Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that the legislation to allow for the publication of all donations and loans received by Northern Ireland parties on or after 1 July 2017 will also include provisions to allow the Electoral Commission to retrospectively publish details of donations and loans received by Northern Ireland parties since January 2014.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I wrote to the political parties in January seeking their views on this issue and, while there was broad support for the future publication of donations and loans, only one party expressed support for backdating publication to 1 January 2014. Having considered the representations of the parties, I did not believe it right to impose retrospective regulations on those who donated in accordance with the rules set out in law at the time. The secondary legislation to give effect to full transparency which I propose would therefore apply to donations and loans received on or after 1 July 2017.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish the breakdown of spending by registered parties in Northern Ireland during the EU referendum campaign recorded by the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission.
Answered by James Brokenshire
Under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Electoral Commission are responsible for publishing details of spending by registered campaigners, including in relation to the recent EU referendum. I have no role in publishing information relating to campaign expenditure.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make public donation information recorded in the Northern Ireland Electoral Commission's donor register from 2014 onwards required under the Northern Ireland Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I am keen to see progress on this issue and have written to the NI political parties seeking their views on moving to full transparency. I am currently considering responses from the parties before deciding on next steps. In line with usual pre-election protocols I will not be making any announcements until after the forthcoming Assembly election.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2016 to Question 52620, whether it is the UK's policy to claim jurisdiction of Carlingford Lough up to the high water mark on its County Lough coast after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by James Brokenshire
There has been a historical dispute between the UK and Irish Governments in relation to Carlingford Lough dating back to the 1920s. The UK Government’s longstanding position is that the northern side of the Lough forms part of the UK. In practice the regulation of activities is the responsibility of the Loughs Agency, a North-South body established under the Belfast Agreement which is supported by the UK and Irish Governments.