Lord Caine Portrait

Lord Caine

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 2nd September 2016

Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

(since November 2021)

Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

(since November 2022)

Lord Caine is not a member of any APPGs
2 Former APPG memberships
Rugby League, Union
Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee
17th Sep 2020 - 5th Nov 2021
Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 5th Nov 2021
Windsor Framework Sub-Committee
14th Apr 2021 - 5th Nov 2021
Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lords)
29th Jul 2020 - 4th Nov 2021


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Caine has voted in 534 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Caine Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
(30 debate interactions)
Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour)
(29 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Northern Ireland Office
(430 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(35 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(7 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Lord Caine's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Caine, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


1 Bill introduced by Lord Caine

Introduced: 25th May 2022

A Bill to make provision about the national and cultural identity and language in Northern Ireland

This Bill received Royal Assent on 6th December 2022 and was enacted into law.

Lord Caine has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 12 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
25th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Barran on 23 April (HL Deb, col 82), what further discussions they have held with the Music Venue Trust; and what additional support is being provided for small music venues in (1) London, and (2) other parts of the UK.

DCMS continues to engage with the Music Venue Trust including through:

  • Regular ministerial roundtable discussions;

  • Regular contact at official level;

  • Membership of the ministerially chaired Entertainment and Events Working Group.

The Entertainment and Events Working Group was established alongside a number of working groups to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce. The Music Venue Trust is an active and valued member of the Working Group, the focus of which is to produce sector-led guidance for the safe reopening of live music venues both in London and across the UK.

We continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading music industry.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of The Rugby League Dividend report, published by the Rugby Football League on 22 August 2019, on the economic and social impact of rugby league in disadvantaged communities and the role of sport in promoting social mobility.

The Government welcomes the RFL’s Dividend Report which demonstrates the valuable contribution that rugby league can have within communities. Rugby League is a fantastic example of how sport and physical activity can play a leading role in engaging people from every background.

The Government’s Sporting Future strategy is explicit that everyone, regardless of background, sex, age or level of ability should be able to engage in sport and physical activity as participants, spectators and in the workplace, and that sport and physical activity should be valued for the much broader positive impact it can have across a range of physical, social and economic outcomes. The strategy included a specific focus on engaging people from groups in society that have traditionally been underrepresented in sport and physical activity and who have the most to gain from getting more active.

Government is directly supporting rugby league through more than £11m of Sport England investment in the Rugby Football League over 2017-21 and investment of up to £10m in rugby league facilities to help drive a legacy from the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
11th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will bring forward plans to widen the A1 between Darrington and Doncaster; and what steps they are taking to ensure any such plans (1) help boost growth and investment in Yorkshire, (2) reduce congestion on the M1 between Leeds and Sheffield, and (3) support the Northern Powerhouse.

The second Road Investment Strategy, published with the Budget in March, confirmed funding for the development of a scheme to enhance the A1 between Darrington and Doncaster. In developing the scheme, Highways England will take into account the potential benefits for road users on this and other routes, and for the economy.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
28th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to expand the provision of specialist NHS care and treatment for people suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

There is no specific prescribed service for treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). However, children with FOP are cared for by National Health Service paediatric rheumatologists and/or geneticists with input from other clinicians as required.

New medicines and treatments for ultra-rare diseases such as FOP are considered via highly specialised technology (HST) evaluations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE is currently developing HST guidance on palovarotene for preventing heterotopic ossification associated with FOP.

The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published in 2021, outlined four key priorities to improve the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as FOP, including improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. Action plans to improve access to care and treatment will be published by each of the four United Kingdom nations within two years. A copy of the Framework is attached.

28th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what specialist care and treatments are currently available through the NHS for people suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

There is no specific prescribed service for treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). However, children with FOP are cared for by National Health Service paediatric rheumatologists and/or geneticists with input from other clinicians as required.

New medicines and treatments for ultra-rare diseases such as FOP are considered via highly specialised technology (HST) evaluations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE is currently developing HST guidance on palovarotene for preventing heterotopic ossification associated with FOP.

