Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of leaving the ECHR on the Good Friday Agreement.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The ECHR underpins key international agreements on trade, security and migration, as well as the Good Friday Agreement. The UK Government has no plans to leave the ECHR, and will not therefore speculate on what such a policy would entail.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in (i) his Department and (ii) Hillsborough Castle is made by a British manufacturer.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.

Crockery and tableware at Northern Ireland Office buildings and Hillsborough Castle has been sourced over a number of years from various suppliers. However, full information about the country of manufacture is not available. A percentage of the crockery used within the department and Hillsborough Castle was however manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, which are the nine cases that will be able to resume.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill set out the criteria for the restoration of a select number of inquests based on their progress through the coronial system at 1 May 2024. These criteria are set out at Clause 84.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Office, and Ministers, regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Transformation Fund. In particular, through its membership of the Public Sector Transformation Board whose role is to advise and make recommendations on how to use the £235m ring-fenced transformation funding.

Work is on going to identify and allocate remaining funds to further transformative projects in the months ahead.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of being part of the UK on Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is a much valued part of the UK and brings an enormous richness to the life of our country. Northern Ireland also benefits hugely from being part of the UK.

For example, the Northern Ireland Executive will receive a record settlement of £19.3 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29. This is the largest in the history of devolution, and provides Northern Ireland with over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

As part of the UK, Northern Ireland will benefit from: £1.9 billion investment in Belfast defence manufacturing; access to £20 billion UK R&D spending; £2 million funding for Queen's University Belfast's Cyber AI Hub; access to £3 billion in UK-wide funding for the advanced manufacturing sector; £310 million over four years as part of the City and Growth Deals; and at least £30 million as part of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of neonatal care leave and pay in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I welcome the introduction earlier this year of neonatal care leave and pay in Great Britain, which will provide vital support to parents whose babies require specialist care in the first weeks of life, ensuring they will have additional time away from work at such a critical time.

My ministerial team and officials regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive and we are aware of the ongoing discussions about the possibility of leave and pay for parents whose newborn babies require neonatal care being introduced in Northern Ireland.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why they have not provided additional funding to the Northern Ireland Football Fund, on the same basis as support for the redevelopment of Casement Park, to ensure parity of funding between major sports in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Football Fund is an Executive initiative introduced in 2011. The Government has provided funding to grassroots clubs throughout Northern Ireland, many of which are football clubs. DCMS invests in grassroots facilities in Northern Ireland through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, and will announce further projects in due course.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 82705 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, whether the right to anonymity is included in the other measures that will apply to non-veterans.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

All of the measures that we have announced seek to directly benefit veterans who are asked to engage with legacy mechanisms, responding to discussions that the Government has undertaken. Some measures, including the protection from cold calling and protecting veterans from giving unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details, will apply only to veterans.

Other measures - including the right to seek anonymity, which is already a feature of the Coronial System - will necessarily apply to everyone. This will ensure that other witnesses, including former police officers, are able to avail of these measures when giving witness evidence to both the reformed Legacy Commission and the small number of Inquests that will proceed.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 84511 on Business: Northern Ireland, of the £235 million ring-fenced transformation funding (a) how much has been allocated to each Northern Ireland Department and (b) what is the time scale for future allocations before the funding is withdrawn.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

A full breakdown of the funds allocated through the Transformation Fund is available via the Department of Finance’s website:

Annual Profiling of Transformation Projects

The Public Sector Transformation Board is currently considering further transformation bids from departments with the aim of making recommendations to the Northern Ireland Executive on the allocation of remaining funds in the months ahead.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82702 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, what information he holds on the nine cases that will be able to be resumed.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Clause 84(3) of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill sets out the criteria for resumption of inquests that had started and were halted by the Legacy Act. It is only right that these are discussed with the affected families in the first instance.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many Troubles-related civil suits against government departments were stopped by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; what legal categories they fall under; and whether they will all be permitted to continue after the enactment of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act. The Government is, by way of a Remedial Order, repealing the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which was found to be incompatible with our human rights obligations.

It is right that citizens in all parts of the UK have the right to bring a civil case, and these are not necessarily cases against government departments. For example, four individuals were found responsible for the Omagh bombing in the civil courts in 2009.

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 veterinary medicine access.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has engaged with the Northern Ireland Executive extensively on the issue of veterinary medicine access. This includes through the Veterinary Medicines Working Group, which I co-chair and which is also attended by Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA.

The working group has met five times under this Government, most recently on 15 October. We are looking to convene the next meeting before the end of the year and intend to meet again early in 2026. I am grateful for the constructive and positive contributions that Minister Muir has made on this work. In addition, officials in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Cabinet Office regularly engage with DAERA officials on this issue.

Furthermore, in June this year, the Government published its position with regards to the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland, including its assessment that the vast majority of authorised medicines will continue to be supplied, and set out two new schemes to address any supply gaps.

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 preventing the politicisation of sport in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I meet frequently with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers on a range of issues. I have visited a number of sporting projects and organisations across Northern Ireland, most recently meeting with Down GAA and the Irish Football Association. Sport has a great ability to unite people and to bring young people from different backgrounds together. I commend and support all those working in Northern Ireland who are working in pursuit of this goal.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which of the six protections, rights and safeguards announced by the Ministry of Defence on 19 September for veterans who served in Northern Ireland are featured in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill; which will not feature in the legislation; which will be exclusive to soldiers and police officers; and which will have universal application.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms.

Measures set out in the legislation, including the right to give evidence remotely and having regard to the welfare of witnesses, will necessarily apply to others. This will ensure, for example, that former police officers are able to avail of these measures.

