Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on reducing air passenger duty on domestic flights from Northern Ireland's airports; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The government has established a technical working group that is considering the operational and legal context of APD in Northern Ireland. The group met in Belfast in March, and will meet again next month to continue discussions with stakeholders.
For domestic journeys, airlines are liable on both outward and return leg domestic journeys as APD applies to all departures from a UK airport. It is not possible under current EU law to have different rates of APD on intra-UK flights than on flights from the UK to other European Union destinations.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax was taken by HM Treasury on the interest accrued on Libyan assets frozen in UK banks in each of the years since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Government’s response of 24 June to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report (on Government support for UK victims of IRA attacks that used Qadhafi-supplied Semtex and weapons) set out the information the Government had obtained about tax receipts derived from frozen Libyan assets held in UK banks. The response states: “Around £17 million has been received in total since the start of the 2016-17 tax year. HMRC currently receives around £5 million each year.”
Information on the tax taken on interest accrued on Libyan assets frozen in UK banks is not held centrally within government and would involve disproportionate costs to collect and collate.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to implement the recommendations of the Hart report into historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Penrose
As I recently wrote to the honourable Member, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is determined to do everything in her power to ensure that the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse get the redress they deserve as quickly as possible. That is why she asked the Northern Ireland political parties to consider the outstanding key issues identified by David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and is pleased the parties have reached a consensus on these.
The Executive Office is now working with the Office of Legislative Council to redraft the legislation in light of the parties’ recommendations, which deviate significantly from Sir Anthony Hart's recommendations. The Secretary of State continues to engage with David Sterling and colleagues in Westminster on this vital issue.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that tax receipts derived from the interest on frozen Libyan assets held in UK banks are used to compensate the victims of Libyan state-sponsored violence committed by the IRA; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Foreign Secretary's appointment of a Special Representative on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism shows that the Government is committed to supporting the victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism. The precise terms of reference of the Special Representative are being finalised, but among the issues Mr William Shawcross will advise on is the amount of compensation that should be sought. The Government believes that any compensation plan should reflect the Special Representative's advice on this matter.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a future reduction in the salaries of the Members of the Legislative Assembly since the Assembly has not functioned since January 2017; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
Restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland at the earliest opportunity remains my top priority. However in the event of the continued delay in the formation of an Executive I have been clear that I will consider the case for further reductions to the salaries of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to bring forward legislative proposals before the summer recess, to enact the recommendations of the Judge Hart's report entitled, Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Penrose
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is determined to do everything in her power to ensure that the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse get the redress they deserve as quickly as possible. That is why she asked the Northern Ireland political parties to consider the outstanding policy questions identified in the public consultation process and is pleased they have come to an agreement on the best way forward.
The Executive Office is now working with the Office of Legislative Council to redraft the legislation in light of the parties’ recommendations. Their recommendations deviate significantly from Sir Anthony Hart's recommendations. The Secretary of State also continues to engage with colleagues in Westminster on this vital issue.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of EU citizens resident in Northern Ireland who were unable to exercise their franchise in the recent European parliamentary elections as a result of the late distribution by the Northern Ireland Electoral Office of an additional EU form; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) issued 34,040 letters advising EU citizens resident in Northern Ireland of the requirement in law to complete an additional form if they wished to vote in the European Parliamentary elections in May 2019 in Northern Ireland. This letter made clear the deadline for return of the forms. The form was also made available on the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website.
9,020 electors responded. Unfortunately 1,204 electors replied after the deadline and were advised their application had been received too late to enable to them to vote.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who died after registering a personal independence payment claim and prior to receiving a decision of their claim under (a) the special rules for the terminally ill and (b) the standard rules; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Penrose
I am aware that DWP recently provided information on the total number of patients who died within six months of their personal independence payment claim being disallowed. The delivery of personal independence payments is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and therefore falls within the remit of the Department for Communities.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of terminally ill claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who had their claim for personal independence payments rejected and died within six months of that decision; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Penrose
I am aware that DWP recently provided information on the total number of patients who died within six months of their personal independence payment claim being disallowed. The delivery of personal independence payments is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and therefore falls within the remit of the Department for Communities.
Asked by: Lady Hermon (Independent - North Down)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants known to the Northern Ireland Department for Communities who applied for personal independence payments but died with six months of making their application; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Penrose
I am aware that DWP recently provided information on the total number of patients who died within six months of their personal independence payment claim being disallowed. The delivery of personal independence payments is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and therefore falls within the remit of the Department for Communities.