terms of the Coronation Oath were first prescribed by the Act 1 William and Mary, chapter 6. Since then its terms have been changed at least five times. On one occasion only has the change had legislative sanction, namely the change which was introduced as a result of the Act of Union with Scotland. The Treaty of Union had provided that in Scotland the religion professed by the people of Scotland should be preserved to them and confirmed by every King on his accession, and it was thought proper that similar provision should be made for the protection of the English Church in England. The Coronation Oath was altered and enlarged accordingly.
For the many subsequent changes, large or small, which have been made in the terms of the Oath there was no legislative sanction. They were made at various times, and, in particular, after the Act of Union with Ireland, after the Disestablishment of the Irish Church, and also after the passing of the Statute of Westminster. On the last occasion the question whether the changes that were necessary to meet the new constitutional position could be made without an Act of Parliament was carefully considered. and the Lord Chancellor and the Law Officers of the day advised that they could.
I am advised by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor that this opinion was clearly correct, and that the changes now proposed, which are, perhaps, less substantial than those made in 1937, but are required to meet the new constitutional position created by the Indian Independence Act, 1947, and other statutes, can also be made without legislative sanction.
Her Majesty's Government propose to follow this long line of precedents. To accept the view that changes in the terms of the Oath which are necessary to reconcile it with a changed constitutional 2092position cannot be made except with the authority of an Act of Parliament would be to cast doubt upon the validity of the Oath administered to every Sovereign of this country since George I.
If, as I am advised, the Coronation Oath can be lawfully administered in the terms now proposed, no useful purpose would be served by legislation. It must be remembered that at Westminster the Queen will be crowned Queen not only of the United Kingdom, but also of other self-governing countries of the Commonwealth. The form of Oath now proposed has been put to each of these countries and none has raised any objection, or has suggested that it is necessary to pass legislation in its own Parliament or in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Indeed, it would not be possible in the time now remaining before the Coronation to arrange for legislation to be passed by the Commonwealth countries concerned.
§Mr. AttleeMay I say, having had some experience of these difficulties, that I think it is extremely satisfactory that agreement has been obtained throughout the Commonwealth on this Oath, and that we should be well advised to allow this to proceed without legislation?
§Mr. E. FletcherMay 1, with respect. put this to the Prime Minister? While no one would wish to throw doubt on the validity of the Coronation Oaths in the past, in view of the fact that the Coronation Oath is a Parliamentary creation, and is intended as a limitation on the Prerogative, is it not desirable, though it may be inconvenient, that any changes that are proposed this year should have legislative sanction, for which, I am sure, there would be no difficulty in making the appropriate arrangements on a non-controversial basis? It is a matter which affects the rights of Parliament, and not merely the rights of the Executive.
§The Prime MinisterI think those important and weighty points have been covered by the answer which I have given to the House.
§Mr. HealyCould the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he has considered the speech of an important member of the Irish Government in regard to this matter?
§The Prime Ministeris the hon. Gentleman speaking for the Irish Government of Northern Ireland or for the Eire Government, I believe it is—the Government of the Republic?
§Mr. HealyThe official name is the Government of Ireland, not the Government of Northern Ireland, which is a very small part of Ireland.
§Mr. Emrys HughesIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a strong feeling in Scotland about the Oath being taken to a Queen Elizabeth II on the ground of historical inaccuracy? In view of his great claim to historical accuracy himself, will he not do something' to meet this very strong resentment in Scotland?
§The Prime MinisterI shall be very glad to hear from the hon. Member if he will put his question in the pillar box.
Mentions:
1: Nigel Evans (CON - Ribble Valley) to remove for people who arrive in the UK from the Republic of Ireland via the land border with Northern - Speech Link
2: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down) At present, Northern Ireland is marketed internationally as part of a single entity: the island of Ireland - Speech Link
3: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down) I am grateful to the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee for that intervention. - Speech Link