Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (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 provision of support to the aviation industry in Northern Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has been working closely with the NI Executive to maintain UK connectivity between Great Britain and Northern Ireland throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thanks to a generous £5.7m financial support package agreed by the Government and the Executive, the air bridge between GB and NI was maintained at the height of disruptions this year, ensuring that critical routes to London from both City of Derry and Belfast City airports remained open to support the movement of key workers within the United Kingdom.
The aviation industry has also been able to draw on the unprecedented package of economic measures the Government has put in place during this time, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that facilitates access to finance for businesses affected by the outbreak.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has also been available to support wages during this time. On 5 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that workers across the United Kingdom would benefit from increased support with a five-month extension of the CJRS until the end of March 2021, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked.
The Government continues to work closely with the Executive to ensure critical routes remain open.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with officials in Northern Ireland on the criteria for admission into third-level education for students from a disadvantaged background.
Answered by John Penrose
Education is a devolved area in Northern Ireland and these matters are dealt with by the Higher Education Division at the Department for the Economy. Queries relating to participation in third-level education should be directed towards that department.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with Police Service Northern Ireland on the level of knife crime in Northern Ireland; and what steps are being taken to tackle knife crime in Northern Ireland.
Answered by John Penrose
I recognise the public concern caused by knife crime attacks across the UK and the impact such attacks have had on local communities. The Offensive Weapons Bill aims to tackle knife crime, through measures including the introduction of Knife Crime Prevention Orders, which will give the police additional powers of intervention in dealing with young people who are most at risk of being involved in knife crime. The Rt hon Member will be aware that in Northern Ireland, knife crime is a devolved matter, and is the responsibility of the Department of Justice. My officials continue to support constructive engagement on the Bill with officials in the Devolved Administration.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland; and how much funding she has allocated to those plans.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Northern Ireland Office has been involved in the planning of Decade of Centenaries commemorations in Northern Ireland, but has not yet developed plans to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in 2021.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what formal engagements she has had with (a) private, (b) public and (c) voluntary sector employers since 1 November 2018.
Answered by Karen Bradley
I meet regularly with employers from private, public and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland. A full list of meetings is published quarterly on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish her formal engagements with representatives of trade and industry bodies in Northern Ireland since 1 November 2018.
Answered by Karen Bradley
I meet regularly with employers from a large range of sectors in Northern Ireland. A full list of meetings is published quarterly on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the representatives of the Government of the Irish Republic on the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Karen Bradley
I have regular discussions with the Irish Government, concerning a range of issues including the UK’s exit from the EU.
The Government does not want or expect a no deal scenario. We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal, and we remain confident we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the EU.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of exports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland of (a) live animals, (b) animal-derived food products and (c) plant-based products are subject to (i) controls and (ii) physical inspection.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Northern Ireland Office does not hold this information.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's budget was in each of the last five years; and how much was spent in each year on legal proceedings.
Answered by Karen Bradley
I do not have a role in setting the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s budget or monitoring the spend on legal proceedings.
Responsibility for the Equality Commission’s functions and powers is devolved; it is sponsored by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland, which approves its budget.
As the Commission operates independently from Government you may wish to write directly to the Commission’s Chief Executive, and Accounting Officer, on the matters relating to the use of resources.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for the (a) government of Northern Ireland and (b) role of the Northern Ireland civil service of the recent court ruling against the granting of planning permission for the Arc21 incinerator; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Following the decision of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, the UK Government recognises that there is a need to provide reassurance and clarity on the mechanisms for the continued delivery of public services and good governance in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland’s statement to the House of 6 September set out our clear plan to introduce legislation that will include provisions to enable Northern Ireland departments to continue to take decisions in Northern Ireland and to ensure the continued delivery of public services.