Some other non-legislative measures will apply only to veterans, including the protection from cold calling and the new safeguard that ensures veterans do not have to give unnecessary evidence on historical context and general operational details.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of legal fees for Troubles-related civil suits stopped by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; what is the likely compensation; and whether new troubles civil suits will be permitted after the implementation of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act.

In terms of future cases, the Remedial Order will repeal the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which has been found to be incompatible with our legal obligations. It is not possible to predict potential future proceedings.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the co-directors of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will be required to take decisions jointly.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill sets out specific circumstances in which the Directors must act jointly. These include clause 29 (deciding the form and manner in which requests for investigations are to be made), clause 30 (accepting and rejecting requests for investigations), clause 32 (power of the Directors of Investigations to initiate investigations), and clause 35 (determining the order in which investigations are to be carried out).

Other clauses in the Bill set out the circumstances in which the Director allocated an investigation should act alone. These include clauses 33 (notifying family members and others about new investigations), clause 36 (determining whether the investigation should be carried out as a criminal investigation etc), and clause 37 (notifying family members and others about the conduct of investigations).

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether one of the appointments to co-directors of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will be from outside the United Kingdom.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Clause 5 of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill stipulates that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland must appoint two persons to be Directors of Investigations of the Legacy Commission. In exercising this power, the Secretary of State must, so far as practicable, ensure that one of the Directors has experience of conducting criminal investigations in Northern Ireland, and the other Director does not have that experience, but has experience of conducting criminal investigations outside Northern Ireland.

The legislation does not stipulate that one of the co-directors must be from outside of the United Kingdom.

Clause 9 of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill requires appointments of the Directors for Investigations to be made following consultation with relevant individuals, in order to inform the appointments process. It also requires me to publish details of who will be consulted.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are their reasons for making the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025 instead of using primary legislation; and why the changes proposed in the Remedial Order cannot be incorporated in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Remedial order will provide clarity as quickly as possible, and correct incompatibilities identified by the Northern Ireland courts, especially on two issues of significant public interest i.e. the removal of the immunity provisions and the removal of the bar on Troubles-related civil cases.

Providing clarity on these matters via the Remedial Order allows us to increase trust in the Commission.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the co-directors of the proposed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will have the powers of a constable.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Clause 12 of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill stipulates that a Director of Investigations is designated as a person having the powers and privileges of a constable.

Under clause 12, a Director of Investigations may designate any other Legacy Commission officer as a person having the powers and privileges of a constable, if they are satisfied that the Legacy Commission officer; a) is capable of effectively exercising those powers and privileges, b) has received adequate training in respect of the exercise of those powers and privileges, and c) is otherwise a suitable person to exercise those powers and privileges.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether control of the cases of Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will be split evenly between the two co-directors.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Clause 34 of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill sets out the process for allocating investigations to the Directors of Investigations. Clause 35 also makes provision for managing the investigation caseload. In addition, clauses 44 to 47 make provision about avoiding conflicts of interest, which are relevant to the allocation of investigations.

The legislation does not stipulate that the caseload of the Legacy Commission must be split evenly between the Directors of Investigations. This will be an operational matter for the Legacy Commission in line with the legislation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to remarks by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 14 October (HC Deb cols 246–7), why the Advocate General is specified in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as the individual responsible for stopped inquests.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The reference in the Bill to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland reflects their specific role in relation to Northern Ireland. However, we have made clear this is a function that may be exercised by the Solicitor General for England and Wales in accordance with section 2 of the Law Officers Act 1997.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department held a pre-publication briefing of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework with representatives of the Alliance Party.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

As stated previously, the Northern Ireland Office speaks to parties regularly and does not give a running commentary on those discussions.

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Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government who the current and previous occupants of grace-and-favour accommodation under the present government have been, including the dates they moved in and out.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since 5 July 2024, official residences have been allocated as follows:

• Chequers - the Prime Minister (ongoing).

• 11 Downing Street - the Prime Minister (ongoing).

• 10 Downing Street - the Chancellor of the Exchequer (ongoing).

• Dorneywood - the Chancellor of the Exchequer (ongoing).

• Chevening - the former Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon David Lammy MP was allocated Chevening following the General Election. Following the appointment of a new Foreign Secretary in September 2025, the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP has been allocated Chevening.

• 1 Carlton Gardens - the former Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon David Lammy MP was allocated 1 Carlton Gardens following the General Election and this remains allocated to him as Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor.

• Hillsborough Castle - available for ministers in the Northern Ireland Office while on duty in Northern Ireland (ongoing).

• Admiralty House, Flat 2. This was allocated to the Defence Secretary on a short-term basis between 9 September 2024 and 4 November 2024. Following this, it was allocated to the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP.

The former Deputy Prime Minister’s move in process commenced on 12 December 2024 and the flat is now vacant following the resignation of the former occupant.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital he plans to allocate to the Pride in Place programme in each constituent nation in each year of the next 10 years.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We recently announced the Pride in Place programme, which will see up to £280 million shared among 14 places in Scotland, each receiving up to £20 million over 10 years. Up to £180 million will be provided to a further 9 Welsh communities as part of the programme.

These areas will join 10 areas in Scotland and 5 in Wales where work is already underway, taking the totals up to £480 million over 10 years in Scotland and £280 million over 10 years in Wales.

For Northern Ireland, corresponding funding will be made available. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive to determine the appropriate delivery approach.

Further details on the neighbourhoods selected, individual funding profiles and the breakdown between revenue (RDEL) and capital (CDEL) will be shared in due course.

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