Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will hold discussions with the Electoral Commission on the adequacy of regulations governing donations to political parties in Northern Ireland in light of BBC Northern Ireland’s Spotlight programme broadcast on 26 June 2018; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Government has been clear that following the introduction of the Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018, we intend to review the operation of the broader framework for donations and loans in Northern Ireland once the regime has fully bedded in. As a matter of good practice we will engage with the Electoral Commission to review implementation as well as take views from political representatives in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) discussions her Department has held with and (b) representations her Department has received from the Electoral Commission about the adequacy of regulations governing donations to political parties in Northern Ireland since the the approval of the Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018 on 7 March 2018.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Northern Ireland Office officials held a number of discussions with the Electoral Commission on a range of electoral issues including donations and loans over this period. In addition, the Electoral Commission has written to the Minister responsible, Lord Duncan of Springbank, on one occasion and a meeting to discuss this and other issues is being arranged.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make it her policy to launch a public consultation on amending the Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018 to backdate these provisions to 2014.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Government has been clear that following the introduction of the Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018, we intend to review the operation of the broader framework for donations and loans in Northern Ireland once the regime has fully bedded in. As a matter of good practice we will engage with the Electoral Commission to review implementation as well as take views from political representatives in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has to amend the powers of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission relating to legal proceedings as a result of Supreme Court case [2018] UKSC 27; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Government is carefully considering the full judgment of the Supreme Court. This is clearly a complex area of law, and an extremely sensitive subject matter, which raises a number of different substantive and procedural issues to consider.
I am fully committed to facilitating the ongoing work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will appoint an independent facilitator to reconvene all-party talks on restoring the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Restoring devolution remains a top priority for this Government. We are committed to redoubling UK Government efforts to restore the Executive, and continue to keep a range of options under review.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
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 allowing the Northern Ireland Assembly to sit in committee format, in parallel with all-party talks, to scrutinise and advise Northern Ireland Government Departments on decision making in the absence of ministers.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Restoring devolution remains a top priority for this Government. We are committed to redoubling UK Government efforts to restore the Executive, and continue to keep a range of options under review.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) controls and (b) transparency regulations on donations from outside the United Kingdom to political parties in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The reporting arrangements brought into force by the Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018 and which apply to donations and loans to Northern Ireland parties from within the UK also apply to Irish donations and loans to Northern Ireland parties. In order to make a donation Irish citizens must be eligible to obtain an Irish passport, certificate of nationality or naturalisation and Irish bodies making a donation must conduct one or more of its principal activities from an office in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2018 to Question 905871, when she expects the full £500m from the Fresh Start negotiations to be allocated.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
In addition to the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland of the allocation of up to £140m to fund the Strule Shared Education Campus and the announcement in March 2016 to support the development of 23 shared and integrated education projects, both the UK government and the Northern Ireland Civil Service are working closely together to bring forward further bids for funding as a priority.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2018 to Question 905871 if she will meet with (a) Kellie Armstrong MLA and (b) the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon to discuss integrated education.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Secretary of State regularly meets a range of MPs and MLAs on Northern Ireland matters and will continue to do so. A member of the ministerial team would be happy to have a meeting to discuss integrated education with Kellie Armstrong MLA and the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon.
Asked by: Layla Moran (Liberal Democrat - Oxford West and Abingdon)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2018 to Question 905871 on Education: Northern Ireland, how much of the £500m funding will be allocated to integrated education.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
Funding for integrated education projects will be considered against the policy objective of increasing provision. The allocation of funding for integrated education will be determined once bids are considered and funding is allocated. Both the UK government and Northern Ireland Civil Service are working closely together to bring forward bids for funding as a priority.