Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of providing financial support to (a) cancer patients under the age of 26 and (b) their families when travel is required from Northern Ireland to England for treatment.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Support for patients required to travel from Northern Ireland to Great Britain for medical treatment is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health. However, this Government wants to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly, and local leaders to support them in delivering better health outcomes.
Patients in Northern Ireland pay for their own travel to appointments unless they are eligible for the Department of Health’s Hospital Travel Costs Scheme which is for people on a low income, including travel to the rest of the UK for treatment.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what undertakings they have given, if any, to the family of the late Patrick Finucane that the scope or terms of the public inquiry into his murder, announced on 11 September, will differ from those of the inquiry previously proposed to the family.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will follow due process under the Inquiries Act 2005 in establishing the inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane. This will include consulting the Inquiry Chair, once appointed, on the Terms of Reference. As set out to Parliament on 11 September, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland supports the assessment from the High Court that the Inquiry should ‘build on the significant investigative foundations which are already in place’. The Secretary of State has informed Mrs Finucane and her family that he will keep them updated on progress on establishing the Inquiry.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that journalists in Northern Ireland are protected from (a) threats of violence from paramilitary groups, (b) surveillance from security forces and (c) pressure to reveal sources.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
A free, independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is vital that journalists are able to continue their work without the fear of attack or threat. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is responsible for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists which sets out our approach to increase the safety of journalists.
We work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in their efforts to tackle the threat and harm caused by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
There are a number of robust legal protections afforded to journalists and their sources. These include Article 10 of The European Convention on Human Rights, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. In addition, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) can consider allegations of unlawful intrusion by public bodies, including the UK intelligence services and Police.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on recent threats of violence against a Sunday World journalist.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Journalists play a vital role in our society. It is unacceptable that they should find themselves threatened for doing their job.
I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team regarding national security and discuss a range of issues. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Reform UK - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many positions in his Department included (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity and (d) equality in their job title in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of the salaries of each such job was in each of those years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not held any positions with (a) diversity, (b) inclusion, (c) equity, and (d) equality in the job title in each of the last five years.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons behind, and (2) the consequences of, the resignation of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner: and whether they intend to seek a successor.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Over the last four years, Northern Ireland’s first Veterans Commissioner, Danny Kinahan, worked on a range of important issues that affect veterans in everyday life, including health, housing, and welfare. The Government would like to thank Danny for his dedicated work on behalf of veterans and families living in Northern Ireland. On 5 September, he resigned from the role. A statement setting out his position has been published on the Veterans Commissioner’s website.
The Government is committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland, and will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend (1) the terms of reference, and (2) the remit, of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland and we will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner a full time post.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to appoint a new Veterans’ Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland, including through the Veterans Welfare Service NI and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. We will set out next steps for the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner in due course.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3049 on Patrick Finucane, if he will publish copies of his letters to (a) Mrs Finucane and (b) the Court of Appeal.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
On Wednesday 11 September, I made an oral statement to Parliament announcing the Government’s intention to establish an independent inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane. I have notified the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal of this decision and Mrs Geraldine Finucane’s agreement to it.
The matter is still live before the Court. As such, I do not currently intend to publish these letters. Should I choose to publish them in future, I would seek Mrs Finucane’s and the Court’s approval to do so.