Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he had with (a) people and (b) the families of people affected by IRA terrorism in Great Britain prior to the announcement that the Government will introduce legislation to address the legacy of the past in the Queen's Speech 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government remains committed to bringing forward legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles as quickly as possible and fully recognises the importance of engaging with victims and survivors and their families as part of this process.
Since March last year, and prior to the Queen’s speech, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his officials have listened to a wide range of people on legacy issues, including the Victims and Survivors Forum and groups funded under the Victims and Survivors Service’s Victims Support Programme.
The Government is committed to publishing a list of ministers’ meetings with external organisations, including those with victims groups, on a quarterly basis. Publications for the Northern Ireland Office can be found on Gov.UK.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government plans to proceed with legislative proposals to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland announced in the Queen's Speech 2021 without legislative consent from the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of investigations.
The Government intends to request legislative consent for its legislative proposals in accordance with Standing Order 42A of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and in line with the Sewel Convention.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to New Decade, New Approach agreement, published on 8 January 2020, how much funding the Government has allocated to address the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland referred to in Annexe A of that agreement; how much of that funding has been allocated; to which priorities that funding has been allocated; how much of that funding remains to be allocated; and to which priorities that remaining funding will be allocated.
Answered by Robin Walker
The New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal provided the restored Executive with a £2bn financial package. This included £140m to be allocated to address Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.
To enable the Executive to begin implementing the Troubles Permanent Disablement Scheme, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland agreed with the Treasury that the Executive will be able to access £100m NDNA funding earmarked for Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.
£40 million is reserved for addressing the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland referred to in Annexe A, page 53 of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. This funding is to be deployed on areas including:
The UK Government has committed £3m to support the marking of the 2021 Centenary and related projects. In addition, in 2020/21 the UK Government released funding to support the NI Veterans’ Support Office and the setting up of a new NI Veterans’ Commissioner role. The remaining funding will be disbursed in due course to the priorities listed above.
The UK Government is continuing to work closely with Northern Ireland’s political leaders through the Joint Board to deliver on NDNA commitments.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to hold the next implementation review meeting under New Decade, New Approach.
Answered by Robin Walker
The New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement was a historic moment for Northern Ireland and the whole United Kingdom.
Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government has made good progress on implementing its NDNA commitments.
The Implementation Review Meeting provides a vital service in maintaining progress under that agreement. The Implementation Review Meeting last met on 11 January 2021 and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will work with the Northern Ireland parties to hold the next meeting at an appropriate moment in due course.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if his Department will publish an assessment of the extent to which commitments under the New Decade, New Approach agreement have been met by the (a) Northern Ireland Executive and (b) Government.
Answered by Robin Walker
The New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal reached in January 2020 includes a balanced package of commitments to deliver more transparent and sustainable institutions in Northern Ireland. The Government have already delivered a number of our key commitments including:
The Government works closely with Northern Ireland’s political leaders to support them in making the devolved institutions work and where appropriate, in delivering their commitments within NDNA. We will consider publishing assessments of implementation of the Agreement in due course.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will list the victims groups that he has met as part of stakeholder engagement on legacy legislation.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government remains committed to making progress on legacy issues and recognises the importance of engaging with victims groups and other key stakeholders as part of this process.
The Department has undertaken a number of engagements with victims groups on legacy issues - including the Victims and Survivors Forum and groups funded under the Victims and Survivors Services’ Victims Support Programme - at both ministerial and official level.
The Government is committed to publishing a list of ministers’ meetings with external organisations, including those with victims groups, on a quarterly basis. Publications for the Northern Ireland Office can be found on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether funding for Northern Ireland from the Community Ownership Fund will be ringfenced.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Community Ownership Fund will help to ensure that communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can support and continue benefiting from the local facilities, community assets and amenities most important to them.
Details of how the fund will be allocated UK-wide will be announced with the publication of the bidding prospectus in June 2021.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to the Answer of the 25 March to Written Question 173085, where the funding to support the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement proposals on legacy will be drawn.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has made substantial financial contributions and commitments towards addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland, including as part of the Stormont House Agreement.
The Government remains committed to addressing Northern Ireland legacy issues by bringing forward legislation that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims and ends the cycle of reinvestigations that is not working for anyone. We are committed to making progress on this as quickly as possible.