Northern Ireland Office

We ensure the smooth working of the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Baroness Suttie (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Northern Ireland)
Alistair Carmichael (LD - Orkney and Shetland)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Northern Ireland)

Scottish National Party
Richard Thomson (SNP - Gordon)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Northern Ireland)

Labour
Hilary Benn (Lab - Leeds Central)
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Northern Ireland)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Labour
Fleur Anderson (Lab - Putney)
Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
Ministers of State
Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe)
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Lord Caine (Con - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)
Scheduled Event
Wednesday 24th April 2024
11:30
Northern Ireland Office
Oral questions - Main Chamber
24 Apr 2024, 11:30 a.m.
Northern Ireland
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Debates
Friday 15th March 2024
Business without Debate
Commons Chamber
Select Committee Inquiry
Monday 5th February 2024
Defence Spending in Northern Ireland

The Committee is launching a new inquiry on defence spending in Northern Ireland.

Despite its potential, Ministry of Defence spending …

Written Answers
Monday 18th March 2024
Northern Ireland Protocol
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Caine on 12 March (HL3032), to specify all …
Secondary Legislation
Wednesday 6th March 2024
Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Specification for Imitation Firearms) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024
These Regulations prescribe the specifications that imitation firearms must conform to for importation into Northern Ireland, pursuant to paragraph 7(1)(a) …
Bills
Wednesday 24th January 2024
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2024
A Bill to make provision to extend the period following the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May 2022 during …
Dept. Publications
Friday 15th March 2024
15:25

Northern Ireland Office Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.


Bills currently before Parliament

Northern Ireland Office does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament

Introduced: 24th January 2024

A Bill to make provision to extend the period following the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May 2022 during which Ministers may be appointed.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 25th January 2024 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 29th June 2023

A Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the year ending 31 March 2024 (including income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland of certain sums for the service of that year; to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland to borrow on the credit of those sums; and to repeal a spent provision.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 18th September 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 17th May 2022

A Bill to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles and promote reconciliation by establishing an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, limiting criminal investigations, legal proceedings, inquests and police complaints, extending the prisoner release scheme in the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, and providing for experiences to be recorded and preserved and for events to be studied and memorialised, and to provide for the validity of interim custody orders.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 18th September 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 27th April 2023

A Bill to Extend the period during which departmental functions may be exercised in the absence of Ministers to cover the whole of the current period in which there is no Executive; to give the Secretary of State power, during that period, to commission advice and information for the purpose of developing options for raising more public revenue in Northern Ireland or otherwise improving the sustainability of public finances in Northern Ireland; and to require certain accounts and related documents to be laid before the House of Commons in periods in which the Northern Ireland Assembly is not functioning.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th May 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 9th February 2023

A Bill to make provision to extend the period following the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May 2022 during which Ministers may be appointed and after which the Secretary of State must propose a date for another election; to allow the Secretary of State to propose a date for another election before Ministers have been appointed; and to amend the procedure for making regulations defining permitted material for transplantation in Northern Ireland under section 3 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 in the period until the Presiding Officer and deputies of the Assembly are elected.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 28th February 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 12th January 2023

A Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31 March 2023 and 2024 (including, for the year ending 31 March 2023, income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland of certain sums for the service of those years; to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland to borrow on the credit of those sums; and to repeal provisions superseded by this Act.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th February 2023 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 25th May 2022

A Bill to make provision about the national and cultural identity and language in Northern Ireland

This Bill received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 21st November 2022

A Bill to make provision to extend the period following the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May 2022 during which Ministers may be appointed and after which the Secretary of State must propose a date for another election; about the exercise of functions in the absence of Northern Ireland Ministers; to confer powers on the Secretary of State to determine salaries and other benefits for Members of the Assembly in respect of periods in which the Assembly is not functioning; and to confer powers on the Secretary of State to set the regional rate in Northern Ireland.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 12th May 2021

A Bill to make provision about Ministerial appointments, extraordinary Assembly elections, the Ministerial Code of Conduct and petitions of concern in Northern Ireland.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 8th February 2022 and was enacted into law.

