Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals on Northern Ireland veterans in the next six months.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is fully committed to introducing legislation as quickly as possible that delivers better outcomes for victims, survivors and veterans; focuses on information recovery and reconciliation; and ends the cycle of investigations. This will deliver on our commitments to Northern Ireland veterans, giving them the protections they deserve.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether it is his Department's policy to ensure equal treatment of Northern Ireland veterans and those who served overseas.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is fully committed to delivering on its commitments to veterans who served in Northern Ireland - as well as those who served overseas - as quickly as possible. We have been clear that we will do this as part of a wider package to address legacy issues in Northern Ireland that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims and ends the cycle of investigations.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Government's planned timescale is for bringing forward legislative proposals to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of investigations. We are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as part of this process and are committed to making progress as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My Department does not have a departmental budget specifically for advertising. However, expenditure is incurred, mainly on public notices and recruitment for public office, and the totals are set out below:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 (to date) |
Expenditure | £50,772 | £37,928 | £10,626 | £18,015 | £8,881 |
Asked by: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My Department did not have a specific communications budget during the period requested. The Department did have a Press and Communications Team.
The budgets, comprising staff and non-staff costs, for the financial years 2010-11 to 2014-15 are shown below:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
Budget | £329,000 | £359,300 | £310,233 | £258,947 | £256,097 |