Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the trade of saplings oak trees between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in preparation for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 that invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.
The QGC is encouraging schools and communities to get involved in planting Jubilee trees. In Northern Ireland, free tree packs for schools and communities are available through the Conservation Volunteers.
Under the current implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, oak trees are among a number of native British tree species that are currently prohibited from moving to Northern Ireland. The Government is in intensive negotiations with the EU to find solutions to the impacts of the Protocol and to sort out these very real issues impacting 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 his Department is taking to prevent vexatious lawsuits against soldiers that served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear about its intention to prevent vexatious claims against former service personnel.
That is why we have delivered the Overseas Operations Act, and we remain committed to delivering for Northern Ireland veterans separately as part of a wider package to address legacy issues in Northern Ireland that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims and ends the cycle of investigations that is not working well for anyone.
We are seeking to make progress on this issue as quickly as possible and are engaging substantively with key stakeholders - including the Irish Government, Northern Ireland parties and civil society - on the way forward.
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 viability of the Secretary of State for Transport's commitment to provide subsidised daily flights from City of Derry Airport to London Southend Airport until 2021.
Answered by Julian Smith
I welcome the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport on the extension of the public service obligation route between City of Derry airport and London Southend. This funding protects a valuable route for visitors as well as businesses seeking to commute between the two cities. It is vital that we maintain key connections such as these within our United Kingdom.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she has taken to ensure that Northern Ireland has good governance in the absence of a devolved Administration.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Since the previous round of talks finished in 2018, this Government has focused on taking steps to ensure good governance can continue in Northern Ireland. This has included the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 that provides the Northern Ireland Civil Service the certainty and clarity they need to continue to deliver public services in the absence of Ministers. The Government remains of the view, however, that the best guarantee of good governance is the restoration of the Belfast Agreement institutions and is focused on seeking agreement between the parties as part of the current talks process.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking in cooperation with her Irish counterpart to tackle threats from the new IRA.
Answered by Karen Bradley
I meet the Tánaiste regularly to discuss a wide range of issues, including the security situation.
At the recent British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 8 May, both the UK and Ireland reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthening our security relationship.
There is no greater responsibility than the safety and security of the people of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom as a whole.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Supporting efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland remains an important part of my Department’s work, though most of the responsibility for policy and delivery in these areas would normally fall to the devolved administration.
The Government does, however, continue to make significant contributions. For example, I was pleased to announce earlier this month that around £300 million of UK Government funding will be committed to projects to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland between 2021 and 2027.
In addition, we have provided substantial additional resources to ensure both Northern Ireland related terrorism and paramilitary activity are tackled effectively. We remain committed to the implementation of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements and have consulted on how to best address Northern Ireland’s past and move forward.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she has made an assessment of the effect of the group calling itself the new IRA on the security situation in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The threat from Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland is considered to be SEVERE. This means an attack is highly likely.
The so-called new IRA is one of a small number of dissident republican groupings that aspire to undermine Northern Ireland’s democratic institutions through the use of violence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and MI5 work tirelessly to limit the threat that these groupings pose.
This Government will always give its fullest possible backing to the PSNI and other agencies who do such an effective job in keeping people in Northern Ireland safe and secure. Under this Government there will be no let-up in our efforts to ensure that terrorism does not succeed.
I report regularly to the House on the threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism. The most recent is available at:
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department is taking in response to the attempted murder of a prison officer in East Belfast by a group calling itself the New IRA.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
Under this Government there will be no let-up in our efforts to ensure that terrorism never succeeds. We will always give our fullest possible backing to the brave men and women of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the PSNI who do such an outstanding job.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review published in November 2015 includes a commitment from the UK Government to maintain our investment in capabilities to keep the people of Northern Ireland safe. As part of this, the Government has allocated £160 million of additional security funding to the Police Service of Northern Ireland over the next five years in order to tackle the threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism.