Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional funding to the Northern Ireland Executive for reducing the backlog in treatment of cancer patients.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Government recognise the dedication and resolve of staff across the health and social care systems who have shown real determination to provide the best care possible to their patients during this challenging time.
The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically altered the functions of hospitals and as such the focus has led to a serious impact on waiting lists.
The lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland in previous years, coupled with the impact on the health and social care system from the pandemic, exacerbated the need for the urgent reform of services. As a result, the Rebuilding Health & Social Care Strategic Framework was published by Minister Swann on 9 June. In addition to this, Minister Swann announced the launch of a new Covid-19 Surge Planning Strategic Framework for Northern Ireland on 6 October. One of the key initiatives in the framework is the establishment of a regional cancer reset cell to oversee the resumption of screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients in clinically safe environments as quickly as possible, and to protect these services as much as possible in the event of further potential surges of Covid-19
Beyond this, under the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Executive will introduce a new action plan on waiting times. The UK Government committed £2 billion over five years to facilitate NDNA commitments, which includes around £245m to support the transformation of public services, and £200 million over three years to deliver pay parity. The deal also responds to the increasing demand for doctors in Northern Ireland, providing £60m of capital and resource funding to deliver a Northern Ireland Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry/Londonderry, which has now been approved by the Executive.
Recognising the pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government has provided the Northern Ireland Executive with a guaranteed £2.4billion in additional funding. The allocation of this funding within the health budget is a matter for the Executive.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further measures are being taken to protect members of the security forces from "vexatious claims" over actions related to the Troubles.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Government has been clear that we will introduce legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in a way that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of reinvestigations that has failed victims and veterans alike.
We remain committed to making progress and engaging on these issues with the Northern Ireland parties, the Irish Government, and stakeholders from across the community including victims groups as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people with special educational needs.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Northern Ireland Office Ministers are in regular contact with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As education is a devolved matter, the education Minister Peter Weir is rightly leading the response for education matters in Northern Ireland.
We are delighted to see that Minister Weir is determined to improve the current system of special educational provision and support pupils with special educational needs (SEN) to meet their full potential.
On 30 September, Minister Weir launched a public consultation which will improve the provision of education for children and young people with special educational needs. The Minister has also announced funding of £7.5m to deliver a new SEN framework which will provide additional resources for schools.
As a Government, we promised to do whatever it takes to get through this together - as one United Kingdom, and we will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations to ensure they have the funding and resources needed to tackle the impacts of COVID-19.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat level emanating from the New IRA terrorist group.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The threat from dissident republican terrorism continues to be SEVERE in Northern Ireland. Violent dissident republicans have shown, time and again, that they do not care who they hurt and have no regard for people in their communities. This Government’s first priority is to keep people safe and secure right across the United Kingdom. The recent success of OP ARBACIA marks a significant step in a far reaching investigation into the new IRA. Terrorism, paramilitary violence and criminality have no place in our society - they must not hold us back from progress towards a peaceful and prosperous future. The Police Service of Northern Ireland, MI5 and others who work to keep people safe have our full support for the public service they give.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the fact that abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, why they were required to bring the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 to Parliament.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Her Majesty’s Government was placed under a clear legal duty to bring forward regulations on access to abortion services under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, given the Northern Ireland Executive was not restored by 21 October 2019.
The Government has delivered Regulations, which initially came into force on 31 March 2020, and these have now been approved by Parliament to remain in place as the law on access to abortion services in Northern Ireland.
The Regulations deliver equivalent outcomes in practice to the rest of the UK so that women and girls in Northern Ireland can enjoy similar rights in accessing abortion services.
The Government stands ready to provide whatever support and guidance we can to both the Northern Ireland Minister for Health and his department to assist them in progressing work to set up full abortion services as soon as possible, consistent with the Regulations.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Northern Ireland Office on 4 June (HC Deb, cols 1018–20), on what basis they were required to bring the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 to Parliament following the Northern Ireland Assembly’s vote against such regulations.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
In accordance with the duty placed on the Government under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, regulations are now in place to make provision for accessing abortions in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has not opposed the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.
The debate in the Assembly on 2 June 2020 was focused on one aspect of those regulations, severe fetal impairment, and does not have any binding effects on the Regulations we have made.
The Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 have now been debated in both Houses of Parliament as required under the ‘made affirmative’ procedure and approved by the House of the Lords. The House of Commons will today vote on the Regulations to approve them to remain in force as the law on access to abortion in Northern Ireland.
As abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Assembly remains able to legislate on abortion, subject to the usual Assembly and other procedures, including compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UK Government will continue to ensure we abide by our domestic and international legal obligations.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Northern Ireland will operate in a different time zone to the rest of the UK for half of the year after December 2020.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The UK has now left the EU, and will not be applying the proposed EU Directive in the UK. There is no obligation for Northern Ireland to align with Ireland or the EU on time zones.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about the risks posed by coronavirus.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The UK wide response to coronavirus has been a collaboration between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. The Northern Ireland Executive has been involved in both official and ministerial level planning meetings. This approach will continue as the UK response to coronavirus continues.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the financial package to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The UK Government is providing the restored Executive with a £2 billion financial package that delivers for the people of Northern Ireland and supports the delivery of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
This financial commitment represents the biggest injection of new money in a Northern Ireland talks deal in well over a decade.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The threat from dissident republican terrorism continues to be SEVERE in Northern Ireland. This Government’s first priority is to keep people safe and secure right across the United Kingdom.
Vigilance against this continuing threat is essential and we remain determined to ensure that terrorism never succeeds.