Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to include a legislative consent motion with legislative proposals to lower the voting age to allow 16 and 17 year olds in Northern Ireland to vote in (a) Assembly and (b) local government elections.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government has given a clear commitment to lower the voting age to 16 at all non-devolved elections, which includes Assembly and local elections in Northern Ireland. As elections are an excepted matter under Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it will not be necessary to seek a legislative consent motion in relation to that commitment. The Government will of course work closely with stakeholders across Northern Ireland on the implementation of this major change to the franchise and ensure we empower our young people to participate in democracy.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will ensure that Northern Ireland is included in legislative proposals to lower the voting age for UK elections.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This Government will legislate to lower the voting age to 16 during this Parliament for all non-devolved elections across the UK, including elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland local government elections.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Health Minister on ensuring pay parity for health workers in Northern Ireland with Great Britain.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Public sector pay is a devolved matter. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to take decisions on pay awards.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make it his policy that any future Northern Ireland troubles legacy proposals will have capacity to deal with murders that took place after 10th April 1998.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Investigating suspected criminal activity that took place following the Good Friday Agreement is the responsibility of the relevant police force.
The Government is committed to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. As part of this process, I have said that the Government will bring forward a remedial order under the Human Rights Act to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation & Information Recovery established by the Act is fully human rights compliant.
As part of this process, I am undertaking a period of consultation, including with the Northern Ireland parties, to discuss a pragmatic way forward that can both comply with human rights and command public confidence. I look forward to discussing any specific proposals that might help achieve this.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his planned timetable is for resuming inquests relating to the troubles in Northern Ireland that ended when the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 came into force; and whether those referred from the Attorney General will receive an inquest.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government has made clear its intention to propose measures that allow legacy inquests previously halted by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023 to proceed, should that be the preference of the victims’s families.
A number of inquests were referred to the coroners’ service by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland shortly before the Act came into force. I am considering the approach to these as part of my ongoing consultation process with interested parties. I want to make progress as swiftly as possible.
As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 7 October, the Government is now carefully considering its next steps following the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s judgment in light of the additional declarations of incompatibility made by the Court of Appeal. At the same time, the Government will continue to explore measures to strengthen the ICRIR to ensure that it is both human rights compliant and able to command support from across communities in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that journalists in Northern Ireland are protected from (a) threats of violence from paramilitary groups, (b) surveillance from security forces and (c) pressure to reveal sources.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
A free, independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is vital that journalists are able to continue their work without the fear of attack or threat. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is responsible for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists which sets out our approach to increase the safety of journalists.
We work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive in their efforts to tackle the threat and harm caused by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
There are a number of robust legal protections afforded to journalists and their sources. These include Article 10 of The European Convention on Human Rights, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. In addition, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) can consider allegations of unlawful intrusion by public bodies, including the UK intelligence services and Police.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on recent threats of violence against a Sunday World journalist.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Journalists play a vital role in our society. It is unacceptable that they should find themselves threatened for doing their job.
I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team regarding national security and discuss a range of issues. I commend the PSNI on the progress they have made to address journalist safety in Northern Ireland. Two Journalist Safety Officers have been appointed and are notified of all reports of threats to journalists. An internal Journalist Safety Group has also been established.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) NI Executive and (b) Police Service of Northern Ireland on anti-immigration disorder and violence in Belfast in August 2024.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The disorder was unacceptable and does not represent the real Northern Ireland. Public safety and community cohesion are primarily the responsibility of local elected Ministers and I have therefore remained in close contact with the NI Executive and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on this matter.
I met the First and deputy First Minister and spoke with the Justice Minister who all share my shock and concern at the targeting of violence and intimidation towards minority communities in Northern Ireland.
I also met the Chief Constable to express my sincere thanks to the PSNI for working tirelessly in extremely difficult conditions to keep communities in Northern Ireland safe. My officials and I continue to engage regularly with the PSNI.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The UK Government is committed to ensuring that EURO 2028 benefits the whole of the United Kingdom. That is why we are working as quickly as possible with all the partners involved in the Casement Park project to assess the options available.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16419 on Integrated Schools: Northern Ireland, on what date the Northern Ireland Executive was informed of the removal of the ring-fence for the £150m Fresh Start Agreement funding.
Answered by Steve Baker
HM Treasury officials wrote to their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Finance on 1 March 2024 formally confirming the removal of the ring-fence for £150 million of Fresh Start Agreement funding.
This formal confirmation followed official level discussions between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Civil Service on UK Government funding streams being made available within the financial package to support the restored Executive.