Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to hold a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference; if so, who would represent the UK at such a meeting; what preparatory consultations, if any, they have had with those architects of the Belfast Agreement who are still in Parliament; and what matters would be scheduled for discussion at any such meeting.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
This Government remains focused on our efforts to restore a locally elected, devolved Government in Northern Ireland. We have regular discussions with the Irish Government in full accordance with the well-established three stranded approach.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3 July 2017 (HL3), 15 September 2017 (HL1448), and 13 October 2017 (HL1671), whether the Chief Electoral Officer (Northern Ireland) has completed her enquiry into the increase in proxy voting by over 500 per cent between 2010 and 2017; whether she initiated any further investigation; if so, whether that investigation involves the Police Service of Northern Ireland; when any further investigation was initiated and commenced; and when a definitive outcome is expected to be published.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has completed her post-election review into absent voting and has written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the findings of this review. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
These are operational matters for the CEO. However, I am aware that a very small number of cases were referred to the PSNI for investigation last year. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland pass all cases of possible fraud to the PSNI however, the CEO’s review did not reveal any additional cases that warranted investigation.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 13 October (HL1671), 15 September (HL1448) and 3 July (HL3), whether they are now able to provide an update, including a summary of activity, on the review of absent voting procedures undertaken by the Chief Electoral Officer of Northern Ireland; and if, and when, any matters resulting from the review were referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for criminal investigation.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Chief Electoral Officer has indicated she will write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland before the end of the year concerning her review of absent voting procedures at recent elections. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
These are operational matters for the Chief Electoral Officer who has been clear that all allegations or evidence of possible electoral fraud have been referred to PSNI for investigation.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 15 September (HL1448), whether there is a specific timescale for the outcome of the Chief Electoral Officer's review regarding absent voting in Northern Ireland; whether the details of the outcome of that review will be conveyed to Members of the House; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The review of absent voting procedures, including the timescale for completion, is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland.
Once the review process is complete the Chief Electoral Officer will write to Northern Ireland Office Ministers to inform them of her findings. Any recommendations will be considered carefully and a copy of the letter will be placed in the libraries of the House.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met with and consulted each of the Belfast Agreement participants, (1) Lord Alderdice, (2) Lord Empey, (3) Lord Kilclooney, (4) Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, and (5) Lord Trimble, (a) as a group, or (b) individually; and what are the details of those meetings.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has regular meetings with Parliamentarians, including regular events for members of the House of Lords with an interest in Northern Ireland affairs, to which these five members are invited.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3 July (HL3), what discussions, if any, they have had with (1) the Police Service for Northern Ireland, and (2) the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, regarding evidence of abuse of the proxy voting system in Northern Ireland during the last General Election; and what are the details of those discussions.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The administration of proxy votes, including any related engagement with the PSNI, is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer.
The Chief Electoral Officer has regular discussions with Government Ministers and officials on a range of issues relating to elections and electoral registration, including absent voting procedures.
The Chief Electoral Officer is currently carrying out an administrative review of all operational procedures in respect of absent voting in Northern Ireland and the Government will consider carefully any recommendations that result from this review.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
Her Majesty's Government how many proxy vote applications there were in each Northern Ireland constituency for the general elections in (1) 2010, (2) 2015, and (3) 2017; and whether they intend to investigate possible electoral fraud in relation to proxy voting in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The administration of proxy voting is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. All evidence received by the Chief Electoral Officer regarding possible electoral fraud is passed to the PSNI for investigation.
The following table has been provided by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and contains the number of proxy vote applications in each constituency in Northern Ireland for the Parliamentary general elections in 2010, 2015 and 2017:
Constituency | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 |
Belfast East | 36 | 124 | 279 |
Belfast North | 91 | 177 | 739 |
Belfast South | 47 | 114 | 318 |
Belfast West | 115 | 168 | 1026 |
East Antrim | 51 | 137 | 353 |
East Londonderry | 62 | 143 | 360 |
Fermanagh & South Tyrone | 470 | 1454 | 1707 |
Foyle | 159 | 339 | 1282 |
Lagan Valley | 47 | 87 | 230 |
Mid Ulster | 213 | 488 | 1127 |
Newry & Armagh | 101 | 870 | 1304 |
North Antrim | 71 | 224 | 507 |
North Down | 63 | 85 | 193 |
South Antrim | 58 | 106 | 285 |
South Down | 130 | 203 | 564 |
Strangford | 41 | 73 | 197 |
Upper Bann | 65 | 135 | 322 |
West Tyrone | 289 | 505 | 914 |
Total | 2109 | 5432 | 11707 |
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Keen of Elie on 11 May (HLWS694) regarding the increasing threat from dissident Irish republicans, what plans they have to establish a means for liaising more regularly and effectively with members of both Houses of Parliament from Northern Ireland on such matters.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
A number of established mechanisms already exist for the purpose of communicating the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism to both Houses. These include the biannual written security statements to Parliament setting out details on threat levels, oral and written Parliamentary questions, meetings of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and briefing meetings with Peers and MPs. It is also open to MPs and Noble Lords to use procedures of both Houses to raise these matters and hold ministers to account.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Dunlop on 9 December (HL4222, HL4272 and HL4321), which peers and MPs who are based in Northern Ireland were invited by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, to her briefing on the Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill on 23 November; at what time and where the briefing took place; and why no peer or MP from Northern Ireland appears to have received the invitation circulated electronically.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
An invitation to the briefing on the Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill was circulated electronically to all Peers via the Usual Channels. The briefing was held on Monday 23 November at 12 noon in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords.