Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is responsible to in terms of performance.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Responsibility for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is a transferred matter and civil service reporting lines are, consequently, a matter for the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to maintain the place of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government is committed to delivering for all communities in Northern Ireland which is an important part of the United Kingdom.
The Spending Review provided the Northern Ireland Executive with £19.3bn per year on average, the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1998. On 22 April, we announced a £50m Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, which will help small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups in Northern Ireland by making it easier for them to enter the wider UK defence supply chain.
The Government is committed to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. We are strengthening connections between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and implementing the commitments in the Safeguarding the Union command paper.
As set out by the Chancellor at the Budget we are providing £16.6 million of new funding over the next three years for an Internal Market Package to boost trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Package, which will be delivered in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, includes £2.25 million of new funding for Intertrade UK to advise on and promote trade within the United Kingdom. This includes identifying and addressing barriers to trade within the UK internal market.
The Government is committed to upholding the Good Friday Agreement in letter and in spirit, including the principle of consent upon which it rests.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what most recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to the Urgent Question on 27 April about the recent attacks on two police stations. Those responsible for these shameless and cowardly attempts to kill and injure must be brought to justice and I urge anyone with information to come forward.
The Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) threat level remains SUBSTANTIAL which means an attack is likely. The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The attempted attacks in recent weeks will be considered as part of that ongoing assessment.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what engagement he has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland following the events that took place on Saturday 25th April 2026.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, led by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, and our security partners in countering the threat from terrorism in Northern Ireland.
My officials were in contact with the PSNI in the immediate aftermath of the despicable attack claimed by the New IRA, on Dunmurry Police Station.
I regularly meet the Chief Constable and his senior officers to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so. I met senior PSNI officers on 28 April 2026 to be briefed on the attacks.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has used artificial intelligence to assist with drafting (a) legislation and (b) policy in the last 12 months.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The drafting of primary and secondary legislation is the responsibility of a large number of officials across government departments. A range of tools are used to assist with this drafting, including AI which is most commonly used to check, critique, and otherwise interrogate drafts. Work is continuously underway to identify ways of improving the efficiency of this work, including collaboration between departments to share ideas and emerging practices.
While AI can be used to assist with the drafting of legislation, the production of the draft remains the responsibility of a lead human drafter to meet the high standards expected of Government legislation. It is Parliament’s responsibility to scrutinise and amend legislation as it sees necessary.
We have an internal operational framework in place for all NIO staff. While this a practical guide, it mandates that all AI use must align with the Civil Service Code and NIO’s security and data protection policies. This framework enforces strategic principles by referencing the UK Government’s AI Playbook and strictly restricting AI from making any final decisions that affect people, ensuring human control. All use of AI in the NIO must be checked by a human, including when used to support the development of policy.
Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the legal status is of the remedial order brought against the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Remedial Order was laid on 14 October 2025 as part of the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Remedial Order does not yet have legal effect, whilst it awaits the consideration of the House of Lords.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) concluded in their report that there are compelling reasons for proceeding by way of Remedial Order for the purposes of Section 10(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998.
The Remedial Order passed with a large majority in the House of Commons and I am committed to seeing it debated and passed in the House of Lords, at which point it will become law.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland about the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since the publication of the Joint Framework in September 2025.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government meets regularly with the government of the Republic of Ireland to discuss the progress made in implementing the two Governments’ respective commitments set out in the Joint Framework.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the proposed legislative timetable for Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will help victims and families to obtain the information and accountability they have long sought, whilst ensuring our veterans are treated with fairness and respect. The legislation will have its committee stage as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the government of Northern Ireland has implemented legislation relating to Northern Ireland Troubles legacy since the publication of the Joint Framework in September 2025; and if so, what legislation.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I have answered this question on the assumption that the Noble Lord is referring to the Government of Ireland.
The Joint Framework contains very clear and important commitments by the Irish Government. This includes the commitment to facilitate the fullest possible cooperation with the Legacy Commission, to establish a dedicated unit within An Garda Síochána for Troubles-related cases, and to investigate all unresolved Troubles-related incidents within its jurisdiction, and ensure that any potential investigative opportunities are proactively pursued.
The Irish Government Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, confirmed on 22 January 2026 that the dedicated unit within An Garda Síochána for Troubles-related cases (the Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit), has been established. An Garda Síochána has also issued a statement to provide contact details for the unit, which “will endeavour to answer questions that victims or family members may have in relation to An Garda Síochána Troubles-related investigations and will liaise with Divisional level investigators nationwide in respect of same. It is headed by a Detective Chief Superintendent, who reports into the Assistant Commissioner, Garda Crime & Security Intelligence Service”.
The Irish Government has also confirmed that work is underway on legislation to facilitate cooperation with the reformed Legacy Commission. On 9 March 2026, the Irish Justice Minister published a statement that confirmed that the Irish Government will bring forward legislative proposals in May to progress implementation of its commitments in the Joint Framework, “including the matters of cross-border co-operation and the establishment of the Independent Commission for Information Retrieval, formally approved by Government on 1 October 2025”.
Furthermore, the Irish Government has introduced the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026, which will enable the taking of oral testimony before the Irish courts for the purposes of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the government of Northern Ireland has ended legal against the UK over the Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Act 2023.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I have answered this question on the assumption that the Noble Lord is referring to the Government of Ireland.
Ireland v. the United Kingdom (III) at the European Court of Human Rights has not progressed beyond preliminary stages since it was lodged by Ireland in January 2024. On 2 July 2025, the United Kingdom received correspondence from the Court to confirm that it had adjourned its proceedings pending the final outcome of the ongoing domestic proceedings for judicial review in the case Dillon and Others, which is currently awaiting judgment by the United Kingdom Supreme Court.
The withdrawal of the case is a matter for the Irish Government. The UK Government is clear that the implementation of the Troubles Bill, which seeks to fulfil long standing commitments made by this Government, will mean that the basis for any interstate case will fall away.