Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his Answer of 3 September 2020 to Question 78927, on Broadcasting: Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on discussions with NI Screen on broadening the remit of the Ulster Scots Broadcasting Fund.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have been discussing broadening the remit of both the Ulster Scots Broadcasting Fund and the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund with Northern Ireland Screen for several months. We hope to be in a position to announce the funding in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if it is a legal requirement for vehicles registered in Northern Ireland to carry a green card, when driving in the Irish Republic.
Answered by Robin Walker
Motor insurance does not form part of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. We have urged the EU to issue an Implementing Decision confirming the UK’s participation in the green card-free circulation zone as a third country. Until the EU issues such a decision, our advice to all UK motorists taking their vehicle into any EU Member State, including Ireland, is to carry a green card for journeys from 1 January 2021 onwards.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether officials in his Department have attended discussions on legacy convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government is listening to people from all communities, victims and survivors regarding legacy issues, and 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: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the comments of the Chief Executive of Sainsburys, relating to food entering Northern Ireland after 1st January 2021, if he will provide assurances to consumers in Northern Ireland that the supply of goods and consumer choice in Northern Ireland will not be reduced after 1st January 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK and the EU have committed to an intensified process of engagement to resolve all outstanding issues with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which includes securing the flexibilities we need for trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This is particularly important for supermarkets, where we have been clear specific solutions are required.
We will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive as discussions continue with the EU through the Joint Committee process.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the number of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations operating in Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of the effect on costs to the taxpayer of those organisations.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is in regular contact with the First and deputy First Minister and members of the Northern Ireland Executive where a range of issues are discussed. The Executive’s arms-length bodies, including their funding arrangements, are a matter for the Executive.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 5 October 2020 to Question 97062 on UK Government-Northern Ireland Executive Joint Board, what assessment he has made of the progress being made on transformation in the areas of (a) health, (b) education and (c) justice.
Answered by Robin Walker
Those matters are of course devolved and a matter for the Executive.
We have, however, seen the ending of the nurses’ pay dispute and the Executive reaching political agreement on the creation of a new Northern Ireland Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry/Londonderry.
The Executive’s focus, rightly and understandably, has been on Covid-19. But the pandemic has highlighted the need for urgent health reform in NI and as a result, the Rebuilding Health & Social Care Strategic Framework was published by Minister Swann on 9 June.
The UK Government supports the Executive’s commitment to speed up the criminal justice system, benefitting victims and witnesses. We also support the Executive’s progress towards building a shared and integrated society, including educating children from different backgrounds in the classroom.
A further meeting of the Joint Board took place on 21 October. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland discussed the importance of delivering transformation in public services and establishing an independent fiscal council to support the Executive in developing long-term spending plans with the First and deputy First Minister.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many times the joint board established in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement has met.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Joint Board, which has oversight for transformation in health, education and justice, where these draw on funding provided under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, has met once on the 22 July. A further meeting is scheduled for this Autumn.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September to Question 78925, on what date he last met with each of the Northern Ireland Executive Ministers; and what the outcome of each of those meetings was.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Secretary of State and I regularly engage with and meet all Northern Ireland Executive ministers on a wide-range of issues.
Meetings between Executive and UK Government Ministers are not published, however recent meetings have focused on Northern Ireland’s response to Covid-19, economic recovery and planning for the forthcoming Centenary of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 77858 on Official Visits: Northern Ireland, for what reason the Government does not maintain a record of the number of visits made to Northern Ireland by the (a) Prime Minister of the Irish Republic and (b) Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Irish Republic.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government does not maintain a record of every visit by a member of foreign governments to the UK. The Government has no operational need to maintain such records and sees no requirement to keep such a formal record.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September to Question 78927 on Broadcasting: Northern Ireland, when the overall profiling of the £140 million of the £2 billion of funding to support implementation of the New Decade, New Approach deal set aside to address Northern Ireland's unique circumstances will be confirmed.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government has committed £140m alongside the New Decade, New Approach deal for Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. The resources will be allocated by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following consultation with NI Executive ministers through the UK Government-NI Executive Joint Board.