Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement in 2023.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
Preparations are underway to mark this historic milestone appropriately and give it the recognition it deserves. Further details will be announced in due course.
This Government remains totally committed to the 1998 Agreement which has underpinned so much of the progress that we have seen in Northern Ireland for almost a quarter of a century.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has travelled to Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months; and how many of these visits included an overnight stay.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
Between February 2021 and February 2022, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made the following visits to Northern Ireland:
February 2021: 3 trips
March 2021: 5 trips
April 2021: 5 trips
May 2021: 4 trips
June 2021: 4 trips
July 2021: 2 trips
August 2021: 1 trip
September 2021: 2 trips
October 2021: 2 trips
November 2021: 2 trips
December 2021: 2 trips
January 2022: 4 trips
February 2022: 2 trips
These include 22 overnight trips.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for ministers to meet (1) the Northern Ireland Football League, and (2) the Irish Football Association, to discuss the funding of sub-regional stadia.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The sub-regional stadia programme is a devolved matter for which the Executive is responsible. I understand the Northern Ireland Communities Minister recently met local representatives to discuss the funding of the programme.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate to introduce a commissioner to "enhance and develop the language, arts and literature associated with the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition" in Northern Ireland, as set out in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, published on 9 January 2020.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Government remains committed to the introduction of legislation for the package of identity and language measures as set out in New Decade, New Approach. The legislation will faithfully deliver what was contained in that document.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they held in relation to amending the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill to allow an MP to (1) seek a dual mandate as an MLA, and (2) hold both mandates for the duration of the current Parliament; which political parties participated in these discussions; what agreement was reached; and (a) when, and (b) by whom, the decision was taken not to move any relevant Government amendments at Report stage in the House of Lords on 19 January.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The subject of dual mandates was debated extensively in the House of Lords during Committee Stage of the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill, following the tabling of an amendment by Lord Alderdice, which was supported by a number of noble Lords. At the conclusion of the debate, I undertook to consider the matter further with a view to returning to it at Report Stage. Following this, I carried out broad engagement in parliament, and spoke to representatives from a number of political parties setting out the Government's proposed approach.
After the Government tabled the amendment, however, the majority of Northern Ireland parties made clear that they did not wish to see any change to the current arrangements. As a result of this widespread opposition, the Prime Minister announced to the House of Commons on 19 January the Government’s decision not to move its amendment.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether anyone representing (1) the Northern Ireland Office, or (2) the Ministry of Defence, attended the meeting at Lambeth Palace on 2 November to discuss the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland; and if so, who authorised any such attendance.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to working with civic society, including victims groups, the NI parties and the Irish Government to seek a way forward for everyone.
The Archbishop of Canterbury hosted a seminar at Lambeth Palace in November to discuss a presentation from a team of academics at Queen's University on the legacy of the Troubles. Officials from the Northern Ireland Office attended in a listening capacity. The Northern Ireland Office is often invited to discussions on this important issue. Events hosted by the Archbishop are a matter for Lambeth Palace, and not the Government.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ministers and officials in the Northern Ireland Executive about providing emergency support funding for Translink.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
Public transport within Northern Ireland is devolved and the responsibility of the Department for Infrastructure. The Government has been working closely with the NI Executive to ensure continued transport connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government has not been approached by the Executive with regard to specific support funding for Translink, which would be for the Executive to resolve in the first instance. In June, the NI Executive’s Finance Minister provided Translink with an additional £20m to cover loss of income as a result in the sharp drop in passenger numbers.