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Written Question
Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024
Thursday 28th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which department will answer questions on matters relating to the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Consistent with responsibility for the Windsor Framework, the Cabinet Office is responsible for the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 overall. Any matters relating to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland or devolution would be for the Northern Ireland Office to answer.


Written Question
Operation Kenova
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with Iain Livingstone on the publication timetable for the final report from Operation Kenova.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I met with Sir Iain Livingstone on 6 March 2024 and updated him on the Government’s plans to make transitional provision to clarify that final administrative tasks related to a criminal investigation (including, for example, report-writing and publication of reports, such as the Kenova report) can be retained and completed by their original owners on and after 1 May 2024.

As Kenova is operationally independent of the Government, I am not in a position to confirm the publication date of its reports.


Written Question
Pensioners: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 20th March 2024

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 Age NI on support for isolated pensioners in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)

While policies on this matter are ultimately devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, the Secretary of State is committed to continuing to engage with groups across all sectors of society in Northern Ireland to discuss how the UK Government can support them.


Written Question
Foreign Investment in UK: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has held recent discussions with the US government on steps arising from President Biden's statement in April 2023 on the number of US corporations that want to come to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The UK Government has been continually engaging with the US government since President Biden’s statement in April 2023 regarding investment into Northern Ireland. Last week I was in Washington D.C where I spoke to the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs. I also attended a roundtable with the Federation of Small Businesses, and spoke to other US investors about the unique opportunity Northern Ireland has to offer.

The UK has signed state-level Memorandums of Understanding with eight US states (Florida, Texas, Washington, Utah, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana) to set out mutual goals and activities to strengthen our economic ties, as well as promote trade and investment, address trade barriers and enhance business networks.

The Northern Ireland Investment Summit, held last September, highlighted Northern Ireland’s innovation and technological strengths to around 200 global investors. Guests included Joe Kennedy III (US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs) and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the USA. The Summit showcased Northern Ireland’s innovation, deep expertise in industries of the future, and unparalleled investment opportunities given its unique trading position.


Written Question
Sean Brown
Tuesday 19th March 2024

Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will call a public inquiry into the murder of Sean Brown in 1997.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The murder of Sean Brown was an appalling act. I acknowledge the great suffering it has caused and continues to cause the Brown family, and the wider community.

I am currently taking appropriate advice and considering the Coroner’s report.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Protocol
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Caine on 12 March (HL3032), to specify all the changes made to the protocol by the Windsor Framework; and whether Article 6 of the Acts of Union is affected by the protocol or the Windsor Framework.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government’s position on the Windsor Framework, and its interaction with Article 6 of the Acts of Union, is set out in full in the Command Papers of 27 February 2023 and 31 January 2024.


Written Question
Care Homes: Republic of Ireland
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of people living in the United Kingdom who will be eligible for the Republic of Ireland's Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Government has not made any estimate of the number of people living in the United Kingdom who will be eligible for the scheme. Eligibility is ultimately a matter for the Irish Government.


Written Question
Care Homes: Republic of Ireland
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the impact of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme on those eligible living in the UK.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have not had any discussions with the Irish Government on this topic. Details of the scheme are ultimately a matter for the Irish Government.


Written Question
Care Homes: Republic of Ireland
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential merits of introducing a disregard for recipients of the Republic of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme compensation.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on this topic. Details of the scheme are a matter for the Irish Government.


Written Question
Public Expenditure and Taxation: Northern Ireland
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what local revenue raising conditions were attached to the recent financial package awarded to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government remains determined to support the Executive to maximise the opportunities presented by the financial package.

To help stabilise the Executive’s financial position, the UK Government has agreed to pause its debt repayments from 2022-23 and 2023-24 of up to £559 million and will no longer require these funds to be repaid, subject to the Executive publishing a plan, which outlines how it will deliver sustainable public finances and services, and demonstrating implementation of that plan by May 2025.

This sustainability plan must include the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024-25 by raising a minimum of £113 million through locally generated income. It will be for the Executive to determine if it will consider a different course of action to deliver the public services that Northern Ireland needs as part of its plan for financial sustainability.