Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequor on the funding of a Payments Scheme for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The UK Government’s position has always been that the Victims Payment Scheme - which we legislated for in line with commitments placed on it by the Northern Ireland (EF) Act 2019 - should be funded from the NI Executive budget. The Executive committed to delivering such a scheme 6 years ago, so it is right that they fund these provisions as a priority for the benefit of all victims who have waited for this too long already.
The UK Government is providing £2 billion of additional financial support as part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. It is open to the Executive to raise broader budgetary pressures with the Government; but it has received generous allocations and should now make funding available.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the arrangements for checks on the shipment of food or animal products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
As part of usual Government business, the Environment Secretary has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and members of the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including the elements relating to the movements of agri-food and animal products.
On 20th May, we published the Command Paper, The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226).
We have always been clear that checks on live animals and agri-food will be needed for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, building on what already happens at ports like Larne and Belfast. The Government is taking this forward with the NIE. We want to ensure new administrative procedures are streamlined and do not affect the flow of trade. The engagement forum announced in the Command Paper will enable business to put forward proposals in this regard.
There will be no new regulatory checks or export declarations as goods leave Northern Ireland for Great Britain. The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol reaffirms the Government’s commitment, first set out in New Decade, New Approach, to legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the UK internal market and will ensure that this legislation is in force for 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on future arrangements for any checks on the shipment of food and animal products from Northern Ireland to Great Britain under Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
As part of usual Government business, the Environment Secretary has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and members of the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, including the elements relating to the movements of agri-food and animal products.
On 20th May, we published the Command Paper, The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226).
We have always been clear that checks on live animals and agri-food will be needed for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, building on what already happens at ports like Larne and Belfast. The Government is taking this forward with the NIE. We want to ensure new administrative procedures are streamlined and do not affect the flow of trade. The engagement forum announced in the Command Paper will enable business to put forward proposals in this regard.
There will be no new regulatory checks or export declarations as goods leave Northern Ireland for Great Britain. The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol reaffirms the Government’s commitment, first set out in New Decade, New Approach, to legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the UK internal market and will ensure that this legislation is in force for 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Resolution 2318 (2020) on the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and one which underpins many of the others. Britain has a proud tradition of religious tolerance, within the law. The UK is committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief and promoting respect between communities of different religions and those of no religion. Promoting the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief is one of the UK’s human rights policy priorities. In the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and other multilateral fora, the UK works with like-minded partners on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
The Government is committed to ensuring that people are protected against discrimination because of religion or belief, and that they?are able to?exercise the right to hold and manifest their beliefs in a reasonable manner.
Resolution 2318 concerns the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace. Domestic anti-discrimination provisions covering religion or belief are contained in the Equality Act 2010. Anyone who feels that they have suffered discrimination because of religion or belief can contact either The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), for issues related to the workplace, or the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) for non-employment matters. Both services provide free advice to members of the public.
ACAS and the EASS refer appropriate cases to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is the country’s national equality and enforcement body. Both the EHRC and ACAS have published guidance for employers and employees about religion or belief and the workplace.
The UK Government thanks the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for its recent debate, report, and Resolution 2318 (2020) on the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace. Working with partners and key stakeholders, the UK Government will continue to consider actively, and across departments, the important topics raised by Resolution 2318 (2020).
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made in negotiations with the EU on the practical arrangements to implement the Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 20 May 2020, the UK Government set out our approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Command Paper ‘The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol’. We are committed to meeting our obligations under the Protocol and, as we do, our priority remains protecting Northern Ireland’s place in our United Kingdom, and preserving the huge gains from the peace process and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
The EU published a technical note on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland on 30th April, which can be found on the Commission’s website here.
The first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Northern Ireland took place on 30 April, following the first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.
We stand ready to work with the EU in a constructive and collaborative spirit, building on our initial engagements in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish details of the EU's proposals on the practical arrangements to implement the Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement on checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
On 20 May 2020, the UK Government set out our approach to implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Command Paper ‘The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol’. We are committed to meeting our obligations under the Protocol and, as we do, our priority remains protecting Northern Ireland’s place in our United Kingdom, and preserving the huge gains from the peace process and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
The EU published a technical note on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland on 30th April, which can be found on the Commission’s website here.
The first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Northern Ireland took place on 30 April, following the first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.
We stand ready to work with the EU in a constructive and collaborative spirit, building on our initial engagements in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure that farmers remain competitive in the UK market and (b) prevent the importation of cheap food products that do not meet UK food standards after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government is in regular dialogue with the food and farming industry in all parts of the UK as we forge ahead in our negotiations with the EU and other trading partners. We want a productive, profitable, resilient farming sector that is empowered to produce more of the high-quality food that is prized around the world and appreciated so much at home.
The UK is justly proud of its world-leading standards of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection. These are the high standards British consumers expect from the food they eat and the high standards our hardworking farmers will continue to deliver. The Government’s manifesto made clear that we will not compromise on these high standards.
Our priority is a productive, competitive farming sector – one that will support farmers to provide more home grown food produced to higher environmental and animal welfare standards. The Government has committed to a serious and rapid examination of what could be done through labelling in the UK market to promote these high standards and high welfare goods.
Defra is working closely with the devolved administrations to agree the common frameworks that we will need for those returning EU powers that intersect with Devolved competence. The set of principles agreed at the Joint Ministerial Committee for EU negotiations (JMC (EN)) in October 2017 guide Defra in the development of these frameworks. This includes enabling the function of the UK internal market.
At the end of the transition period, the Withdrawal Act will convert all EU standards into domestic law. This includes a ban on using artificial growth hormones in both domestic and imported products. Nothing apart from potable water may be used to clean chicken carcasses. Any changes to these standards would have to come before Parliament.
The Government has also committed to a rapid review and a consultation on the role of labelling to promote high standards of animal welfare.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what assessment he has made for the implications of her policies of Paragraph 9(1) of Resolution 2318 (2020) of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the establishment of appropriate monitoring mechanisms to assess the implementation of anti-discrimination legislation.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Resolution 2318 concerns the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace. Domestic anti-discrimination provisions covering religion or belief are contained in the Equality Act 2010. Anyone who feels that they have suffered discrimination because of religion or belief can contact either ACAS, for issues related to the workplace, or the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) for non-employment matters. Both services provide free advice to members of the public.
ACAS and the EASS refer appropriate cases to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is the country’s national equality and enforcement body.
Both the EHRC and ACAS have published guidance for employers and employees about religion or belief and the workplace.
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of paragraph 9(4) of resolution 2318 (2020) of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the provision of training and advice to public and private employers.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Resolution 2318 concerns the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the workplace. Both the Equality and Human Rights Commission and ACAS have published guidance for employers and employees about this matter.
Additionally, ACAS offers online training for employers on religion or belief in the workplace.
The guidance and the online training are available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/religion-or-belief-workplace ; and https://elearning.acas.org.uk/login/index.php
Asked by: Jeffrey M Donaldson (Independent - Lagan Valley)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of Aggregates Levy revenues collected by HMRC from quarries and sandpits in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
During the last five financial years HMRC collected the following total cash receipts for the Aggregates Levy (AGL) from UK taxpayers:
2014/15 = £342 million
2015/16 = £356 million
2016/17 = £374 million
2017/18 = £376 million
2018/19 = £367 million
HMRC publish this information within the Aggregates Levy Bulletin:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/aggregates-levy-bulletin
No disaggregation of AGL receipts collected from quarries and sandpits in Northern Ireland is available, as this information is not recorded on trader returns or cash receipts.