To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House
Friday 26th September 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the then Deputy Prime Minister on 12 January 2006 (WA HC782–3), whether the current Deputy Prime Minister’s official residence in Admiralty House is registered with Westminster City Council as (1) primary, or (2) second home, according to records held by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The former Deputy Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Admiralty House was registered as her secondary residence with Westminster City Council.


Written Question
Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
Friday 12th September 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent comments of the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission regarding the employment of former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is independent of Government and has a statutory duty to ensure government and other public bodies protect the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met the Chief Commissioner to discuss a range of issues, including the Government’s approach to legacy reform.

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery is operationally independent from Government, and its recruitment processes are a matter for it to determine within the statutory framework.


Written Question
Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
Friday 12th September 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission retains the full confidence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the light of her recent comments about the employment of former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is operationally independent from Government. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met the Chief Commissioner to discuss a range of issues, including the Government’s approach to legacy reform.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland
Friday 25th July 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the total expenditure on air travel since 5 July 2024 between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for: (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and (3) Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since 5 July 2024, the total cost of expenditure on air travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is £17,972.56, for the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State it is £12,483.01. My total air travel expenditure is £817.27.


Written Question
Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions each of the following has stayed overnight in Northern Ireland since 5 July 2024: (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and (3) Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since 5 July 2024, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State have travelled regularly across Northern Ireland to undertake official business.

The Secretary of State has travelled to Northern Ireland 42 times since 5 July 2024. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has travelled to Northern Ireland 34 times, and I have travelled to Northern Ireland three times.


Written Question
Visits Abroad: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many officials and special advisers travelled with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during his visit to the United States of America for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March; and what were the associated costs, including flights and accommodation.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland travelled to Washington accompanied by two special advisors and three officials.

Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nio-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-july-to-september-2024.

Information for the period January to May 2025 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nio-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-january-to-march-2025.


Written Question
Visits Abroad: Northern Ireland
Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the total expenditure on overseas visits since 5 July 2024 by each of (1) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (2) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (3) Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since 5 July 2024, the Department has incurred expenditure of £9,728.99 for overseas travel undertaken by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. A total expenditure of £4,968.33 has been incurred for overseas travel undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. No such expenditure has been incurred for myself.


Data on ministers’ overseas travel and on senior civil servants’ business expenses is published on a quarterly basis.


Written Question
Murder of Patrick Finucane Independent Inquiry
Tuesday 1st July 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions took place, if any, between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and representatives of the Finucane family regarding the appointment of the two assessors to the Patrick Finucane Inquiry; whether the family's consent was sought; and whether it was granted.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Under the Inquiries Act, the power to establish a statutory independent inquiry and the constitution of the inquiry lie with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

In the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 13 June, he set out that he had appointed Baroness O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese as Assessors to the Patrick Finucane Inquiry under section 11 of the Inquiries Act 2005 in accordance with the established appointments process. The Secretary of State then informed the Finucane family in the week of the announcement in line with customary practice. Their role is to provide expert advice to the Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom who has been appointed as Chair of the Inquiry under section 1 of the Act. I remain confident that these appointments have the relevant knowledge, experience and professionalism the Inquiry requires.


Written Question
Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
Monday 30th June 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are being carried out by the Police Service of Northern Ireland at or near the border with the Republic of Ireland on vehicles travelling into Northern Ireland in order to prevent illegal migration.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative relationship on migration and border security, and we are jointly committed to protecting the Common Travel Area and safeguarding it from abuse.

The CTA supports the long-standing principle of free movement for British and Irish citizens between the UK, Ireland, and Crown Dependencies and the Government is committed to maintaining these arrangements. Non-British or Irish individuals arriving in the UK, including those crossing the land border into Northern Ireland, are required to enter in line with the UK’s immigration framework.

There are – and will continue to be – no routine immigration controls on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border, nor on journeys within the Common Travel Area (CTA).

The Police Service of Northern Ireland are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.


Written Question
Windsor Framework
Thursday 26th June 2025

Asked by: Lord Caine (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which commitments arising from the Safeguarding the Union command paper (CP1021), published on 31 January 2024, (1) have been, or (2) are in the process of being, implemented; and which commitments remain outstanding.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government continues to make progress on delivering the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. In the past month alone, that has included: taking forward legislation which allows the Government to introduce ‘not for EU’ labelling in Great Britain; hosting the first East-West Council meeting in Northern Ireland; and the completion of work to digitise the Belfast News Letter.