Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that projects funded by the Government through the City and Growth Deals initiative in Northern Ireland are delivered effectively; how progress will be monitored; and what assessment he has been made of the potential impact of that initiative on (a) the number jobs in and (b) long-term economic development of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government is investing £617 million through the four City and Growth Deals which cover the whole of Northern Ireland. The four City and Growth Deals are: Belfast Region (£350m); Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane (£50m); Mid South West (£126m); and Causeway Coast and Glens (£36m). The UK Government has also provided £55 million for the Inclusive Future Fund to address social deprivation in the North West region, which is part of the Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane District City Deal.
Each one of the Deals goes through a rigorous six stage development process to ensure the projects within the Deal are aligned to the strategic priorities of the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as long-term economic growth within the corresponding region.
My officials meet regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive, Deal team and delivery partners, through the formal governance process. Each Deal is at a different stage of development, but the two Full Deal Documents of the Belfast Region City Deal and Derry-Londonderry City and Strabane District City Deal set out the impact they will have on their communities and regional economies.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to (a) reduce the potential impact of the Not for EU labelling requirement on GB goods sold in Northern Ireland on costs for businesses and (b) ensure that the (i) Duty Reimbursement Scheme and (ii) Trader Support Service provide effective support to those businesses.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme simplifies the requirements for movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. To be eligible, certain retail goods must be labelled as ‘Not for EU’. To ensure sufficient time for businesses to plan and prepare, the requirements were first communicated in 2023 and were introduced in phases. We have published detailed guidance to support businesses as well as providing 1:1 support as necessary. We continue to work closely with industry to support compliance.
We are committed to ensuring the Duty Reimbursement Scheme works smoothly, including by supporting businesses to access it. The procurement process to extend the Trader Support Service by a further five years, from 2026, is also underway. This procurement provides an opportunity for HMRC and the successful bidder to take into account user needs, to ensure value and to meet our wider technical and strategic priorities.
Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has a timetable for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by the Rt Hon Lord Murphy, published on 4 September 2025.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is considering Lord Murphy’s recommendations and will provide a response, including relevant timeframes, by January 2026, in line with our legal obligations.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Department and its arm’s length bodies have not purchased any electric vehicles, nor installed any electric vehicle charging facilities since 4 July 2024.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the UK to national security in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government remains committed to keeping people safe. I pay tribute to those who work so hard to ensure peace and security across the United Kingdom.
In relation to national security in Northern Ireland, the fact that the Northern Ireland Related Terrorism threat level was reduced in March 2024 to SUBSTANTIAL and remains there is testament to the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and security partners.
In recognition of the security situation in Northern Ireland, the Government is providing the PSNI with £113 million over three years in Additional Security Funding to help address Northern Ireland’s specific security challenges and continue keeping people safe.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will have the power to compel witnesses.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The ICRIR currently has the power to require a person to provide information or produce any documents they have in their possession, for examination or testing. Failure to comply with this can result in a financial penalty of up to £5,000. This power will be carried forward into the new Legacy Commission (Clause 14 of the Northern Ireland (Troubles) Bill).
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has spent on social media advertising by (a) influencer and (b) organisation in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Office has spent the following on social media advertising in the last five years:
2024/25 (to date): £0
2023/24: £0
2022/23: £29,395.01
2021/22: £10,500.00
Please note there was no spend on influencer marketing during this period.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about potential risks to national security resulting from the shortfall in Police Service of Northern Ireland officer numbers.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland meets frequently with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice to discuss areas of mutual interest and concern.
A well-staffed and resourced PSNI is vital to the success and stability of Northern Ireland. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to make decisions on the allocation of funding in line with its identified priorities and for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice to allocate funding to the PSNI.
The Government is providing the Executive with a record settlement over the Spending Review period, averaging £19.3bn per year. This is the largest in the history of devolution.
In addition to this, the Government is also providing the PSNI with £113 million over three years in Additional Security Funding to help address Northern Ireland’s specific security challenges and continue keeping people safe.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the interstate case Ireland v UK II has been stayed by the European Court of Human Rights pending the Supreme Court's judgment in the case Dillon and Others vs Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and whether they intend to make representations to the government of Ireland to formally withdraw that legal action.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, introduced last week, will give effect to the UK Government’s commitments in the Framework announced with the Irish Government on 19 September. This Framework reflects the principles of the Stormont House Agreement and contains sovereign commitments by both governments.
While the Interstate case is a matter for the Irish Government, we expect that the implementation of this Framework will result in the withdrawal of the case.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 the restrictions on veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland.
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 to this work.
The discussions of the working group are confidential, but the availability of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland is of course a key focus. 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. We continue to engage with industry and monitor the situation closely
In addition, officials in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Cabinet Office regularly engage with DAERA officials on this issue.