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Written Question
Community Transport: Northern Ireland
Monday 13th March 2023

Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to work with the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure to avoid the closure of Rural Community Transport Providers in Northern Ireland at the end of April 2023; what alternatives they intend to make available to users of these services; and how the steps they are taking will ensure that passengers are able to attend health appointments.

Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)

In the absence of functioning devolved institutions, Northern Ireland Office officials are working with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Finance on the budget allocations for the next financial year. Based on the Northern Ireland budget position for the 2022-23 financial year, the expectation is that balancing the 2023-24 budget will be extremely challenging.

The UK Government recognises that there will be impacts on people and businesses in Northern Ireland as a result of the difficult decisions needed in order for Northern Ireland Executive departments to live within their budgets. It remains the UK Government’s firm view that the right people to make these decisions are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and local Assembly. In the absence of these, it will be for the relevant Northern Ireland Executive department, in this case the Department for Infrastructure, to manage its funding, including provision for rural community transport.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 06 Feb 2020
Climate Change

"My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Browne for securing this debate and we have heard some very interesting speeches. I will focus on transport, which, as the noble Lord, Lord Birt, said, is one of the biggest current polluters. My worry is that a lot of …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 04 Feb 2020
Post Office: Prosecution Powers

"My Lords, what action are the Government going to take against the people who were running the Post Office when all this was going on? Have they just been moved to another job and got promotion, or will some action be taken against them? As other noble Lords have said, …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

View all Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Post Office: Prosecution Powers
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 29 Oct 2019
Net Zero Carbon Emissions

"To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to give new duties to regulators to promote the achievement of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as recommended in the National Infrastructure Commission Report Strategic Investment and Public Confidence, published on 11 October...."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

View all Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 29 Oct 2019
Net Zero Carbon Emissions

"I am grateful to the Minister for his response, because it is good to know that the Government are looking at this seriously. Does he agree that the three regulators that have been reviewed—Ofgem, Ofcom and Ofwat—have the opportunity to make an enormous difference to reducing our carbon emissions by …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

View all Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Net Zero Carbon Emissions
Written Question
Belfast-Dublin Railway Line
Wednesday 20th June 2018

Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive and the government of Ireland about improving the rail line between Dublin and Belfast, including any plans to electrify the route.

Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank

Transport Infrastructure in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 31 Oct 2011
Localism Bill

"My Lords, I support the concept of this amendment, but we are in danger of making even more laws when we cannot enforce the ones we have. I find pretty incredible the idea of somebody such as a litter warden—I do not think the police would do it—chasing every car …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 31 Oct 2011
Localism Bill

"I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving way. The Act applies to more offences than throwing things out of motor cars, so have there been any convictions for other litter offences without this problem of motor cars?..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 31 Oct 2011
Localism Bill

"My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for introducing his amendment and allowing me to speak to my three amendments in this grouping. He has agreed to respond after this, and it is very welcome that we can do it in this way.

I shall just make a very …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

View all Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Localism Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 19 Jul 2011
Localism Bill

"My Lords, I support the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, and my noble and learned friend Lord Boyd on these amendments. They are terribly important to help to provide, as near as possible, the one-stop shop for big developments and to give business confidence in the process. As we have said …..."
Lord Berkeley - View Speech

View all Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Localism Bill