Northern Ireland Office - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations prescribe the specifications that imitation firearms must conform to for importation into Northern Ireland, pursuant to paragraph 7(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (C. 38).
These Regulations make provision about the Windsor Framework and related constitutional matters.
View All Northern Ireland Office Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petitions with most signatures
Northern Ireland Office has not participated in any petition debates
View All Northern Ireland Office Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


9 Members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Bob Stewart Portrait
Bob Stewart (Independent - Beckenham)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Claire Hanna Portrait
Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Robert Goodwill Portrait
Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Stephen Farry Portrait
Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Mary Kelly Foy Portrait
Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 8th June 2020
Carla Lockhart Portrait
Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 8th November 2022
Robert Buckland Portrait
Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 8th November 2022
Jim Shannon Portrait
Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 9th January 2023
Kelly Tolhurst Portrait
Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative - Rochester and Strood)
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Member since 22nd January 2024
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and customs arrangements after Brexit Brexit and Northern Ireland inquiry Fisheries inquiry Electricity sector in Northern Ireland: follow-up Agriculture inquiry The land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland: Follow-up inquiry Education funding in Northern Ireland inquiry Funding priorities in the 2018-19 Budget: Health Consultation on Stormont House Agreement inquiry Existing passport processes inquiry Changes to NI Renewable Heat Incentive payments inquiry Tourism in Northern Ireland inquiry Implications of the EU withdrawal agreement and the backstop for Northern Ireland inquiry Support for UK Victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi supplied Semtex and weapons: Follow-up inquiry Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry Welfare policy in Northern Ireland inquiry Organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland inquiry Devolution and democracy in Northern Ireland – dealing with the deficit Bombardier inquiry Work of the Secretary of State inquiry Update from the Police Service of Northern Ireland inquiry The land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland Northern Ireland and the EU Referendum inquiry Implementation of English votes for English laws inquiry Electricity sector in Northern Ireland inquiry Work of the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors inquiry The work of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland evidence session Future of the land border with the Republic of Ireland inquiry The work of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland inquiry An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland Air passenger duty: implications for Northern Ireland Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland Fuel laundering and smuggling Draft Northern Ireland Bill The banking structure in Northern Ireland Outcome of the Spending Review and the Talks Promoting the tourism industry in Northern Ireland through the tax system inquiry Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland HM Government support for UK victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied Semtex and weapons inquiry Administrative scheme for "on-the-runs" Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement The funding and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland Integrated Education Renewable Energy and Net Zero in Northern Ireland Defence Spending in Northern Ireland Agriculture Brexit and Northern Ireland Implications of the EU withdrawal agreement and the backstop for Northern Ireland Changes to NI Renewable Heat Incentive payments Consultation on Stormont House Agreement Education funding in Northern Ireland Existing passport processes Funding priorities in the 2018-19 Budget: Health Historical Institutional Abuse Support for UK Victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi supplied Semtex and weapons: Follow-up Organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland Tourism in Northern Ireland Update from the Police Service of Northern Ireland Work of the Secretary of State

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

13th Mar 2024
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.

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.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
12th Mar 2024
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.

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.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
12th Mar 2024
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.

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.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
12th Mar 2024
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.

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.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
7th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what local revenue raising conditions were attached to the recent financial package awarded to the Northern Ireland Executive.

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.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost is of Operation Kenova.

Operation Kenova is an independent investigation commissioned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The PSNI is therefore best placed to provide an accurate estimate of its cost.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to UIN 17536 on 13 March 2024.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
5th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland administration on pay for (a) health and social care and (b) NHS workers.

In the months leading up to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland engaged with the Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the issue of pay awards for healthcare workers in Northern Ireland. In addition to these meetings, he met with trade union representatives on this important matter.

Healthcare is a devolved matter and pay awards are ultimately a matter for the Department of Health. The UK Government has provided the Executive with a £3.3 billion financial package to stabilise Northern Ireland’s finances. This package includes £584m to provide public sector pay awards for 2023-24. It will be up to the Executive to decide on the level of pay awards and to balance these costs against other priorities.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many domestic overnight visits were undertaken by Ministers within his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of these visits.

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals). But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

The Northern Ireland Office reported no cases of fraud or amounts lost due to fraud or error in any of the last three financial years. This is disclosed as part of the Annual Report and Accounts available on GOV.UK.

The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2022.

This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss and recoveries in central government, outside of the tax and welfare system. (The 2020/21 Report was published in March 2023).

The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud. We have established the dedicated Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year, it delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16419 on Integrated Schools: Northern Ireland, on what date the Northern Ireland Executive was informed of the removal of the ring-fence for the £150m Fresh Start Agreement funding.

HM Treasury officials wrote to their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Finance on 1 March 2024 formally confirming the removal of the ring-fence for £150 million of Fresh Start Agreement funding.

This formal confirmation followed official level discussions between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Civil Service on UK Government funding streams being made available within the financial package to support the restored Executive.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
5th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Caine on 4 March and with regard to paragraphs 54 and 65 of the relevant Supreme Court judgment, whether they can confirm that the inconsistency between the Acts of Union and the protocol was not at issue before the Supreme Court because the Government did not lodge any cross appeal from the Court of Appeal’s decision that such inconsistency existed.

