Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November (HL Deb col 684), whether it is still their position that there are two distinct economies on the island of Ireland as set out in the Windsor Framework command paper, published in February 2023 (CP 806).
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is clear that Northern Ireland’s constitutional place is in the Union. The Government remains fundamentally committed to protecting Northern Ireland’s place within the economically vital UK internal market and ensuring its smooth operation in practice, which is affirmed through the Windsor Framework. In doing so, we also recognise that many businesses in Northern Ireland trade with Ireland and that this trade brings benefits and opportunities overall.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November (HL Deb col 684), whether Ministers have ceased to be subject to any legal duties to promote an all-Ireland economy.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Section 10(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 contains duties on Government Ministers to have due regard to the Joint Report between the UK and EU negotiators of October 2017. That report makes reference in general terms to, among other things, the ‘all-island economy’, alongside a range of other considerations relevant to Brexit. In practice, the report’s contents have been superseded by the internationally binding arrangements under the Windsor Framework and wider Withdrawal Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 6 November (HL Deb col 1487) which indicated that the Windsor Framework (agreed in February 2023) negates the need to remove the legal duties on Ministers to promote an all-Ireland economy, why a commitment to remove those duties was therefore included in paragraphs 114–16 of the Command Paper Safeguarding the Union (CP 1021), published in January 2024.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to QWA HL2354 tabled by Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee and published on 15 November 2024.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what have been their principal economic and political achievements in Northern Ireland since May 2010.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
Since May 2010, His Majesty’s Government has delivered significant political and economic achievements in Northern Ireland.
His Majesty’s Government is proud of its political achievements in Northern Ireland, including the Stormont House Agreement, The Fresh Start Agreement and the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, which most recently restored the Northern Ireland Executive in 2020 after the three-year political impasse.
In recent months, His Majesty’s Government has taken steps through the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation, Etc.) Bill in an attempt to restore political stability once more and protect the delivery of vital public services.
His Majesty’s Government has invested £150m in Northern Ireland as a result of the Stormont House Agreement in 2014, and a further £500m through the Fresh Start Agreement in 2015.
In recent years, His Majesty’s Government has invested over £3.5bn in Northern Ireland through the New Deal for Northern Ireland (£400m), City and Growth Deals (£617m), PEACE PLUS (£730m) and the New Decade, New Approach financial package (£2bn) which provided for the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2020. His Majesty’s Government is also investing over £170m in Northern Ireland through the Levelling Up Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Community Ownership Fund.
The unemployment rate in Northern Ireland has decreased from 6.9% in 2010 to 3% at present whilst the employment rate in Northern Ireland has increased from 66.2% in 2010 to 70.1% today. This amounts to 68,000 more working-age adults that are employed in Northern Ireland, boosting Northern Ireland’s economic vibrancy. Identifiable public spending per head in Northern Ireland stands at 21% higher than the UK average.
As we approach the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, His Majesty’s Government is focused on the long-term political and economic prosperity of Northern Ireland as set out under that Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to commission an official history of Northern Ireland from 1968 to 1998; and if they have any such plans, whether they plan to appoint a panel of historians to oversee the project.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
As announced alongside the introduction of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill on 17 May 2022, the Government intends to commission an Official History relating to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
This will be conducted by independent historians with access to all relevant material in Government records, and with the purpose of providing an examination of the Government’s policy towards Northern Ireland during this time.
The project will be steered by experts, who will make recommendations on scope and other important details. Further details will be announced in due course.