Northern Ireland Office

A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team.

A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement activity, including with representatives of all government departments.

ONS have committed to providing an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.

I have not had any such discussions.

Drug classification and the supporting legal framework remains a reserved power, primarily managed through the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This is the responsibility of the Home Office.

Officials from the Northern Ireland Office regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on National Defence was a recommendation in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which the Government accepted. The Ministry of Defence is the lead department for delivering the SDR, with support from the Cabinet Office, and particularly from the National Security Secretariat.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing Government, the private sector and the public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The Northern Ireland Office is actively supporting this work across a number of directorates including discussions with defence industry representatives, businesses and academia to better understand the contribution of the defence sector in Northern Ireland. This work is led by the Director for Security, International and NI Politics, and the Director for Growth, Public Service Transformation and NI Fiscal Sustainability.

The information requested regarding how many staff within the Department are reliant on a visa for employment is not held centrally. Right to work checks are carried out for all new employees as part of the recruitmenton process.

A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team. A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement, including with representatives of all government departments.

ONS have committed to providing an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.

The day of birth will be removed from the electoral ID to ensure that electoral identity cards are used to prove one’s identity in order to vote, rather than as a secondary form of identification, for other purposes.

The British Council Study USA initiative is a great programme that has benefited the career development of many students in Northern Ireland over its 30 years. Skills and further/higher education is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure the appropriate support for lower-income students wishing to study abroad is in place.

The pension rights of retired police officers is a devolved matter for which the Department of Justice is responsible.

The Secretary of State and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK's resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arms length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.

I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, officials, and external experts on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year engagement so that Government, businesses, and the public all play a part in strengthening our resilience. This will address the risks we face, including threats below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The Northern Ireland Office is actively supporting this work by hosting roundtable discussions with defence industry representatives, businesses and academia to better understand the contribution of the defence sector in Northern Ireland.

Reforms to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are agreed jointly by Ministers in all four nations who have equal decision-making power. We have consulted extensively on this since March 2022. Obligations under the scheme apply uniformly to all nations in the UK.

A 50% deduction has been applied for voyages in either direction between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This will ensure parity and prevent distortions with routes between the island of Ireland and Great Britain, which are included under the EU ETS.

A limited exemption applies for ferries serving Scotland's islands and peninsulas given legal duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

The Common Travel Area is a long-standing successful arrangement. In the UK-Ireland 2030 Joint Statement, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach committed to working together to protect the integrity and security of the Common Travel Area. It is the case that many air and sea carriers require some form of identification in order to use their services and some carriers regard a passport as the only valid form of identification.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently chaired the East-West Council in Belfast where the Minister for Early Years reported on the significant collaboration between all four nations of the UK regarding the National Year of Reading.

This Government remains committed to working with partners across the United Kingdom to collaborate to share best practices.

Education is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive, and decisions about the National Year of Reading in Northern Ireland are for the Northern Ireland Education Minister.

The Government is committed to continuing to take forward the Safeguarding the Union command paper, and to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK Internal Market.

We continue to make progress on delivering the commitments made in the command paper. For instance in 2025, three centuries of the News Letter were digitised and there remains no Border Control Post at Cairnryan. In January, the East-West Council met for the third time, where the Government announced there would be a pilot for the UK school twinning programme. This will focus on reading and is being developed between the UK Government’s Department for Education and the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Education.

Other recent steps include the allocation of £2.25 million for Intertrade UK over the next three years and the opening of round two of the Connect Fund to support community and voluntary groups. In line with commitments made in Safeguarding the Union, in December the Government published our response to Lord Murphy’s Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, and is now taking action on its recommendations.

There is one Director with responsibility for Human Resources who is the Northern Ireland Office’s Chief Operating Officer. This Director does not hold professional HR qualifications.

I engage regularly with Intertrade UK, most recently when I met its Chair Baroness Foster in January at the East-West Council in Belfast, where I heard an update on Intertrade UK’s work to date and its future plans.

The Northern Ireland Office provides secretariat support for Intertrade UK, as set out in its terms of reference, which are publicly available alongside the group’s work programme here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intertrade-uk-terms-of-reference-and-work-programme

At last year’s Autumn Budget, the Government allocated £2.25 million over the next three years to Intertrade UK to support implementation of its published work programme. This formed part of a wider £16.6m package to strengthen trade within the UK internal market.

Strong transport connections are vital to strengthen links between communities and allow business to grow. I welcome the publication of the Rail Project Priorisation Strategy in December. Improved infrastructure in Northern Ireland will help support the Executive’s plans for economic growth and enable people to get to where they need to be.

As transport, including railways, are devolved it is for the Northern Ireland Executive to determine their infrastructure investment priorities, within the record funding settlement for Northern Ireland announced by the Chancellor at the spending review.

I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade.

I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.

I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade.

I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

While health is a devolved matter, the Government is committed to supporting the Executive to deliver sustainable, high-quality, and accessible public services for the people of Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress made under the Health Minister's Reset Plan, which has already produced some tangible results, including significant reductions in waiting lists and the successful rollout of the Encompass digital record system.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

While health is a devolved matter, the Government is committed to supporting the Executive to deliver sustainable, high-quality, and accessible public services for the people of Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress made under the Health Minister's Reset Plan, which has already produced some tangible results, including significant reductions in waiting lists and the successful rollout of the Encompass digital record system.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

Transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Infrastructure Minister.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

Transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Infrastructure Minister.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

The environment is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.

The environment is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

I have met with Eakin Healthcare in Comber, The Exact Group in Newry and Lakeland Dairies in Newtownards.

