Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has taken steps to promote the use of the Ulster-Scots dialect.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. In May 2023, the Government commenced the provisions in the Act required for the Executive Office to begin to progress work in relation to these appointments. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.
This week, the Government commenced Section 5 of the Act which places a duty on the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to encourage and facilitate the use and understanding of Ulster Scots in the education system
My officials continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on this, and I look forward to implementation of the Act which will enshrine respect and tolerance for Northern Ireland’s traditions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to take steps with the Northern Ireland Executive to support the use of Ulster-Scots.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, including those provisions which allow for the establishment of an Irish Language Commissioner and a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. In May 2023, the Government commenced the provisions in the Act required for the Executive Office to begin to progress work in relation to these appointments. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps on implementation of the legislation.
This week, the Government commenced Section 5 of the Act which places a duty on the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to encourage and facilitate the use and understanding of Ulster Scots in the education system
My officials continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on this, and I look forward to implementation of the Act which will enshrine respect and tolerance for Northern Ireland’s traditions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his threshold is for using the Stormont brake mechanism within the Windsor Framework.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The statutory duties applicable to the Secretary of State in respect of the Stormont Brake are provided for in domestic law under Schedule 6B to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This sets out the criteria against which any notification by MLAs is assessed.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has taken steps to help tackle medicine shortages in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Medicines supply in Northern Ireland remains stable. UK-wide supply issues may arise from time to time due to manufacturing problems or access to raw materials. The overwhelming majority of medicines are in good supply and we have well-established processes to manage supply issues.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to commission a report on paramilitary influence in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.
This Government is committed to making streets across the United Kingdom safer, and we want to see a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are no longer able to cause harm to communities. Where any criminality exists, it should be dealt with fully by the police.
The effort to tackle paramilitarism is led by the NI Executive in particular through its Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC), which was established after the Fresh Start Agreement. The Programme is working to tackle the presence of paramilitaries through evidence-based early interventions, targeted law enforcement measures and initiatives that provide direct support to help build safer communities resilient to paramilitarism. The UK Government provides 50% of the funding for the Programme - currently £8m per year through to March 2026.
The Programme has tracked changes in public perceptions of paramilitary influence since 2017 through the Northern Ireland Life & Times (NILT) Survey. This information can be accessed here: https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/perceptions-paramilitarism-northern-ireland-findings-northern-ireland-life-and-times-survey-2017
The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) which was established in 2017 reports annually on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland. The IRC’s most recent report, the Sixth Report, was published in December 2023, with the latest report due to be published in Winter 2024.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the independent report entitled Assessment on paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, published on 20 October 2015, what recent assessment his Department has made of the level of influence the IRA army council has on Sinn Fein.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The ‘Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland’ report was published in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a one-off factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland. This public assessment, which was intended to inform the then ongoing cross-party talks, has not been repeated.
Although it is acknowledged that some individuals engaged in serious criminality may also have ties to former paramilitary Republican organisations, such activity does not present a threat to national security.
The PSNI and UK security agencies continually assess the threat, risk and harm posed by paramilitary, terrorist and organised crime groups to inform the most appropriate operational response. The threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) is assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), after MI5 passed over responsibility earlier this year. JTAC keeps the Threat Level in Northern Ireland from NIRT under constant review and formally reviews it twice a year. However, the threat is wholly driven by violent Dissident Republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), and not by Groups that support the GFA.
Where any criminality exists, this should be dealt with fully by the police.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help maintain the UK internal market.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
We are committed to taking all steps necessary to protect the UK internal market and Northern Ireland's place in it, while implementing the Windsor Framework.
As part of this, we are taking forward policies in Safeguarding the Union, including implementing the new UK Internal Market System.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy to establish a new official local flag for Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Union Flag is the only official flag of Northern Ireland. The regulatory framework for official flag flying in Northern Ireland is determined by the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and The Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000. These regulations make provision for the flying of flags on NI government buildings and courthouses only. There are no plans to further review or amend how this legislation operates in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he has taken to work with devolved Administrations to tackle the issue of puppy farming in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Government is fully committed to animal welfare. However, this is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, and so it is for the newly restored Executive to determine how to protect animal welfare, including tackling poor breeding practices as seen in puppy farming.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of William Shawcross’ report on compensation for UK victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, submitted to the Government in March 2020; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of publishing that report on the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Government is unshakeable in its commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the culmination of the hard-won gains of the peace process which has transformed the political and economic life of Northern Ireland since it was agreed in 1998.
The then Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position on Mr Shawcross's report on compensation for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism in a Written Ministerial Statement made on 23 March 2021. Mr Shawcross's report was commissioned as an internal scoping report, to provide advice to Ministers. Its content is based on private, confidential conversations and information shared on this basis. The UK Government reiterates its sympathy for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism and indeed for all victims of the Troubles.