The Supreme Court clearly set out in its judgement of 8 February 2023 the issues it considered and its reasoning for reaching the conclusions it did.

The Government’s consistent position on these matters is set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, which is that the Windsor Framework (which replaced the old Protocol) applies entirely consistently with Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within the United Kingdom, including as expressed in the relevant statute today.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Department for Health and Social Care and (b) Department for Transport on providing financial support for young cancer patients (0-25) and their families travelling from Northern Ireland to receive treatment in England.

This matter is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. Arrangements for financial support for young cancer patients and their families travelling from Northern Ireland to receive treatment in England is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and local Health and Social Care Trusts.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
5th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

All Departments in central government, including arms-length bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Northern Ireland Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

The Northern Ireland Office provides additional advice to supplement the central guidance which is published on the departmental intranet.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to work with devolved Administrations to tackle the issue of puppy farming in Northern Ireland.

The Government is fully committed to animal welfare. However, this is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, and so it is for the newly restored Executive to determine how to protect animal welfare, including tackling poor breeding practices as seen in puppy farming.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of officers of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery have experience of conducting criminal investigations (a) within and (b) outside of Northern Ireland.

Since the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was legally established as an independent body in December 2023, it has discharged its corporate functions and operated necessary policies within its own budget and accountability. As it is fully independent of Government, the Commission is best placed to advise on its recruitment and staffing, and can be contacted at: info@icrir.independent.uk.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officials work in the secretariat for the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Since the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was legally established as an independent body in December 2023, it has discharged its corporate functions and operated necessary policies within its own budget and accountability. As it is fully independent of Government, the Commission is best placed to advise on its recruitment and staffing, and can be contacted at: info@icrir.independent.uk.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery will become operational.

Significant progress has been made since the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established in December last year. I met with ICRIR Chair, Sir Declan Morgan, earlier this week and expect the body to be operational from 1st May.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
4th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.


Reports and guidance that the Department has published can be found on gov.uk. The amount spent on printing and distribution for each year is published in the Annual Report and Accounts under the ‘Communications, office supplies and services’ line of the Expenditure note.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to appeal the ruling of the High Court of 28 February on parts of the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The Government has considered all aspects of the judgment, and is applying for an appeal with the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce any further legislation in response to the High Court ruling of 28 February on parts of the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The Government welcomes the Court’s findings that the ICRIR is operationally independent from Government and has the necessary powers to carry out reviews in accordance with the state’s obligations with Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR.


The Government has considered all aspects of the judgment, and is applying for an appeal with the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.


We remain committed to implementing the Legacy Act and delivering the ICRIR to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles by giving them more information about what happened to their loved ones.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the statement in paragraph 46 of the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper 1021 that “the Windsor Framework applies only in respect of the trade in goods” is compatible with the High Court judgment of 28 February that the immunity provisions in the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are contrary to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework.

The Government stands by its position on Article 2 which was set out in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper. Article 2 of the Framework does not apply EU law or ECJ jurisdiction, and only applies in respect of rights set out in the relevant chapter of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and a diminution of those rights which arises as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. We will be challenging the High Court's determination of the Article 2 issues to that end.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made the High Court judgment of 28 February that the conditional immunity provisions in the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are disapplied because of the supremacy of EU law in Northern Ireland.

We remain committed to implementing the Legacy Act and delivering the ICRIR to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles by giving them more information about what happened to their loved ones.


Following consideration of all aspects of the judgment, including those in relation to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, the Government is applying for an appeal with the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practical effect of the High Court judgment of 28 February that the conditional immunity provisions in the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are contrary to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework and Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Following consideration of all aspects of the judgment, including those in relation to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, the UK Government is applying for an appeal with the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.


We remain committed to implementing the Legacy Act and delivering the ICRIR to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles by giving them more information about what happened to their loved ones.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the judgment of the High Court in Northern Ireland on 28 February, whether they will proceed with implementation of the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

We remain committed to implementing the Legacy Act and delivering the ICRIR to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles by giving them more information about what happened to their loved ones.


The Government has considered all aspects of the judgment, including those in relation to Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. The Government has considered all aspects of the judgment, and is applying for an appeal with the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
29th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for Casement Park.

My Department is engaging with the Department for Communities, which is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the funding of Casement Park.

My Department has engaged with a number of stakeholders in relation to funding for Casement Park, including with the Irish Government. I welcome the announcement by the Irish Government that it is willing to contribute €50m to the redevelopment of the stadium.

The Department for Communities is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Northern Ireland can host Euro 2028 games alongside the rest of the UK and Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Department for Communities is responsible for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution.