I have met with Wilson’s Country in Portadown.

Minister Patrick has met with Mallaghan Engineering in Dungannon to discuss their apprenticeship programme.

I have met with Deloitte, Belfast Harbour, Leckey, Camlin, as well as PRM Group, Thales, Studio Ulster, and Stena Line. Additionally, I have regular engagement with Institute of Directors NI, Federation of Small Businesses NI, NI Chamber, Belfast Chamber and NIBBWG on matters relating to business across Northern Ireland.

I have met with Alchemy Technology Services, Derry-Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Foyle Port.

I met with the Chair of Intertrade UK, Baroness Foster, last month at the East-West Council to hear an update on the Board’s work to date and its future plans.

I have also engaged directly with Intertrade UK on the advice they have submitted to me on issues affecting UK internal market trade. This has included the Windsor Framework, veterinary medicines, vehicle type approvals and customs arrangements.

I look forward to engaging with the Board further as they continue to implement their work programme.

I recently hosted the East West Council in Belfast where the Minister for Early Years noted the significant collaboration between all four nations of the UK to support the National Year of Reading.

Education is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Decisions about the National Year of Reading in Northern Ireland are for the Northern Ireland Education Minister.

This Government remains committed to working with partners across the United Kingdom to collaborate to share best practices and I look forward to seeing how this great initiative progresses throughout the year.

I recently hosted the East West Council in Belfast where the Minister for Early Years noted the significant collaboration between all four nations of the UK to support the National Year of Reading.

Education is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Decisions about the National Year of Reading in Northern Ireland are for the Northern Ireland Education Minister.

This Government remains committed to working with partners across the United Kingdom to collaborate to share best practices and I look forward to seeing how this great initiative progresses throughout the year.

The Government does not hold all of the specific information that has been requested.

We understand that, between 1 January 2012 and December 2024, 68 cases for potential prosecution were considered in Northern Ireland in relation to Troubles-related cases, of which there were 25 decisions to prosecute. 6 of these decisions relate to cases that fall within the military category. None related to cases that fall within the police category.

Within that period, there has been one successful prosecution of a soldier in 2022, which was for manslaughter. That individual was given a suspended sentence.

While ongoing prosecutions are a matter for the relevant independent prosecution service, it is the Government’s understanding that there are now nine ongoing Troubles-related prosecutions in Northern Ireland. Of those nine prosecutions, one falls in the former police category, and one in the military category.

We understand that figures relating to 1998-2012 are not available. Any further queries should be directed to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland or the Crown Prosecution Service as relevant.

The Government does not hold all of the specific information that has been requested.

We understand that, between 1 January 2012 and December 2024, 68 cases for potential prosecution were considered in Northern Ireland in relation to Troubles-related cases, of which there were 25 decisions to prosecute. 6 of these decisions relate to cases that fall within the military category.

While ongoing prosecutions are a matter for the relevant independent prosecution service, it is the Government’s understanding that there are now nine ongoing Troubles-related prosecutions in Northern Ireland. Of those nine prosecutions, one falls in the military category.

We understand that figures relating to 1998-2012 are not available. Any further queries should be directed to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland or the Crown Prosecution Service as relevant.

The Government does not hold the specific information that has been requested.

Any further queries should be directed to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland or the Crown Prosecution Service as relevant.

We are not aware of any such restrictions or obligations for human medicines or other scientific testing, although any such proposal would need to be considered based on its specific details. For human medicines, it is already an expectation across the UK to demonstrate that non-animal testing has been used where possible. For veterinary medicines, the Government is also committed to phasing out the use of animals in testing where possible, although it may be required in some cases to ensure only safe and effective veterinary medicines are marketed, e.g. during the development of new veterinary medicines.

The Government does not hold all of the specific information that has been requested.

We understand that, between 1 January 2012 and December 2024, 68 cases for potential prosecution were considered in Northern Ireland in relation to Troubles-related cases, of which, there were 25 decisions to prosecute. 13 of these decisions relate to cases that fall within the republican category, 6 within the loyalist category, and 6 within the military category.

Where decisions have been taken to prosecute in Northern Ireland, there have been 6 convictions; 3 in the republican category, two in the loyalist category, and 1 in the military category, with that individual being given a suspended sentence.

We understand that figures relating to 1998-2012 are not available.

Information about Troubles-related prosecutions in England and Wales is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Government does not hold all of the specific information that has been requested.

We understand that, between 1 January 2012 and December 2024, 68 cases for potential prosecution were considered in Northern Ireland in relation to Troubles-related cases, of which, there were 25 decisions to prosecute. 13 of these decisions relate to cases that fall within the republican category, 6 within the loyalist category, and 6 within the military category.

Where decisions have been taken to prosecute in Northern Ireland, there have been 6 convictions; 3 in the republican category, two in the loyalist category, and 1 in the military category, with that individual being given a suspended sentence.

We understand that figures relating to 1998-2012 are not available.

Information about Troubles-related prosecutions in England and Wales is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

On Wednesday 28 January 2026, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10(2) and 10(3) of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. The commenced provisions came into force on 29 January 2026.

The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner's Office (NIVCO) is an independent entity, a status essential to its ability to operate effectively. To firmly establish this independence, a formal Management Statement was agreed between NIVCO and its sponsoring department, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

Food Security is a devolved matter. Ministers from all four nations discuss food system issues through the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In addition, officials have regular engagement on a wide range of food security and resilience issues.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not offer payroll deductions for credit unions. However, the department offers financial wellbeing support and advice through the employee benefits package. The employee benefits package is provided to NIO staff by the Ministry of Justice and its contracted suppliers.