The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published in 2021, outlined four key priorities to improve the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as FOP, including improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. Action plans to improve access to care and treatment will be published by each of the four United Kingdom nations within two years. A copy of the Framework is attached.

28th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase research funding in order to find more effective treatments and a cure for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

The Department funds research into rare diseases such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). In the past five years, the Department has provided funding to support eight studies into FOP through the NIHR. Within the NIHR, for all disease areas, the amount of funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity and the usual practice is not to ring-fence funds for particular topics.

The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published in January 2021, outlined a vision for improving the lives of those with rare diseases, such as FOP, including a focus on pioneering research. Action plans setting out further details on this research will be published by each of the four United Kingdom nations within two years. A copy of the Framework is attached.

28th Oct 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to families who are caring for family members  suffering from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

For patients with rare diseases such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, expert centres provide clinical guidance, support and advice to patients, their families and carers. The NHS Long Term Plan set out ambitions to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers. These ambitions include providing timely information and support for contingency planning; developing more integrated support systems within primary care; support for young carers; and work to ensure that carers from frequently excluded communities are engaged and enabled to use services.

16th Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to devolve responsibility for corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Executive; what assessment they have made of the expected change in the level of revenue generated from corporation tax from any such transfer of responsibility; and, in particular, whether Her Majesty’s Government would be able to offset any shortfall in revenue resulting from such a transfer of responsibility.

The Stormont House Agreement between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed, in principle, for the power to set the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland on certain trading profits to be devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It was agreed that the Executive would need to demonstrate that its finances were on a sustainable footing before devolution of this power could be undertaken, and that the Executive’s block grant would need to be adjusted to reflect the corporation tax revenues foregone if the devolved power were exercised.

25th Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many reports on the operation of the Petition of Concern process in the Northern Ireland Assembly have been laid before both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with the commitment in Annex A of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement 2020, published on 8 January 2020, to lay such reports every six months.

The second report on the operation of the Petition of Concern process was published on 12 January 2021. It recorded that no Petitions of Concern have been lodged in respect of any motion in the Assembly since the previous report on 16 July 2020, and indeed, since the Executive was formed on 11 January 2020. The next report will deal with the period from 10 January 2021 to 11 July 2021.

Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
25th Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what outstanding legislative commitments they have for Northern Ireland in respect of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement 2020, published on 8 January 2020; and when they expect that these will be fulfilled.

Good progress has been made in implementing the New Decade, New Approach deal, despite the huge challenge posed by the ongoing public health crisis.

The UK Government has released over £555 million of the £2billion of funding agreed in the deal, and has delivered multiple commitments including appointing a Veterans Commissioner, launching the Shared History Fund as part of our programme to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, and establishing the governance structures that underpin NDNA. On 24 February, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland signed the Heads of Terms on the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Deal that will deliver tangible benefits to the North West and the whole of Northern Ireland.

The UK Government is working to deliver the next tranche of our commitments, such as progressing legislation on the sustainability of the institutions and reforms to the Petition of Concern mechanism.

Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
5th Feb 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current assessment of the structure, roles and purpose of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

There was never and remains no justification for the existence of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. Responsibility for tackling activity by paramilitary groups or those associated with them, that have previously declared ceasefires rests with law enforcement and the devolved authorities. Both the Fresh Start and the New Decade, New Approach Agreements commit all relevant authorities to take a range of measures to tackle paramilitary activity, however that manifests itself. Updates on relevant activity to address this problem are provided to the Policing Board, the Department of Justice and the Justice Committee. The UK Government has the lead on paramilitary groups which have not declared ceasefires. These groups represent a SEVERE national security threat and although small and disparate, continue to show a reckless disregard for public safety. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring that our response to these groups and the harm these causes are robust and effective.

5th Feb 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update their assessment of the structure, roles and purpose of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, published on 20 October 2015.

In 2015, the UK Government commissioned the Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.

As the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, made clear at the time, this assessment was specifically intended to inform then ongoing cross-party talks.