The UK Government will need to receive confirmation of the updated cost of the Casement Park project from the Department for Communities before detailed consideration can be given to allocating taxpayers' money, particularly given wider public sector funding challenges. This has yet to be received. The Northern Ireland Minister for Communities has written to me on this matter and I replied on 27 February 2024 to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
29th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding his Department has (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on advertising in each of the last three financial years.

In the last three fiscal years, advertising costs on the Northern Ireland Office general ledgers were as follows:

  • 2020-21: £23,734.11
  • 2021-22: £44,564.71
  • 2022-23: £5,651.81

These costs were in line with agreed budgets for this area of spend.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
29th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether Stormont House Agreement Fresh Start funding allocations were included in recent the Northern Ireland Assembly Restoration Package.

The UK Government is providing the Executive with a significant £3.3 billion spending settlement to stabilise its finances and protect public services. Within this package, we are increasing the spending power of the Executive by repurposing over £700 million of existing and new UK Government funds.

The Fresh Start agreement in 2015 made provision for funding for integrated and shared education over 10 years. As that capital funding was due to expire at the end of 2024-25, the decision to remove the ring-fence on £150m of Fresh Start Agreement funding was made by the UK Government after assessing existing funding in Northern Ireland. We came to a considered position in response to the challenging budgetary position faced by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive will be able to decide how it uses the non-ring fenced funding element of reprioritised and new UK Government funding streams which contribute to the settlement package.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
27th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department (a) paid in apprenticeship levy fees and (b) spent from its apprenticeship levy funds between September 2021 and August 2023.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has contributed £83,000 in apprenticeship Levy funds between September 2021 and August 2023.

During the same period, the department has had no spend from the apprenticeship Levy fund. All NIO apprenticeships during this period were covered through the Civil Service-wide apprenticeship schemes, therefore the NIO specifically has not spent any levy funds.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
1st Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to announce the investment decision on Casement Park.

My Department is engaging with the Department for Communities, which is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
29th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make cross-community consent mandatory in all Stormont decisions.

The principle of cross-community consent applies to matters for which the Northern Ireland Assembly is responsible. Trade is not one of those matters. This approach is entirely compatible with the Belfast Agreement.

We remain fully committed to the Agreement which ensures that the future of Northern Ireland is decided by the democratically expressed wishes of the people of Northern Ireland and reaffirms our commitment to the principle of consent.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to the Fresh Start Agreement funding programme.

The UK Government remains committed to the Fresh Start Agreement and we will continue to invest and support educational integration in Northern Ireland as an essential aspect of reconciliation.

The Fresh Start agreement in 2015 made provision for funding for integrated and shared education over 10 years. As that funding was due to expire at the end of 2024-25, the decision to remove the ring-fence on £150m of Fresh Start Agreement funding was made by the UK Government on taking a coherent look across its existing funding in Northern Ireland. We came to a considered position in response to the challenging budgetary position faced by the Northern Ireland Executive.

This will enable the Executive to prioritise funding on public service transformation. Integrated education is a vital element of that.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government why money allocated to Fresh Start Agreement funding has been repurposed to the general Northern Ireland budget.

The UK Government is providing the Executive with a significant £3.3 billion spending settlement to stabilise its finances and protect public services. Within this package, we are increasing the spending power of the Executive by repurposing over £700 million of existing and new UK Government funds.

The Fresh Start agreement in 2015 made provision for funding for integrated and shared education over 10 years. As that funding was due to expire at the end of 2024-25, the decision to remove the ring-fence on £150m of Fresh Start Agreement funding was made by the UK Government on taking a coherent look across its existing funding in Northern Ireland. We came to a considered position in response to the challenging budgetary position faced by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive will be able to decide how it uses the non-ring fenced funding element of reprioritised and new UK Government funding streams which contribute to the settlement package.

In line with commitments in the Belfast Agreement, the Government will continue to invest in and support educational integration in Northern Ireland as an essential aspect of reconciliation.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether capital funding for shared and integrated education was included in the Assembly restoration financial settlement.

The UK Government is providing the Executive with a significant £3.3 billion spending settlement to stabilise its finances and protect public services. Within this package, we are increasing the spending power of the Executive by repurposing over £700 million of existing and new UK Government funds.

The Fresh Start agreement in 2015 made provision for funding for integrated and shared education over 10 years. As that capital funding was due to expire at the end of 2024-25, the decision to remove the ring-fence on £150m of Fresh Start Agreement funding was made by the UK Government after assessing existing funding in Northern Ireland. We came to a considered position in response to the challenging budgetary position faced by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive will be able to decide how it uses the non-ring fenced funding element of reprioritised and new UK Government funding streams which contribute to the settlement package.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
28th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding his Department (a) allocated for (b) spent on magazine subscriptions in each of the last three financial years.

The Northern Ireland Office has not allocated or spent any funding on magazine subscriptions in each of the last three financial years.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
27th Feb 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they submitted any cross appeal on the finding of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal in the matter of an application by James Allister and others that the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland created an inconsistency with Article 6 of the Acts of Union.

In its judgement on appeal of this case on 8 February 2023, the Supreme Court did not make a specific determination on this point.

The Court rightly focused on the sovereignty of Parliament and affirmed, as Article Six of the Acts of Union itself recognised, ‘that it is the most fundamental rule of UK constitutional law’.

Lord Caine
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
27th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which (a) newspapers, (b) magazines and (c) online journals his Department subscribed to in each of the last three financial years.

(a) Newspapers

The Northern Ireland Office has subscribed to the following newspapers in the last three financial years: The Belfast Telegraph online; The Financial Times online and print; The Independent online; The Irish News online; The Irish Independent online; The Irish Times online; The Newsletter online; The Telegraph online and print; The Times print and online; The Guardian print; Daily Mail print; Daily Express print; The Sun print; Daily Mirror print.

(b) Magazines and (c) online journals

The Northern Ireland Office has not subscribed to any magazines or online journals in the last three financial years.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
26th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of digital posts in his Department are vacant.

The Northern Ireland Office communications team is made up of nine employees. There are no vacant digital posts.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on trends in the level of childcare funding in Northern Ireland.

I welcome the recent debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on childcare and the cross-party support for a childcare strategy to be delivered.

Whilst childcare in Northern Ireland is devolved, the UK Government is keen to see this work progressed so that parents are able to balance childcare alongside their work. Northern Ireland has already received the Barnett consequentials of childcare funding in England.

The UK Government has provided the NI Executive with a significant £3.3 billion package, including money to stabilise, which will support progress for key services.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure the continued availability of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond 2025.

The Government’s priority is to secure a long-term sustainable solution on veterinary medicines. To that end, the Government’s priority is to pursue such a solution through discussions with the EU, as well as preparing for safeguards in all scenarios. We will be setting up a Veterinary Medicines Working Group shortly to help us with this.

In the meantime, we have put in place a grace period arrangement until the end of 2025 which supports continuity of supply to Northern Ireland.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for the defence industry in Northern Ireland.

I am in regular discussion with ministerial colleagues regarding growth and investment, including the defence industry in Northern Ireland. The Government is committed to improving how Northern Ireland is integrated into the UK defence industry network as part of our plan for growing the economy, showcasing the skills, industry expertise and infrastructure that are thriving in Northern Ireland.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
20th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential impact of the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on trends in the level of business investment in Northern Ireland.

Since our department hosted the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September, we have seen significant investment announcements including from IceMos technology, Ocula technology, and Vertiv. With that in mind, I think it is in everyone's interests - regardless of position on the constitutional question - for everyone to maintain a singular focus on attracting investment into Northern Ireland.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
21st Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has had discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on increasing the number of student midwives in Northern Ireland.

This is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and the Department for the Economy who are responsible for higher education policy in Northern Ireland.

Now that the Northern Ireland Executive has been restored, I look forward to Northern Ireland Ministers taking action on Northern Ireland's public services, including health, in order to deliver better outcomes for the people of Northern Ireland.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
20th Feb 2024
Whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022.

I understand my Hon. Friend’s keen interest in this matter and was pleased to meet with her to discuss this in October. As she is aware, this is a devolved matter. Following the restoration of the institutions, I would recommend that she engage with the Finance Minister in Northern Ireland to ask what consideration she has given to this issue.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
22nd Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department has (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on software updates to legacy computer systems in each of the last three financial years.

The Northern Ireland Office does not have any legacy computer systems and therefore has not budgeted or spent anything relating to legacy computer systems in any of the last three financial years.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
19th Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is to bring forward legislation to repeal section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

The Government is working actively to deliver commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, which was published on 31 January (CP 1021). This includes the passing into law on 20 February of two statutory instruments to give effect to legislative assurances contained within the command paper. Any required further legislation will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
22nd Feb 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether any non-executive directors employed in his Department are non-domiciled.

My Department has three non-executive directors who are not employees of the Northern Ireland Office and act in an advisory capacity. Non-executive’s personal data, including those relating to personal taxation or status, are protected by the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Data on non-dom status is not routinely collected and is generally not required for making public appointments. If any such data was held it could only be published if doing so was in compliance with data protection law.

Steve Baker
Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)